What is a null object in After Effects?

An invisible layer with a full transform that does not render. It is used as a parent or a controller, so moving the null moves every layer attached to it.

How do you animate with a null object?

Create a null, parent the layers you want to move to it with the pick-whip, then keyframe the null's position, scale or rotation. The children follow the null while keeping their own keyframes.

How do you attach a layer to tracked motion?

Track the footage and put the result on a null, then parent your graphic to the null. In Premation the Tracker panel's Create null & apply does both the null and the keyframes in one step.

Glossary

Null object

Name: Premation
Author: Premation

An invisible layer with a full transform, used as a parent so a group of layers can be moved, rotated or scaled together.

Also called Null, Null layer, Null motion, Control null.

In After Effects

Choose Layer ▸ New ▸ Null Object (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Y / Cmd+Opt+Shift+Y). The null appears as a small square that does not render, and layers are attached to it with the Parent column's pick-whip.

In Premation

Layer ▸ New ▸ Null Object. Layer ▸ Camera ▸ Create Orbit Null makes one at the point of interest and parents the camera to it.

Step by step

Choose Layer ▸ New ▸ Null Object, or press Ctrl/Cmd + Alt + Shift + Y.
Parent the layers to it: drag the pick-whip spiral from each layer onto the null, or set the null in the Parent row under Properties ▸ Blending and switches. Reparenting does not move the layer on screen.
Animate the null's Position, Scale or Rotation with keyframes. Every child follows, and each keeps its own animation on top.
Move the null's anchor point with the Pan Behind tool (Y) to change what the group rotates and scales around.
For a camera orbit, use Layer ▸ Camera ▸ Create Orbit Null; for tracked footage, the Tracker panel's Create null & apply puts the track on a null you can parent a graphic to.

Tips

Put the overall move on the null and the detail on the children, such as a null that drifts a whole title while each word animates in on its own.
Place the null where the group should pivot before parenting; rotation and scale happen around its anchor point.
Name your nulls ("CTRL camera", "CTRL logo"). Several unnamed nulls in one timeline get confusing fast.
A null can be 3D, and cameras and lights can be parented to it, which is the standard camera rig.

Walkthrough: Motion tracking

Read the docs: Transforms and parenting

Questions

What is a null object in After Effects?: An invisible layer with a full transform that does not render. It is used as a parent or a controller, so moving the null moves every layer attached to it.
How do you animate with a null object?: Create a null, parent the layers you want to move to it with the pick-whip, then keyframe the null's position, scale or rotation. The children follow the null while keeping their own keyframes.
How do you attach a layer to tracked motion?: Track the footage and put the result on a null, then parent your graphic to the null. In Premation the Tracker panel's Create null & apply does both the null and the keyframes in one step.

Related terms

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