After Effects Video Tutorial: Looping Expression

Looping animations in After Effects is incredibly easy with the loopOut expression.

If you’ve ever had to create a repetitive movement in After Effects than you’ve probably gone through the painstaking process of copying and pasting keyframes so that they line up perfectly. This technique works but it certainly isn’t ideal. As with most techniques in After Effects, loops can be created much easier using a simple expression: loopOut()

The loopOut() expression works by taking all of the keyframes in your currently selected layer and creating an automatic loop. Once the last keyframe is played the animation will automatically begin again. In short, your keyframes will loop forever.

With the loopOut() expression you also have the option to use two modifiers: cycle and pingpong. Cycle is the loopOut() expression’s default. It simply loops the keyframes indefinitely. The pingpong modifier on the other hand will play the loop then backtrack to the beginning of the loop and on and on it goes. You can use the pingpong modifier by using loopOut(‘pingpong’) instead of loopOut().

Cycle:
loopOut()

Ping-Pong:
loopOut(“pingpong”)

In the following video tutorial by RiverCityGraphix you’ll learn how to use the loopOut() expression in After Effects. It is a very easy concept to understand and once you get it down you’ll likely find yourself using it all the time.

This video was created and shared by RiverCityGraphix on their YouTube channel. Thanks for sharing guys!

Have any tips for using the loopOut() expression?
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