Rigged Box

The comprehensive box preset for After Effects.

New Version Live!

Why:

Shape layers are everything. In my work, that's almost literally true. Perhaps the most useful item in any shape layer setup is the Rectangle Path. Anything from UI mockups to complex character rigs can benefit from these handy boxes. Problem is, their controls are hidden under twirl upon twirl-down, they use array properties you can't separate, and they always scale from the center. There are solutions though. Enter, the Rigged Box.

By linking to a neatly designed pseudo effect, boxes can have scale vertically and horizontally... independently. Boxes can scale from any edge or corner using the X and Y Anchor properties, an especially useful feature for UI design.

Dynamic Referencing:

Version 4.0 includes a new feature I call Dynamic Referencing. This lets you add multiple Rigged Box instances to one layer. Just duplicate both the Rigged Box effect and shape object, and rename the shape object to match. You can refer to the included README or my website for information on how this works. I've also included a sample project file (CC2019 only) that should show you how complex, expressive rigs can be built on a single layer.

When I first put this tool together, I had no idea how often I would use it. The accessibility of a layer's width and height as effects means you can easily reference it from its children, a method particularly useful in animating responsive design mockups. I've used a version of this for years and always find new uses. I'm excited to see what you'll do with it too!

Please contact me if you have any questions about using this preset!

Credits:

Rigged Box v3.0 was built with Kyle Martinez.
See his work at kyle-martinez.com and give him a follow at @kyletmartinez.