Repeller: A Free After Effects Preset for Repelling & Attracting Layers

The newest addition to Creation Effects Freebies' library: Repeller!

We’re posting to introduce Repeller, a complimentary animation preset for motion designers using Adobe After Effects. This tool enables users to automatically repel or attract any number of 2D or 3D layers using the movement of a single designated "repeller" layer. The customization controls allow you to set the radius, falloff, and the “push” force for each axis. The position of layers will react in real time as you drag your Repeller layer around.

Key Features:

• 3D Axis Control: Users can independently manipulate the displacement force along the X, Y, and Z axes. 

• Adjustable Spatial Parameters: The effect provides controls for Radius (defining the active area around the repeller) and Falloff (controlling the transition of the force).

  • Increasing the Falloff value beyond 100 will invert the effect, causing the layers to be attracted to the repeller instead of being pushed away. Experimentation with negative values can yield varied behavioral outcomes.

Repeller is offered as a free download, providing motion designers with a useful tool for enhancing layer animation dynamics.

Slider controls make the it easy to customize your project.

How to Apply the Effect

1. Installation: Download the Repeller preset for free. To install, drag the two .ffx files into the correct folder on your hard drive:

   1. Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects [version]\Support Files\Presets

   2. macOS: Documents > Adobe > After Effects [version] > User Presets 

2. Apply the Presets: In After Effects, find the preset in your Effects & Presets panel. Apply the preset "Repeller Layer" to the layer you want to be the control/repeller. This adds the customization controls. Apply the preset "Repelled Layers" to all the layers you that you want to repel. This adds the necessary position expression and a layer control.

3. Designate the Repeller: For all your repelled layers, use the layer control to tell it which layer is your Repeller layer. Once you do this for one layer, you can copy the layer control and paste it onto the rest of the affected layers.

4. Customize: Start moving your repeller layer, and watch your other layers react! Use the customization controls on the Repeller layer to adjust the force, radius, falloff, and more.

Check out the Repeller tutorial for more tips and ways to use the preset.

A Note on Position Expressions

Please note that applying the Repelled Layers preset will replace any existing Position Expression on that layer. If you need to keep another expression, you can use a Null Object:

• Parent your animated layer to a new Null Object.

• Apply the Repelled Layers preset to the Null Object instead.

Watch the full video tutorial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umcUVOl_YH0

Check out the Network Template!

The Repeller effect was originally built as a feature for our Network template. This template is a cheap alternative to the expensive plugins out there for animating complex networks of dots and connecting lines. The Repeller is just one of the many interesting ways you can move the points in Network.

If you like the power of the Repeller, you'll love the Network template for creating sophisticated, dynamic network animations:

 Explore the Network Template here: https://www.creationeffects.com/network

Happy animating! Let us know what you create with the free Repeller preset!