Expression Controls are effect-based controller tools in Adobe After Effects that allow you to manage complex expressions using sliders, checkboxes, color pickers, and more — without manually changing values every time.
They help simplify workflows, especially when working with repetitive animations or when you want to give control to someone else who isn’t familiar with expressions.
🔧 Types of Expression Controls
You’ll find these under:
Effects & Presets > Expression Controls
| Control Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Slider Control | Adds a numeric slider (great for opacity, scale, etc.) |
| Angle Control | Adds a circular angle dial (ideal for rotation animations) |
| Checkbox Control | Adds an on/off toggle (true/false conditions) |
| Color Control | Adds a color picker |
| Layer Control | Allows selecting a layer as reference |
| Point Control | Allows choosing X and Y coordinates |
🛠 How to Use Expression Control – Step-by-Step
🔹 Step 1: Apply Expression Control
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Select a layer (e.g., a shape layer or solid).
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Go to
Effects & Presets > Expression Controls -
Drag and drop a control (e.g., Slider Control) onto the layer.
🔹 Step 2: Add Expression with Pick Whip
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Alt + Click the stopwatch 🔁 of the property you want to control (e.g., rotation).
-
Use the Pick Whip tool to link the property to the control:
effect("Slider Control")("Slider")
🔹 Step 3: Customize Your Expression
You can modify it like this:
effect("Slider Control")("Slider") * 2
This multiplies the slider value to control the rotation faster.
💡 Use Cases
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🎛 Control multiple layers’ opacity from a single slider.
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🎨 Use Color Control to dynamically change fill/stroke colors.
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🧠 Create reusable templates with easy-to-understand control panels.
🧪 Bonus: Expression Control Example – Wiggle Toggle
if (effect("Checkbox Control")("Checkbox") == 1){
wiggle(2,20)
}else{
value
}
This toggles a wiggle expression on/off using a checkbox.
✅ Summary
Expression Controls in After Effects:
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Enhance animation flexibility
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Make your project modular and editable
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Are perfect for motion design templates and client projects
