Learn How to Use Trace Paths

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Manual keyframe animation for complex paths can drain hours from your production schedule. Whether you're creating motion graphics for client presentations or animated sequences for digital campaigns, the Trace Paths technique in Adobe After Effects eliminates the tedious frame-by-frame approach. This powerful workflow allows objects to follow sophisticated curved trajectories with mathematical precision, giving you professional results in a fraction of the time.

This tutorial demonstrates how to master Trace Paths using a practical example: animating a delivery truck traveling across multiple states. The same principles apply to any object following any path—from animated logos to character movement in explainer videos.

Draw Path

First, we'll establish the foundation by creating a custom vector path that defines your object's journey.

1. Go to Layer > New > Shape Layer.
2. Use the Pen tool to draw out a wavy line, starting from NY, going to TX. Then go to WY and then CA.
3. Use the Convert Vertex tool to adjust Path as needed.

Trace Path

Now we'll convert your drawn path into an animated null object that can control other elements. This is where After Effects' automation truly shines.

1. On the Path layer, toggle open Path > Contents > Shape 1 > Path 1.
2. Click on the word Path next to the stopwatch.
3. Go to Windows > Create Nulls from Paths.
4. Click on Trace Paths.

Parent Truck

With your invisible path controller created, it's time to link your visual element to follow the trajectory seamlessly.

1. Turn Visibility on the Truck layer.
2. Place the Truck over the Null itself.
3. Drag the pick whip from the Truck layer to the new Trace Paths layer.
4. If need be, Rotate the Truck to be perpendicular to the Path.

Animate Null

Here's where you control the timing and pacing. Creating hold points allows your object to pause at specific locations—perfect for highlighting key destinations or creating narrative beats in your animation.

1. With the Trace Paths layer selected, hit U to open up all animated keyframes.
2. Drag the last keyframe out to 0;00;05;19;
3. Move the Playhead to 0;00;00;15;
4. Change the Progress to 0.
5. Move the Playhead to 0;00;02;00.
6. Change Progress to 41%.
7. Move the Playhead to 0;00;02;15.
8. Change Progress to 41%.
9. Move the Playhead to 0;00;04;00.
10. Change Progress to 71%.
11. Move the Playhead to 0;00;04;15.
12. Change Progress to 71%.

Animate Path

Adding a progressive path reveal creates a sophisticated trailing effect, showing the journey as it unfolds. This technique is particularly effective for route visualizations and progress indicators.

1. Now animate the Path. Toggle open Path.
2. Click the arrow next to Add.
3. Add Trim Paths.
4. Toggle open Trim Paths.
5. Move the Playhead to the origin.
6. Hit the stopwatch next to End to set a keyframe.
7. Change End to 0.
8. Move the Playhead to 0;00;00;15.
9. Hit the diamond to set a keyframe.
10. Move the Playhead to 0;00;02;00.
11. Change End to 45.
12. Move the Playhead to 0;00;02;15.
13. Hit the diamond to set a keyframe.
14. Move the Playhead to 0;00;04;00.
15. Change End to 72.
16. Move the Playhead to 0;00;04;15.
17. Hit the diamond to set a keyframe.
18. Move the Playhead to 0;00;05;19.
19. Change End to 100.

Add Dashes to Path

The final polish transforms your solid path into a professional dashed line, commonly used in route visualizations and motion graphics to suggest movement and direction.

1. On the Path layer, toggle open Path > Contents > Shape 1 > Stroke 1.
2. Toggle open Dashes.
3. Hit the plus sign next to Dashes twice to add a Dash and a Gap setting.
4. Change Gap to 20.

Assets from Vecteezy.com

Video Transcript

Hello. This is Tziporah Zions from Noble Desktop. In this tutorial, I'll demonstrate how to create a Trace Paths animation in Adobe After Effects. We'll begin by creating a custom path using the Pen tool, then leverage the Trace Paths command—found in the Create Nulls from Paths panel—to parent a truck object and animate it along our defined trajectory.

From there, we'll refine the animation timing and enhance the path visualization. Here's our finished result: a truck that travels along a curved route, making strategic stops at different states. This demonstrates how Trace Paths excels at animating objects along organic, complex trajectories without the time-intensive process of manually keyframing every curve and direction change.

This approach significantly reduces production time while maintaining professional results. The technique relies primarily on automated path generation, object parenting, and strategic timing adjustments. We'll work with a map background, a vector truck asset, and a paper texture overlay. Our primary objective is animating the truck's movement with a trailing path effect. You can find the project files and assets in the video description below.

Let's begin. Navigate to Layer > New > Shape Layer to create our foundation. Using the Pen tool, I'll draw a line connecting New York to Texas, then Wyoming, and finally California. I'm setting the stroke to 8 pixels wide with a white color. I can adjust anchor points for smoother curves using the Convert Vertex tool—these refinements can always be made later as needed.

Now for the crucial step: go to Window > Create Nulls from Paths. This is an Adobe After Effects script that should be available in current versions. With our path layer selected, I need to drill down to Path > Contents > Shape 1 > Path 1, then click on Trace Paths. It's essential to have the actual path selected—this is a common error point that I want to highlight since it only functions with the proper selection.

Notice the new null object that appears in our timeline—it follows along our white path automatically, which is the foundation of this technique's power.

Next, let's position our truck layer directly on top of the null object. I'll center the truck's anchor point on the null and use the pick whip to parent the truck layer to our new Trace Paths layer. Now the truck inherits the null's movement, following our defined path. You might want to rotate your truck initially to ensure proper orientation relative to the path direction.

An important note: if you edit the original path using the Convert Vertex tool, the truck's trajectory updates automatically. This non-destructive workflow allows for easy path refinements throughout your project.

For animation timing, select the Trace Paths layer and press U to reveal all animated keyframes. I'll extend the final keyframe to create a longer animation duration. To create stops at specific locations, I'll duplicate keyframes—this creates hold points where the truck pauses. For example, setting the Progress to 0 at the start, then 41% when reaching Texas, holding that value for 15 frames, then advancing to 71% for Wyoming with another hold.

This keyframe manipulation controls your animation's pacing and creates natural pauses at key destinations. You can adjust these Progress values and timing to match your specific project needs.

For the path animation, expand your Path layer to Contents > Shape 1 and add Trim Paths. This creates a progressive reveal effect where the path appears to draw itself. I'll animate the End property from 0 to match our truck's progress, creating a trailing line that follows behind the moving object.

To enhance the visual appeal, let's add dashed styling. In the Stroke settings, change the Line Cap to Round Cap for softer edges, then expand Dashes and add dash and gap values. I'll set the dash to 10 and gap to 20 for a clean, professional appearance.

This technique adapts to virtually any object type. You can parent multiple objects, apply it to text layers, or even link other properties using expressions. The path itself accepts effects and additional styling, opening numerous creative possibilities.

Consider applications like animated text moving between points, airplanes following flight paths, progress indicators for data visualization, or vehicles navigating complex routes. The Trace Paths technique scales from simple logo animations to sophisticated motion graphics sequences.

That concludes our comprehensive look at Trace Paths animation in After Effects. This workflow transforms what could be hours of manual keyframing into an efficient, professional animation technique. This has been Tziporah Zions for Noble Desktop.