Last chance: your thoughts to win a year of Skillshare + January Update

👋 Welcome to the latest edition of my monthly motion design newsletter, where I bring you fresh tutorials, a sneak peak of what’s coming soon, a handy tip, and a random recommendation!

🥳 New

Automatically Fade a Layer In & Out in After Effects

Instead of having to adjust keyframes, write an expression so that all you have to do is adjust the duration of the layer and it will automatically fade in and out based on the start and end of the layer.

Watch the tutorial

😎 Also new... hope you like the updated design of the newsletter!

🤫 Sneak Peak

I’m working on a new video series for YouTube about Adobe Illustrator. Similar to my After Effects Fundamentals series, I’ll cover all the essential skills motion designers need to know about Illustrator!

As I plan out 2025, I’m also thinking about classes/tutorials on animating shapes, characters, and explainer videos. Get your input in by filling out the survey.

⚡ Quick Tip

Copy & Paste Layers in the Right Order

When copying and pasting layers in After Effects, make sure you choose the layer you want to be on top first, then hold shift and select another layer to select all the layers in between. Or, hold command/Ctrl while selecting some of the layers.

When you paste the layers, whatever you selected first will be on top and whatever you selected last will be on bottom.

Reverse the Order of Layers on the Timeline

You can use the last tip to reverse the order of layers on the timeline.

Select the bottom layer first, then hold shift and select the top layer. Now delete the layers and paste them back in the opposite order.

👉 Random Recommendation

I’ve always been a health conscious person, but last year I really reduced how much sugar and refined carbs I eat. When I learned about how bad blood sugar spikes are for the body, I knew I had room for improvement. I actually tracked by blood sugar with a continuous glucose monitor and the Levels app to learn about what foods work best for my body. While I’d highly recommend doing something similar, I know that’s extreme for a lot of people (I’ll admit it was emotionally taxing too).

Glucose Goddess (aka Jesse Inchauspé) shares 10 “hacks” for managing your blood sugar to “cut cravings, get energy back, and feel amazing”. I can personally attest to that (but have no affiliation - just a fan)! You can find Glucose Goddess on Instagram or YouTube or read one of her books (I listened on the Libby app - a past recommendation).