Circular Placement

The Circular Placement preset for After Effects is a game-changing addition to your toolkit that offers a wide array of possibilities for layer alignment. With this preset, you can create outstanding carousels, spirals, and repeat objects around a circle.

There is no easy way to align layers along a circle inside After Effects and, at the same time, have easy editing options. In 2014, I created a preset to solve this issue. Over time, I enhanced its versatility and user-friendliness. This preset saves time and enables you to focus on the creative side of animation. It helped me with various projects. I hope it will help you too!

Circular Placement Preset enables easy layer alignment on a circle, with a user-friendly interface for quick configuration.

Individual settings

With the individual settings for position and rotation, you can easily highlight specific objects within the circular arrangement. It allows you to craft advanced carousels or synchronize your animation with audio.

Auto Rotation

The Auto Rotation setting lets you choose between automatic rotation along the path or maintaining object orientation. You can animate Rotation Angle to achieve exceptional results.

Radius Spiral

The Radius Spiral setting allows you to effortlessly align layers into a beautiful spiral configuration, adding an elegant touch to your design.

We rise by lifting others

DOWNLOAD

The Circular Placement preset is available for free. Just type $0 in the input field. However, if you’d like to show your appreciation, share this tool on your social media instead of buying me a virtual coffee. Give it back to the designers’ community what you get for free.

How to install

Download the Circular Placement preset ZIP file
Extract it
Copy/paste Bartlomiej Otlowski folder* to:
- Windows: Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects\Support Files\Presets
- macOS: Applications/Adobe After Effects/Presets
Refresh List in the Effects & Presets panel or restart your After Effects.
Before you use this preset check if you have JavaScript enabled
- File -> Project Settings -> Expressions -> JavaScript

*If you already have a Bartlomiej Otlowski folder, you can merge it or paste the preset inside this folder.

How to use Circular Placement

You can find the Circular Placement preset in the Effects & Presets panel. Type ‘Circular Placement’ in the search bar or twirl down the *Animation Presets menu.

Create a Null Object
Rename it to Center
Type ‘Circular Placement’ in the search bar of the Effects & Presets window
Apply Circular Placement – Null preset to Null Object
Select the Layers you want to align
Apply to them Circular Placement – Layer preset

Extra Rotation

If you want to use the rotation of the rig like it would be precomposed without precomposing:

Add a new Null Object (you can rename it to New Center)
Parent Layers with Circular Placement – Layer expressions to the new Null
Parent new Null Object to Center layer
Set the position value of the Center layer to [0,0]
Use new Null Object as New Center layer

Now you can reposition your New Center and use its rotation.

“This looks so useful!”

HAYLEY AKINS FOUNDER AND CEO, MOTION HATCH

How to use with KBar

The Circular Placement zip file contains icons in Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) format. It lets you customize your KBar panel by adding new buttons with personalized vector icons.

Open KBar Settings
Click Add Button
Select Apply Preset
Navigate to the Circular Placement – Null.ffx file
Click the Icon button to set a custom icon
In the Description field type Circular Placement – Null
Hit OK button
Repeat all steps with Circular Placement – Layer preset
- Optional: You can add a second button with a keybind modifier to save space