Master the Bounce Effect Expression in After Effects: Step-by-Step Guide with Examples

What is a Bounce Expression in After Effects?

Why Use Bounce Expressions?

• Saves time: No need to manually animate every bounce.
• Realistic motion: It mimics natural physics-based movement.
• Reusable: Apply the same expression to multiple layers effortlessly.

Common Use Cases

Bounce expressions are widely used in different motion design scenarios, including:

• Text animations: Making text bounce in after effects for eye-catching motion graphics.
• Object movements: Animating objects like balls, icons, or UI elements with natural rebound.
• Logo animations: Adding a dynamic bounce to brand intros or promotional videos.

By mastering the bounce effect, you’ll be able to create engaging animations that elevate your projects. And if you’re looking for pre-made After Effects templates that include professional animations, check out this collection of After Effects video templates to save time and enhance your workflow.

Guide to Creating a Bounce Effect

Step 1: Setting Up Your Composition

1. Open Adobe After Effects and create a new composition.
2. Add an object (text, shape, or image) that you want to animate.
3. Ensure your timeline is visible and ready for animation.

At this stage, you’re simply preparing your workspace so you can apply the bounce expression effectively.

Step 2: Adding Position Keyframes

1. Select your object layer and press P to bring up the Position property.
2. Move to the starting position on the timeline and create a keyframe (click the stopwatch icon next to Position).
3. Move forward in time and change the position of your object downward, creating another keyframe.
4. Continue setting a few more keyframes to simulate a downward and upward movement.

At this point, your object moves up and down, but it doesn’t bounce naturally yet. That’s where the expression comes in.

Step 3: Writing the Bounce Expression

Now, let’s add the actual bounce expression to automate the movement.

1. Hold Alt (Option on Mac) and click on the stopwatch icon next to the Position property.
2. In the after effects expression editor that appears, paste the following code:

e = .5;

g = 20000;

nMax = 9;

 

n = 0;

if (numKeys > 0){

  n = nearestKey(time).index;

  if (key(n).time > time) n–;

}

if (n > 0){

  t = time – key(n).time;

  v = -velocityAtTime(key(n).time – .001)*e;

  vl = length(v);

  if (value instanceof Array){

    vu = (vl > 0) ? normalize(v) : [0,0,0];

  }else{

    vu = (v < 0) ? -1 : 1;

  }

  tCur = 0;

  segDur = 2*vl/g;

  tNext = segDur;

  nb = 1; // number of bounces

  while (tNext < t && nb <= nMax){

    vl *= e;

    segDur *= e;

    tCur = tNext;

    tNext += segDur;

    nb++

  }

  if(nb <= nMax){

    delta = t – tCur;

    value +  vu*delta*(vl – g*delta/2);

  }else{

    value

  }

}else

  value

This expression makes your object bounce naturally based on gravity and decay(e). Since the code is one of those you are going to use a lot, Copy and save it somewhere close, or like I did, add it to your macro pad keys. You can tweak these values to adjust the behavior.

Step 4: Customizing the Bounce

• Increase the gravity(g) if you want higher bounces.
• Increase decay(e) to make the bounces happen faster.

Try different values to see how they affect your animation. You can also combine this with other expressions like the wiggle effect to create more organic motion.

Advanced Tips for Using Bounce Expressions

Tip 1: Combining Bounce with Other Effects

Adding bounce to scale or rotation properties can make animations even more dynamic. You can combine it with the wiggle() expression for a more natural feel.

Wiggle: wiggle(2,10) + [0, 50*Math.exp(-2*time)*Math.cos(2*time*2*Math.PI)];

This expression creates a subtle bouncing motion with random movement.

Tip 2: Applying Bounce to Multiple Layers

If you want multiple objects to bounce at the same time:

1. Select multiple layers and press P for Position.
2. Apply the bounce expression to all selected layers.
3. Adjust each object’s keyframes slightly to avoid perfectly synchronized motion (which looks unnatural).

This technique works well for UI animations or character movements.

Tip 3: Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem: The object keeps bouncing indefinitely.

• Solution: Increase the decay value to slow down the effect over time.

Problem: The object bounces too fast or too slow.

• Solution: Adjust the frequency value to match your desired speed.

Problem: The object jumps unexpectedly at the start.

• Solution: Check your keyframes and ensure the expression is applied only after movement is introduced.

By fine-tuning these settings, you can create realistic and customizable bounce effects that fit any project.

Creative Applications of Bounce Expressions

1. Text Animations

Adding a bounce effect to text makes titles, lower thirds, or kinetic typography more engaging. Instead of a simple fade-in, you can make your text pop onto the screen with an energetic bounce.

How to Apply Bounce to Text

1. Create a new text layer in After Effects.
2. Enable position animation by pressing P and adding keyframes.
3. Apply the bounce expression to the Position property (same as used earlier).
4. Adjust amplitude and decay for a snappier or smoother bounce.

👉 Pro Tip: You can also apply the bounce effect to the Scale property for a “popping” effect when text appears on screen. This one is my go-to trick for keeping tutorial videos a lot more interesting and engaging for the audience.

2. Object Movements

The bounce expression works exceptionally well for objects like:

• Icons (bouncing buttons, pop-up notifications)
• Shapes (circles, squares, or abstract elements moving dynamically)
• Balls (simulating realistic ball physics)

Example: How to Animate a Bouncing Ball in After Effects

1. Import or create a ball shape layer.
2. Animate its falling motion using keyframes.
3. Apply the bounce expression to Position for a realistic rebound.
4. Fine-tune the amplitude and decay for the perfect bounce effect.

If you want to create a more complex bouncing animation, consider adding a motion blur effect or adjusting the easing of the keyframes.

3. Logo Animations

Logos with bounce animations can make intros or promotional videos more dynamic and memorable. Instead of a static logo reveal, adding a bounce can give it a playful and energetic feel.

How to Add a Bounce Effect to a Logo

1. Import your logo file (PNG or vector).
2. Animate the logo dropping into the frame using Position keyframes.
3. Add the bounce expression to the Position property.
4. If needed, add a scale bounce for extra impact.

This method is often used in branding videos, advertisements, and YouTube intros to make the logo reveal more engaging.

Conclusion

Key Takeaways:

• Saves time – No need for excessive keyframing.
• Adds realism – Mimics natural movement physics.
• Highly customizable – Adjust amplitude, frequency, and decay for different effects.

By experimenting with different values and combining bounce with other expressions, you can take your animations to the next level.

What’s Next?

Now that you know how to use bounce expressions, try applying them in your own projects! If you want to speed up your workflow, you can also explore pre-made After Effects templates to enhance your designs.

Check out these professional After Effects templates to find high-quality animations for your next project!