How to Apply Random Values Without the Animation in After Effects

Matthew Fryer shows how to get random without the animating between frames.

It might initially sound a little counterproductive, but After Effects can let you get random values without having it randomize on each frame. For example, let’s say you wanted to import a lot of images into Ae and have them each place with a unique rotational value. You don’t want them to animate, but want them each placed at a slightly different rotation. TipTuts’ Matthew Fryer shows how to do it.

Randomize Without Motion.

After Effects, random expression lets you work with random numbers between a range. The expression also has a “timeless” command that enables you to apply a random value to a property but not have that value change over time — Perfect for setting layers to each have unique initial values on position, rotation, or anything else.