How to Use the Graph Editor in After Effects
Graph Editors are a standard interface window in animation and motion design software. Used in applications like Cinema 4D, After Effects, web development and beyond.
The Graph Editor visualizes the speed and movement of objects across time, and translation of property values to different states. Getting familiar with the Graph Editor is a core to understanding animation and motion design.
Interfaces like the Graph Editor, components like Keyframes, and concepts like Easing Curves are universal across applications and industries in the 2020s.
The Graph Editor Interface in Adobe After Effects
The native Graph Editor interface in After Effects is simple to understand as piece-by-piece components. For new animators, the Graph Editor can be confusing.
How to open the Graph Editor in After Effects.
Open the Graph Editor by clicking the graph icon at the top of the Timeline panel or, pressing Shift+F3.
TIP: this overlays/hides the Timeline layers. Selecting layer property keyframes before switching to the native Graph Editor can save headaches. Having a separated window like Motion Studio's Easing can help pro-animators stay in the flow.
The After Effects Graph Editor interface explained:
The Graph Editor interface displays property values and state changes across time.
"Time" in the context of animation is not realtime, as the real-world. In animation, the duration of time, in a timeline or Graph Editor, means the property value change per frame.
- horizontal axis represents time (frames / seconds)
- vertical axis represents the property value and speed
After Effects provides two Graph Editor types
Toggle between Graph Editor types using the "Choose graph type and options" button at the bottom of the Graph Editor. Types can be thought of as "views" and keyframe easing.
Value Graph
Shows property values over time (represented as frames, or timecode values).
TIP: Properties show the value types specific measurement type.
Example 1: Position with x, y, (z) coordinates and pixels to represent the layers placement in the Compositions dimension.
Example 2: Rotation is shown as degrees, going negative and positive; as the real-world.
Example 3: Opacity changes in a percentage 0% (invisible) to 100% (visible).
On the Value Graph, the easing curve shape indicates how values change:
Example 1: steep sections mean large property value change (1 -> 1000)
Example 2: flat sections mean minimal property value change (1 -> 2)
Speed Graph
Shows velocity over time — how quick the property changes at any given frame, measured in units per second.
Example 1: flat graph lines, means no movement. There is no Speed , at "zero," — like no power to change values.
Example 2: a graph line with peaks like a rollercoaster has speed. Larger peaks = larger speed = faster change of value possible. Speed isn't a static value, that can jump 0 to 100, so accelerates and decelerates.
TIP: The value on the vertical axis indicates speed, not position.
How do I adjust keyframe easing in After Effects with the Graph Editor?
1. Select a keyframe in the Timeline
2. Toggle to the Graph Editor
3. The selected keyframes will be visible in the Graph Editor
4. Hover the cursor over keyframes to reveal bezier handles.
5. Drag the bezier handles to influence the easing curve shape.
TIP: the direction handles control the keyframe's easing curve shape. The Graph Editor interface and graph helps read the data of the layer's Property values across time.
What do keyframe bezier handles do?
Keyframe bezier handles exist on keyframes that are Easy Ease, Ease In, or Ease Out. Other keyframe types like Hold, Linear and Auto-Bezier don't have bezier handles for easing.
Right click a Keyframe > "Keyframe Assistant" > Easy Ease
PRO-TIP: from the Graph Editor hold OPT and drag "off" the selected Keyframe to pull out a bezier handle.
Handle delta (direction)
The keyframe bezier handle delta (mathematical direction) changes how quick a property value translation will happen.
Bezier handles pointed up indicate quick change; handles pointed down indicate gradual, or reverse change (overshoot / undershoot).
Handle length
The keyframe bezier handle length changes the influence of the "easing" on property value translation. Handle length is like the "weight of influence".
Bezier handles that are long, have more weight to shape the easing curve.
Modifier keys provide additional control:
- Alt/Option-drag splits incoming and outgoing handles for independent control
- Shift-drag snaps handles to horizontal or vertical angles
- Control/Command-drag locks handle length while adjusting angle
TIP: For precision, right-click a keyframe and from the modal select "Keyframe Velocity" to enter exact speed and influence values by hand. As a flexible and quick alternative, use Motion Studio Easing sliders for quick adjustment.
What's the difference between the value graph and speed graph?
Both Graph Editor types and options visualize and "describe" the same animation from different perspectives.
In most circumstances, the Value Graph Editor is the easier of the two Types to do advanced easing curves like overshoot.
TIP: Overshoot, is when a property value extends past a value (negative or positive) and settling on the keyframe property value. Overshoot, is done by adjusting the keyframe bezier handles, and doesn't add additional keyframes.
The Graph Editor Speed type can be difficult to understand in comparison to the Value type (easing curve peaks displaying maximum velocity).
TIP: Motion Studios' Easing has a special third Graph Type called Cubic that simplifies overshoot bulk properties and keyframes.
The Value Graph
Shows where the property is at any given time. For a layer moving from position 0 to position 500, the curve starts at 0 and ends at 500.
The shape of the curve shows the path between those values — a straight diagonal line means constant speed, an S-curve means ease-in and ease-out.
Speed Graph
Shows how quickly the property changes. The same animation might show a peaked hill shape: starting at zero speed, accelerating to peak velocity in the middle, then decelerating back to zero. The height of the curve indicates speed, not position.
TIP: For position properties, After Effects combines X and Y into a single speed value by default. To edit X and Y curves independently, right-click the Position property and select "Separate Dimensions" before working in the graph editor.
How do I create bounce and overshoot effects?
Overshoot occurs when a property exceeds its target value before settling. In the value graph, this appears as the curve extending past the final keyframe value, then curving back.
To create overshoot manually:
1. Set two keyframes with Easy Ease applied (F9)
2. Open the Graph Editor and switch to Value Graph
3. Select the second keyframe
4. Alt/Option-drag the incoming handle upward past the target value
5. Adjust handle length to control how far the overshoot extends
Graph Editor Type differences with overshoot
The speed graph shows overshoot differently — the curve dips below zero, indicating the property is moving backward (returning from the overshoot position).
Bounce effects layer multiple overshoots with decreasing amplitude. Each bounce requires additional keyframes, with curves extending past and back through the target value.
The graph editor makes the physics visible, but complex bounces often benefit from expression-based solutions or third-party tools that handle the math.
How does Motion Studio's Easing compare to the native After Effects Graph Editor?
Motion Studio's Easing page provides an alternative interface for the same underlying keyframe data. Select keyframes in After Effects, and Motion Studio displays the corresponding curves in its panel.
Three graph views
Speed Graph, Value Graph, and Cubic Graph. The Cubic Graph normalizes curves to CSS cubic-bezier format, which some animators find more intuitive for designing easing without thinking about specific speed or position values.
Adjustments happen through sliders, text fields, or direct graph manipulation — changes apply to selected keyframes in After Effects. The Speed and Influence sliders provide numeric control without opening the Keyframe Velocity dialog.
Libraries
Motion Studio also includes easing libraries for saving and applying preset curves. Presets store either speed/influence values or cubic bezier coordinates, and libraries sync across After Effects, Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve through the same installation.
Perks vs native
For motion designers who work with easing, the panel-based interface keeps curve adjustment accessible without switching to the graph editor view. For those who prefer the native graph editor, After Effects' built-in tools remain fully functional alongside Motion Studio.
Common Questions about the Graph Editor
Why can't I edit my position curves?
After Effects combines X and Y position into a single spatial path by default. The Graph Editor can't separate these curves until dimensions are separated. Right-click the Position property and select "Separate Dimensions" to get independent X Position and Y Position properties with individual curves.
What does "influence" mean?
Influence determines how much a keyframe's easing extends toward its neighbor. Higher influence means the curve maintains its direction longer before transitioning to the next keyframe. In the graph editor, influence corresponds to bezier handle length — longer handles mean more influence.
How do I match Easing across multiple layers and multiple keyframes?
Select keyframes across multiple layers, then apply Easy Ease or adjust values in the Keyframe Velocity dialog — changes apply to all selected keyframes. For matching specific curves, third-party tools like Motion Studio allow saving custom easing presets that can be applied to any keyframe selection.
What's the keyboard shortcut for Easy Ease?
F9 applies Easy Ease to selected keyframes. Shift+F9 applies Easy Ease In (deceleration only). Control/Command+Shift+F9 applies Easy Ease Out (acceleration only). These shortcuts work in both the Timeline and Graph Editor.
Easing tools are available in Motion Studio. Try Motion Studio free for 7 days — no payment required.