PathAnimator

PathAnimator vs After Effects for Fourier and epicycle animations

After Effects is a full motion-graphics studio. PathAnimator does one effect, free, in the browser.

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PathAnimator and After Effects compared
FeaturePathAnimatorAfter Effects
PriceFreePaid Adobe subscription
SetupNothing to install; runs in the browserDesktop app for Windows or macOS
Making a Fourier drawingBuilt in: draw, type or upload and it animatesNot built in: needs expressions, scripts or a third-party plugin
InputsFreehand, text in 16 fonts, SVG, photos, icons, QR codesAny footage, shapes, text or Illustrator files
ControlCircle count, speed, colours, glow, trail, 3D tilt, camera followFull motion design: keyframes, effects, compositing
ExportsMP4, WebM with transparency, GIF, PNG, SVG, LottieAny video format through Media Encoder; Lottie through plugins
Share and embedShare links and embed code built inUpload the rendered video somewhere
Learning curveMinutesWeeks to be comfortable

Pick After Effects if

  • The epicycle drawing is one layer in a larger edit with footage, titles and effects.
  • You need frame-exact keyframes and compositing.
  • You already work in Adobe's apps every day.

Pick PathAnimator if

  • You want the Fourier drawing effect itself, quickly, without building it from expressions.
  • You don't have, or don't want to pay for, an After Effects licence.
  • You want to drop the result into After Effects anyway: export a transparent WebM, an SVG or a Lottie file.
Try PathAnimator freeSee Fourier drawings

Questions

How do I make an epicycle animation in After Effects?

After Effects has no built-in Fourier tool, so people use expressions, scripts or a plugin to compute and draw the circles. The quicker route is to make the animation in PathAnimator and import a transparent WebM into your composition.

Can I bring a PathAnimator animation into After Effects?

Yes. Export WebM with a transparent background to keep only the circles and line, export the finished path as SVG to use as a shape, or export Lottie to bring it back out to the web.

Is PathAnimator free for commercial use?

Yes. Exports are free, with no account. Video, GIF and PNG exports carry a small 'made with pathanimator.com' mark in the corner; SVG and Lottie exports don't.

Also compared: PathAnimator vs Manim, PathAnimator vs GeoGebra.