If you have ever watched a smooth animation and wondered, “How did they make that motion feel so good?” the answer is almost always graphs. Graphs control how motion flows between keyframes. They decide whether an animation feels robotic or natural.
This guide breaks down graphs in Alight Motion in the simplest way possible. Even if you are a complete beginner, you will understand how graphs work by the end of this article. And remember, these concepts do not apply only to Alight Motion. You can use the same graph logic in almost every editing or animation app.
Before Graphs, You Must Understand Keyframes
Before touching graphs, you need to understand keyframes. Without keyframes, graphs do nothing.
What Are Keyframes?
Keyframes are markers placed on the timeline. They control how an object changes over time. You can use keyframes to animate:
- Position
- Scale
- Rotation
- Opacity
Think of keyframes as start and end points for motion.
A Simple Keyframe Example
Let’s say you want to move an object from left to right.
- Open Move and Transform
- Add a keyframe at the start
- Move the playhead to the end
- Add another keyframe
- Change the X position of the second keyframe
Since the X value changes from keyframe one to keyframe two, the object moves horizontally.
X controls horizontal movement, and Y controls vertical movement.
The same logic applies to scaling. Add two keyframes and change the scale value of one keyframe. That’s all you need to create motion.
What Is Animation Flow?
Once you understand keyframes, the next step is animation flow. Animation flow decides how the object moves between keyframes.
This is where graphs come in.
By default, Alight Motion uses linear motion, which means the object moves at the same speed from start to end. Linear motion looks stiff and boring. Graphs fix that.
The Three Most Important Graphs
There are three main graph types that beginners should learn first.
1. Ease In
Ease In starts slow and then gets fast.
This graph is useful when:
- An object enters the screen
- You want motion to feel natural
- You want a smooth build-up of speed
2. Ease Out
Ease Out starts fast and then slows down.
This graph works well when:
- An object stops on screen
- You want a smooth ending
- You want motion to feel soft
3. Ease
Ease combines Ease In and Ease Out.
- Starts slow
- Gets fast in the middle
- Slows down again at the end
This is the most commonly used graph because it creates the most natural motion.
All three of these graph presets are available directly in Alight Motion.
Applying Graphs in Alight Motion
Let’s look at a practical example.
- Add a shape layer
- Go to Move and Transform
- Add two position keyframes
- Move the object from one side to another
If you play the animation now, it will look linear.
To fix this:
- Open the Graph option
- Choose any preset graph (Ease In, Ease Out, or Ease)
- The graph applies instantly between the keyframes
Just like that, your animation feels smoother.
Understanding the Graph Editor
The graph editor gives you two handles. These handles control speed.
Here’s the simple logic:
- Top and bottom of the graph = slow motion
- Left and right sides of the graph = fast motion
When you move a handle:
- More toward fast = faster movement
- More toward slow = slower movement
Example Breakdown
If the first handle stays near fast and the second handle moves toward slow, the motion starts fast and ends slow.
If both handles stay near slow, the middle part of the animation becomes faster.
This visual control lets you design motion exactly how you want it.
Creating Custom Motion Curves
Preset graphs are great, but custom graphs give you full freedom.
For example:
- Move the first handle deeper into the slow area
- Adjust the second handle slightly toward fast
Now the motion will feel:
- Slow at the start
- Slightly fast in the middle
- Slow again at the end
Small adjustments make a huge difference.
Using Overshoot for Extra Impact
Alight Motion also allows Overshoot.
When you enable Overshoot:
- Handles can move outside the graph box
- Motion can go beyond the final position
- The object can bounce back
This creates:
- Bounce effects
- Impact motion
- Dynamic transitions
Overshoot is not necessary for basic animation, but it becomes very useful once you feel comfortable with graphs.
Graphs Work on More Than Position
Graphs are not limited to position. You can use them on:
- Rotation
- Scale
- Skew
- Opacity
Any property that uses keyframes can use graphs.
Creating a Character Move Animation
Let’s put everything together.
- Move the character to the left side
- Move the playhead to one second
- Add one position keyframe
- Add one rotation keyframe
- Go back to zero seconds
- Move the character down
- Rotate it slightly
Now apply an Ease graph to both position and rotation.
When you play the animation, the character enters smoothly with natural motion.
Adding More Motion and Layer Effects
To enhance the animation:
- Add two more position keyframes
- Apply an Ease graph again
- Adjust the graph curve
- Duplicate the layer
- Replace the character asset
- Cut layers to switch characters
- Add Motion Blur to both layers
If the duplicate does not fit perfectly:
- Go to Color and Fill
- Select Fit
- Adjust scale if needed
This technique creates clean character transitions with professional motion.
Final Thoughts
Graphs might feel confusing at first, but once you understand the basics, they become one of the most powerful tools in Alight Motion. They turn simple keyframes into smooth, professional animations.
Start with:
- Keyframes
- Ease graphs
- Small handle adjustments
You do not need advanced graphs to create good animations. Master the basics first, and everything else will feel easier.
This is a simple explanation of how graphs work in Alight Motion—and in any animation app. Once you understand this, your animations will instantly look better.