Answers.Body: <p>This is a tricky one to do without plugins.  I've used <a href="https://aescripts.com/connect-layers/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">ConnectLayersPro</a> to achieve this kind of thing, with the curves set to Step mode:</p>
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/SmiIL.gif" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/SmiIL.gif" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
  <p>If anyone knows how to do it using expressions (and maybe the built in Beam plugin?) I'd love to know.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2023-04-30T06:48:21.267Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2023-04-30T06:48:21.267Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: tomh
Body: <p>I am trying to simulate a node graph like <a href="https://www.usenodl.dev/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this</a> where a path with 4 points (start, 2 middle, end) adapts to the movement of an object connected to the start and end:</p>
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Vt4BD.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Vt4BD.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
  <p>If you move a node at the link above you can see this demonstrated. So far I've followed <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NZCj8vVZZM" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this tutorial using a beam</a> but this is 2 points - not 4 - with no support for curved paths.</p>
  <p>How can I simulate this node graph effect?</p>
  
Tags: <after-effects><animation>
Title: How to make a 4 point path follow an object at either end? (How to make a fake node graph)?
UserDisplayName: UserDude
ThreadText: # How to make a 4 point path follow an object at either end? (How to make a fake node graph)?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2023-04-30)
  
  I am trying to simulate a node graph like [this](https://www.usenodl.dev/) where a path with 4 points (start, 2 middle, end) adapts to the movement of an object connected to the start and end:
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/Vt4BD.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/Vt4BD.png)
  
  If you move a node at the link above you can see this demonstrated. So far I've followed [this tutorial using a beam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NZCj8vVZZM) but this is 2 points - not 4 - with no support for curved paths.
  
  How can I simulate this node graph effect?
  
  **Tags:** after-effects, animation
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2023-04-30. Score: 0
  
  This is a tricky one to do without plugins. I've used [ConnectLayersPro](https://aescripts.com/connect-layers/) to achieve this kind of thing, with the curves set to Step mode:
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/SmiIL.gif)](https://i.sstatic.net/SmiIL.gif)
  
  If anyone knows how to do it using expressions (and maybe the built in Beam plugin?) I'd love to know.
  
  
  ---
  
  