Edit Speed Graphs with Bezier Handles in After Effects

Mastering the Speed Graph in Adobe After Effects allows you to transform stiff, linear keyframes into fluid, dynamic animations. This guide explains how to switch to the Speed Graph view, convert standard keyframes into Bezier keyframes, and manipulate yellow Bezier handles to control the acceleration, deceleration, and peak velocity of your layer properties.

1. Set Up Your Base Keyframes

Apply at least two keyframes to any animatable property (such as Position, Scale, or Rotation) on your layer in the Timeline panel. By default, After Effects creates linear keyframes, which animate at a constant, robotic speed from start to finish.

2. Open and Configure the Graph Editor

  1. Select the property you want to edit.
  2. Click the Graph Editor icon located at the top right of the Timeline panel (or press Shift + F3).
  3. If the graph displays values rather than speed, right-click anywhere inside the Graph Editor or click the Graph Type and Options icon at the bottom of the panel.
  4. Select Edit Speed Graph. The vertical axis now represents speed (units per second), while the horizontal axis represents time.

3. Convert Keyframes to Bezier

Linear keyframes appear in the Speed Graph as flat, horizontal lines. To enable Bezier handles:

  1. Select the keyframes inside the Graph Editor using the marquee selection tool.
  2. Press F9 (or right-click and choose Keyframe Assistant > Easy Ease).
  3. The graph will transform into an arc, and yellow Bezier control handles will extend from the keyframe points.

4. Adjust the Bezier Handles

The yellow handles determine how quickly a property accelerates or decelerates:

  • Changing Peak Velocity: Drag a Bezier handle upward or downward to increase or decrease the speed at that point in time.
  • Changing Acceleration (Easing): Drag a Bezier handle horizontally. Lengthening a handle creates a prolonged acceleration or deceleration period, while shortening it causes a sudden change in speed.
  • Constraining Angles: Hold Shift while dragging a handle horizontally to ensure you only adjust the timing and influence without accidentally skewing the vertical speed value.

5. Separate Dimensions for Position

If you are animating the Position property, After Effects links the X, Y, and Z axes by default, which can cause erratic Bezier handle behavior in the Speed Graph. To resolve this:

  1. Right-click the Position property in the layer stack.
  2. Select Separate Dimensions.
  3. Edit the speed handles for X Position and Y Position individually.

6. Common Speed Profiles

  • Pop/Impact Animation (Fast Start, Slow End): Pull the right Bezier handle of the starting keyframe all the way to the right and upward. This causes the animation to burst into motion instantly and gradually settle into place.
  • Smooth Transition (Standard Ease In and Out): Pull both the incoming and outgoing handles toward the center of the timeline segment to create a bell-curve peak in the middle.