<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/VbIDk.gif" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/VbIDk.gif" alt="grab" /></a></p>
<p>Make a square</p>
<p>Centre the square on screen</p>
<p>Make sure the <a href="https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/anchor-point-in-after-effects" rel="nofollow noreferrer">anchor point</a> for the square is exactly at the position where the rotation should take place.</p>
<p>Add a mask revealing half the square</p>
<p>Duplicate the square</p>
<p>Change the colour of the duplicate to make it easier to see what you're doing</p>
<p>Change the mask on square 2 to 'subtract' mode, to reveal the other half</p>
<p>Make both layers 3D</p>
<p>Add a null object (it will be in the centre of the screen)</p>
<p>Make it 3D</p>
<p>Rotate it on the Z axis by 45 degrees</p>
<p>Pair square 2 to the null object</p>
<p>Animate the Y axis on the null object between 0 and -180 degrees.</p>
<p>The lower half of the square will fold up to meet the upper half.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-02-09T08:35:42.823Z
2023-02-09T14:15:52.580Z
2023-02-09T14:15:52.580Z
tomh
<p>I have a square that I am trying to fold in half in After Effects. I made two squares and masked each one. I then made the bottom half a 3D layer and tried working with the Y and Z rotation. But it isn't working the way I need it to.</p>
<p>Here is a visual for what I am trying to achieve.
Here is the square in the original format:
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Urx9J.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Urx9J.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>The I am trying to fold it on the diagonal but it isn't working.
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/X57f0.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/X57f0.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

<after-effects><animation>
How to animate a square folding in half diagonally in After Effects?
Webdev95
# How to animate a square folding in half diagonally in After Effects?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-02-08)

I have a square that I am trying to fold in half in After Effects. I made two squares and masked each one. I then made the bottom half a 3D layer and tried working with the Y and Z rotation. But it isn't working the way I need it to.

Here is a visual for what I am trying to achieve.
Here is the square in the original format:
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/Urx9J.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/Urx9J.png)

The I am trying to fold it on the diagonal but it isn't working.
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/X57f0.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/X57f0.png)

**Tags:** after-effects, animation


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2023-02-09. Score: 1

[![grab](https://i.sstatic.net/VbIDk.gif)](https://i.sstatic.net/VbIDk.gif)

Make a square

Centre the square on screen

Make sure the [anchor point](https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/anchor-point-in-after-effects) for the square is exactly at the position where the rotation should take place.

Add a mask revealing half the square

Duplicate the square

Change the colour of the duplicate to make it easier to see what you're doing

Change the mask on square 2 to 'subtract' mode, to reveal the other half

Make both layers 3D

Add a null object (it will be in the centre of the screen)

Make it 3D

Rotate it on the Z axis by 45 degrees

Pair square 2 to the null object

Animate the Y axis on the null object between 0 and -180 degrees.

The lower half of the square will fold up to meet the upper half.


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