How to Create Smooth Pan & Zoom in After Effects (Faux Motion Control Tutorial)
n this lesson, we explore Faux Motion Control in After Effects and learn how to create smooth pan and zoom camera movements across a large image.
Using a high-resolution version of Rembrandt’s famous painting The Night Watch, we first see why animating Position and Scale together can cause frustrating framing problems, and then discover the professional technique used by motion designers: animating Anchor Point and Scale to simulate real camera movement.
To help you follow the tutorial step-by-step, you can download the high-resolution Night Watch image and a PDF infographic that summarizes the entire workflow.
📥 Download links are available in the pinned first comment under this video.
These materials will make it much easier to practice the technique and repeat the exercise on your own.