Start with the Motion Dock open and a composition containing several layers. A dozen small, unparented shapes or icons makes the result easy to see.
Add Fling to the dock
- Click Edit layout in the dock’s top bar.
- Click an empty area of the layout. In the picker, use Search tools to find Fling, then click its tile.
- Click Exit layout mode.
If Fling is already in this layout, use its existing slot. You can resize the slot while editing the layout.
Arrange your layers
- Open your composition in its viewer and select the layers in the Timeline. Unlock any layers you want to move.
- Choose Ring in Fling. In a narrow slot, click the current mode name to open the picker.
- Press near the center of the pad and drag to the right. Keep the ring inside the rectangle for this first try.
- Release when the preview has the size you want.
Your layers should now form a circle in the composition. Fling moves each layer's anchor position to one of the preview points.
Drag again with the same layers selected to try a different size or position. Use After Effects' Undo to undo a placement.
For this first layout, leave keyframes disabled. On previously unanimated layers, Fling sets Position directly. Layers that already have Position keys still receive a key at the playhead, even with Keyframe Mode off.
If the pad flashes No layers selected, select unlocked layers in the active composition. A click or a very short drag does nothing. Pull farther until preview dots appear. Other symptoms have fixes in Troubleshooting.