A pivot point is where your object rotates or scales from

In Alight Motion, the pivot point is the center around which a layer rotates, scales, or skews. By default, it sits at the center of your layer. Moving it lets you rotate an object around its edge, corner, or any other spot you choose — so a door swings from its hinge instead of spinning in place, or a clock hand rotates from its base instead of its tip.

The pivot point tool is built into Alight Motion's transform controls. You do not need a plugin or separate software. Once you understand where to find it and how to drag it, you can place it anywhere on your layer in seconds.

Key Takeaways

  • Select your layer, tap the transform icon (four arrows), and look for the small circle or crosshair in the center of your layer — that is your pivot point.
  • Drag the pivot point to move it anywhere on your layer; the rotation, scale, and skew tools will now work from that new location.
  • A pivot point placed at the edge of a layer makes rotation look natural for objects like doors, wheels, or pendulums.
  • You can reset the pivot point to the center by tapping the reset button in the transform panel, which varies slightly by Alight Motion version.

How to locate and select the pivot point

Open your project and tap the layer you want to edit. In the timeline or layers panel, make sure the layer is highlighted. Then tap the transform tool — it looks like four arrows pointing outward, usually in the toolbar at the bottom or side of the screen.

Once you tap transform, your layer will show a bounding box around it. In the center of that box, you will see a small circle or crosshair. That is your pivot point. If you do not see it, zoom in on your canvas or make sure the transform tool is still active.

Moving the pivot point to a new location

With the transform tool active and the pivot point visible, tap and hold on the pivot point itself (the center circle or crosshair). Drag it to wherever you want the rotation or scale to happen from. You can move it to an edge, a corner, or anywhere else on the layer.

As you drag, you will see the pivot point move in real time. Release your finger when it is in the right spot. The pivot point stays there until you move it again or reset it. Any rotation, scale, or skew you explore after this will use the new pivot point as the center.

Using the pivot point for rotation effects

Once your pivot point is positioned, select the rotation tool from the transform menu. Tap and drag on your layer to rotate it. The layer will now spin around the pivot point instead of its original center. If you placed the pivot point at the bottom edge of a rectangle, it will rotate upward like a door opening. If you placed it at one corner, it will swing around that corner.

This works the same way for scaling. Select the scale tool and drag outward or inward. The layer will grow or shrink from the pivot point outward, rather than from the center. A pivot point at the corner makes scaling look like the layer is growing from that corner.

Resetting the pivot point to center

If you move the pivot point and later want to put it back in the center of your layer, look for a reset button in the transform panel. The exact location depends on your version of Alight Motion, but it is usually a small icon that looks like a target or a circular arrow. Tap it, and the pivot point jumps back to the center of the layer.

If you cannot find a reset button, you can also manually drag the pivot point back to the center by eye, or delete the transform and reapply it fresh. The pivot point will default to center on any new transform.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is forgetting that the pivot point is active. You move it once, then explore rotation or scale to a different layer and wonder why it is rotating from the wrong spot. Always check which layer is selected and whether the pivot point is where you expect it before you start animating.

Another mistake is dragging the pivot point too far outside the layer bounds. While Alight Motion allows this, it can make your animation hard to control. Keep the pivot point on or very close to the layer itself unless you have a specific reason to move it further out.

If your pivot point seems to jump or snap to a grid, check whether snapping is turned on in your settings. You can usually toggle it off if you need finer control over the exact position.

Animating with a custom pivot point

Once your pivot point is set, you can keyframe rotation, scale, or skew just as you normally would. Tap the record button, move the timeline to a new frame, and adjust the rotation or scale value. Alight Motion will animate from the pivot point you set, not from the default center.

You can also move the pivot point itself and keyframe that movement. This is useful if you want the rotation center to shift during an animation — for example, a pendulum that swings from one pivot point, then shifts to another. Set a keyframe on the pivot point position, move to a new frame, move the pivot point, and Alight Motion will animate the change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move the pivot point outside the layer?

Yes. Alight Motion allows you to drag the pivot point anywhere on the canvas, even far outside the layer bounds. This is useful for effects like orbiting, where you want an object to rotate around a point in empty space. However, it can make your animation harder to control, so use it intentionally.

Does the pivot point affect where the layer appears on the canvas?

No. Moving the pivot point changes only the center of rotation and scaling, not the layer's position. The layer stays in the same spot on the canvas. If you want to move the layer itself, use the position tool instead.

What happens to the pivot point if I resize the layer?

The pivot point stays where you placed it. If you resize the layer using the scale tool, the pivot point does not automatically move to stay centered. If you want it centered again after resizing, reset it manually or use the reset button.

Can I set a different pivot point for each keyframe?

Yes. You can keyframe the pivot point position itself. Set a keyframe at one frame with the pivot point in one location, move to another frame, move the pivot point to a new spot, and Alight Motion will animate the pivot point movement between those frames.