Hot After Effects How-Tos
How To: Create an animated Christmas greeting in Adobe After Effects
Whether you are using Adobe CS3, CS4 or CS5, this tutorial will still work. This is a very basic holiday greeting, where the phrase 'Merry Christmas' (or whatever else you want to say) is animated to appear slowly over a blue, snow filled background.
How To: Make abstract waves in After Effects with the Trapcode Form plug-in
Creating an abstract wave effect in After Effects will allow you to make graphics like those in the thumbnail, basically clouds of particles with that smokey / silky effect like they used in James Bond titles. This video will show you how to make this effect yourself in After Effects in two parts. Apply this technique to your titles and they should be much, much sexier.
How To: Create light wrapping and edge blurs in After Effects
This quick AE user's guide presents a lesson in light wrapping and edge blurs in After Effects. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular motion graphics and compositing software or a seasoned video professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this free video guide.
How To: Use wiggle expression & puppet tool in After Effects
In this tutorial, give a little life to your drawings by using the wiggle expression attached to the puppet tool in Adobe After Effects CS4. This is a cool way to animate your project.
How To: Create a Kung Pow tongue effect in After Effects
This After Effects tutorial gives a basic overview of how to create the tongue effect as seen in the show Kung Pow. You want your actor to move as little as they can, or you will have to fix the footage by motion tracking, which isn't covered in this tutorial.
How To: Create Your Own Portals (Like in the Game) Using Adobe After Effects
We've already seen how to levitate a Companion Cube using a Portal gun—now we're going to show you how to shoot your own portals! The guys at MobiusLOL give you an overview of how they created their Portal-inspired short film, "Experimental Portal Device".
How To: Track a simple object in After Effects
Learn the fundamentals of position tracking in After Effects in this informative 5 minute tutorial from Patrick Carter. This video lesson involves attaching a text object to a moving cowboy on screen to demonstrate the basic transform tracking function.
How To: Create a subtle ocean-like underwater scene in After Effects
This After Effects tutorial will show you a nice underwater scene, complete with light rays, rising bubbles and cloudy ocean mist. You don't have to be a professional AE user to recreate this great animated scene, either! Laurence Grayson demonstrates all the techniques for this subtle ocean-like underwater look using the standard toolkit in Adobe After Effects (CS3, CS4 & CS5). Using Fractal Noise, CC Snow and a Lens Blur with Depth Map, Laurence will have you chilling out in no time!
How To: Create animated frozen titles in After Effects
This After Effects tutorial will show how to create a nice, smooth animated text effect, which turns your icy font into a frozen font. This is a great animation that can be easily learned, whether you're an AE pro or novice. Laurence Grayson chills out as he shows you how to create this ice texture effect, glassy text and a frozen text animation - all using just the standard effects that come in CS3, CS4 or CS5.
How To: Loop particles with Trapcode Particular & Starglow in Adobe After Effects
In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to create a seamlessly looping particle system within Adobe After Effects with Trapcode Particular and Starglow. For all of the specifics, and to get started using this effect in your own projects, take a look! Loop particles with Trapcode Particular & Starglow in Adobe After Effects.
How To: Create a binary transition with Trapcode Form in Adobe After Effects
In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to use Trapcode Form to generate an eye-catching Matrix-style binary code transition within Adobe After Effects. For all of the particulars, and to get started using this effect in your own projects, take a look! Create a binary transition with Trapcode Form in Adobe After Effects - Part 1 of 2.
How To: Create a carved stone title text effect in Adobe After Effects CS4 or CS5
Want to create stone-tablet title text within After Effects? Let this video lesson be your guide. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular motion graphics and compositing software or a seasoned video professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this free video guide.
How To: Create a character walk cycle in Adobe After Effects
In this Adobe After Effects user's guide, you'll learn how to create a simple walk cycle within AE. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular motion graphics and compositing software or a seasoned video professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this free video guide.
How To: Export a camera from Cinema 4D to Adobe After Effects
This clip presents a lesson in how to export a camera from MAXON C4D to Adobe After Effects. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and functions, you're sure to enjoy this free video software tutorial. For more information, including complete instructions, watch this 3D modeler's guide.
How To: Create an animated spider web with Adobe After Effects
In this tutorial, you will learn how to use Illustrator and After Effects to create a spider web that animates on and catches some text that flies into it. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular motion graphics and compositing software or a seasoned video professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this...
How To: Use the Preserve Transparency button in After Effects
This video clip presents a quick lesson in using the Preserve Transparency switch in Adobe After Effects and why it may be more useful than using a Track Matte in certain situations. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular motion graphics and compositing software or a seasoned video professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-st...
How To: Use the Solo Track button in Adobe After Effects
Learn how to use After Effects more efficiently with the Solo Track button. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector editor or a seasoned graphic arts professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this free video guide.
How To: Create a colorful abstract animation in After Effects
This clip explores the use of presets in After Effects CS4 and CS5 to make an interesting element that can be used in a variety of situations. Besides, it’s just cool looking! Whether you're new to Adobe's popular motion graphics and compositing software or a seasoned video professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step inst...
How To: Create fog and clouds in After Effects CS4 or CS5
This clip covers an easy method for creating semi-realistic fog inside of After Effects with nothing but a Photoshop document! Whether you're new to Adobe's popular motion graphics and compositing software or a seasoned video professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this free video guide.
How To: Clone an object in Adobe After Effects CS4 or CS5
In this clip, learn the basics on the ideas of cloning in After Effects. See how to paint copies of objects on video or remove them. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular motion graphics and compositing software or a seasoned video professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this free video guide.
How To: Use presets to make shine effects in After Effects
People like shiny things. Especially titles it would seem, since so many modern titles seem to have had shine effects put on them using After Effects. Now you can do so at home! This two-part video will show you how to create shine effects in After Effects without downloading any expensive plugins like Shine. It does use some custom presets which are available for download below and should help you speed up the process.
How To: Render out normals in Cinema 4D, Modo, After Effects
After Effects allows you to do all sorts of amazing things to your videos and images, but it cannot do it all alone. This video will show you how to use an After Effects plugin called Normality 3 to make lighting adjustments to 3D assets on the fly, having already rendered out a normal pass using either Cinema 4D or Modo (you can use other 3D software too, but those two are both shown as examples in the video). It will also demonstrate how to render out the normal passes.
How To: Create a hole in a 3D table using 3DS Max and Boujou
Creating movie-quality 3D images takes more than just 3DS Max. It takes a village of graphics programs to really make it look professional. This nine-part video tutorial will teach you how to create a hole in a coffee table using a combination of 3DS Max, After Effects, and the matchmoving software Boujou. This is high-level stuff, but the instructions are great and this video should have you compositing 3D images in no time!
How To: Create a 1980s retro video game look in After Effects
In this clip, Aharon Rabinowitz walks you through the process of creating the look of a vector style arcade game from the early 1980's. He'll use PlaneSpace, Particular, & Text Anarchy, as well as expressions and other techniques. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular motion graphics and compositing software or a seasoned video professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For ...
How To: Create an explosion behind someone in After Effects
Want to create an explosion behind your subject? With After Effects, it's easy. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular motion graphics and compositing software or a seasoned video professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this free video guide.
How To: Create a dissolving text transition in After Effects
In this episode of Red Giant TV, Aharon Rabinowitz shows you how to create the effect of text (or a logo) dissolving to sand and blowing away. You'll also learn how to reverse the transition, so that sand forms into text.
How To: Make the JibJab effect using After Effects
Nick from Greyscale Gorilla does a great tutorial showing you how to do the JibJab effect in After Effects. This effect is essentially taking a photograph, putting it on another video's head, and comedy ensues.
How To: Make someone fly in After effects
CathyDirector teaches you how to make someone fly using After Effects. You will need two clips: one with the background and one with the background and the person walking or running. To have the same type of footage, use a tripod for stabilization. Duplicate the second layer and go to frames and cut the frame in which the person is in the air jumping. Use the mask tool to create a contour of that person. Add radial blur at the time he is still close to the ground and some sound effects. Next,...
How To: Create the Droste Effect with Adobe After Effects
In this tutorial, Creative Cow contributing editor Carl Larsen shows you how to use the Pixel Bender Toolkit to create a recursive image set in Adobe After Effects CS4.
How To: Create the Juno opening credits look w/ After Effects
The independent film Juno featured one of the most distinctive opening credit sequences in recent memory. It has a wonderful handmade look - which it turned out was created by hand! Whether you have seen Juno or not, Cow leader Simon Bonner shows a much easier way to create unique, handcrafted looks, without the pain.
How To: Create cartoon blood effects in After Effects
This software tutorial shows you how to create cartoony blood effects in After Effects CS3. This isn't going to be realistic looking blood, but if you want to learn how to create a blood or fluid effect using standard After Effects tools and the CC Mr Mercury filter.
How To: Create a ghost effect in After Effects
In this Adobe After Effects tutorial Tony Reale shows you how to create a ghost effect for your films.
How To: Simulate air flow over an object in After Effects
In this video tutorial, Creative Cow Leader Aharon Rabinowitz shows you how to simulate airflow over an object by using the After Effects CS3 puppet tools with a particle system. Simulate air flow over an object in After Effects.
How To: Deal with the keyframe boomerang effect in AE
Aharon Rabinowitz shows you how to handle the annoying (and sometimes crippling) boomerang effect, in which a layer moves randomly between two spatial keyframes that are exactly the same. This is a two part tutorial on fixing moving keyframes (the trick is to manipulate the animation curves!) in After Effects. Deal with the keyframe boomerang effect in AE - Part 1 of 2.
How To: Fix scaling issues in After Effects
In part one of this two-part tutorial, Aharon Rabinowitz introduces you to Exponential scale, a keyframe assistant used to counter the issues that occur naturally in After Effects when scaling from very high values. In the second part, you'll learn how to ease the values of Exponential Scale to create a smooth end to your layer's scale animation. This is a better way to create easing in and easing out effects on animations. Fix scaling issues in After Effects - Part 1 of 2.
How To: Import a motion path into After Effects
In this brief tutorial, Aharon Rabinowitz shows you a simple way to create masks and motion paths in After Effects using Illustrator and Photoshop path shapes. Import a motion path into After Effects.
How To: Recover corrupt After Effects files & import projects
In this tutorial, Aharon Rabinowitz shares tips on the many uses of importing After Effects Projects, and how you can recover corrupt AE files. Recover corrupt After Effects files & import projects.
How To: Turn A Flat 2D Image into 3D
In this short tutorial i will show you how you can turn a flat 2D image of a room or hallway into a 3D Room using Vanishing points in Photoshop and After Effects.
How To: Smash Someone into a Million Pieces in After Effects and 3ds Max
Ever wanted to freeze someone, then smash them into a million pieces? Here is your chance! If you've got Adobe After Effects and Autodesk 3ds Max, it's pretty easy. Check out the tutorial video below to see how it's done.
How To: Create a Walking Dead Like Post-Apocalyptic World Using Time-Lapse Footage
Zombies. That's the first thing that comes to mind when I see footage of a once heavily populated area turned completely desolate. Either that or you stumbled across a Ke$ha concert...BURN.