Hot After Effects How-Tos

How To: Transform a layer in Adobe After Effects CS5

In this clip, we learn how to transform layers in After Effects CS5. Whether you're entirely new to Adobe's popular motion graphics and compositing software or a seasoned video professional, new to AE CS5, or just looking to pick up a few new tips and tricks, 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: Add anamorphic lens flares in After Effects

Want to add an anamorphic lens flare to your digital footage? With Adobe After Effects, Video Copilot Optical Flares and, of course, the help provided by this video guide, it's easy! For step-by-step instructions, and to learn how to add anamorphic lens flares to your own digital video in post, watch this After Effects user guide.

How To: Create a medieval Knights Templar styled intro in After Effects

If you've seen the films "Name of the Rose" and "Kingdom of Heaven", you're familiar with the medieval period, and if you want to create an animated intro in After Effects with a medieval style to it, follow along with Laurence Grayson in this three-part AE tutorial where he creates his own intro title sequence called "The Order". Learn how to quickly create a red wax seal, parchment paper and animated calligraphic text using only the standard toolset in Adobe After Effects (CS3, CS4 or CS5).

How To: Create basic 3D text in After Effects

In this tutorial, we learn how to create basic 3D text in After Effects. First, make a new composition and then create a text layer. After this, write in your text that you want in 3D. Then, add shatter to the drawing and select rendered. From here, change the pattern to custom and shape to text 1. Then, put all the strength and gravity to 0. Then, frame the text into the position that you want it to be in by rotating it around. Change the color if you would like to, then when you are done sa...

How To: Make an energy ball in Adobe After Effects

In this tutorial, we learn how to make an energy ball in Adobe After Effects. First, load a movie of someone pretending to hold an energy ball in their hands. After you do this, you will select a new setting and change the color. From here, you will select a round circle tool and add it where the hand looks like it's holding it. Then, change the effect to make the ball move around with the hand. After this, add the tracker to the hand and position it with the hand. After this, change the cont...

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: Create a rusty, grungy checker plate texture in After Effects

You may not recognize the term "checker plate", but you've more than likely encountered it many times before. It's more commonly referred to as "diamond plate" and is the hardwearing, lightweight, non-slip metal stock with raised diamonds (or lines) that frequently adorn flight cases, stage decking and metal stair treads. This video will show you how to recreate that grungy look in After Effects.

How To: Do advanced 2.5D animations on still photos in Adobe After Effects

What exactly is 2.5D? It's a mix between two- and three-dimensional still images where a photograph is taking and split up into individual layers that creates a three-dimensional feel that isn't quite 3D. It has depth as a whole, but each individual layer does not have depth. Creating a 2.5D photograph is easy in Adobe After Effects, and this AE tutorial will show you the advanced methods. Do advanced 2.5D animations on still photos in Adobe After Effects.

How To: Mix real-world models with computer animation in Adobe After Effects

In this video tutorial, we learn how to blend real-world elements and CGI within Adobe 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. Mix real-world models with computer...

How To: Create a light visualization effect for music in Knoll Light Factory

In this video tutorial, we learn how to create a music visualization effect with Knoll Light Factor within Adobe 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. Create a ...

How To: Create a holographic interface effect with Holomatrix in Adobe After Effects

In this video tutorial, we learn how to create a sci-fi style hologram effect with After Effects and Holomatrix. 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. Create a holographic int...

How To: Composite with light wraps in Key Correct Pro for After Effects

In this video tutorial, we learn how to use Key Correct Pro to composite with light wraps within Adobe 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. Composite with ligh...

How To: Get started using Knoll Light Factory Pro for Adobe After Effects

In this video tutorial, we learn how to get started using Knoll Light Factory Pro to generate eye-catching light effects within Adobe 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 v...

How To: Create a film title treatment with Knoll Light Factory in Adobe After Effects

In this video tutorial, we learn how to create film title treatments with Knoll Light Factory within Adobe 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. Create a film t...

How To: Create a Christmas tree with Trapcode Particular & After Effects

In this video tutorial, we learn how to create a lighted X-Mas tree with Trapcode Particular (TP) and Adobe After Effects (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. Create a ...

How To: Create a Death Eater-style effect in Adobe After Effects

In this video tutorial, we learn how to create our very own Harry Potter-style Death Eaters within Adobe 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. Create a Death Ea...

How To: Create a text-to-sand transition with Trapcode Form in After Effects

In this video tutorial, we learn how to create dissolving text-to-sand transitions with Trapcode Form within Adobe 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. Create ...

How To: Create a 3D picture montage with Trapcode Particular in Adobe After Effects

In this video tutorial, we learn how to create 3D picture montages with Trapcode Particular in Adobe 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. Create a 3D picture m...

How To: Create traffic patterns with PlaneSpace & Text Anarchy in After Effects

In this video tutorial, we learn how to create a realistic traffic pattern backdrop within After Effects through use of the PlaneSpace and Text Anarchy plugins. 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...

How To: Create a watercolor painting effect with Toonit for Adobe After Effects

In this video tutorial, we learn how to create an animated watercolor painting effect with the Toonit plugin in Adobe 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. Crea...