Hot After Effects How-Tos

How To: Create a 3D thunderstorm scene with After Effects and Trapcode Particular

In this clip, you'll learn how to create a realistic 3D thunderstorm scene using Adobe Adobe After Effects, Trapcode Particular and Horizon. 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 gui...

How To: Create a glitzy title sequence in Adobe After Effects CS3, CS4 or CS5

In this clip, you'll learn how to use layer styles, blending modes and cell pattern effect to create a fun, glamorous pre-roll sequence in Adobe After Effects CS3, CS4 or CS5. 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 a space explosion effect in Adobe After Effects CS4

With this video clip, you'll learn how to create a custom outer space explosion sequence within Adobe After Effects CS4 or CS5. 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 the Vanishing Point tool to enhance 2D pack shots in Adobe After Effects

Add depth to your 2D pack shots with the After Effects Vanishing Point tool! This video will teach you everything you'll need to know. 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 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 looping video asset in Adobe After Effects CS4 or CS5

Want to loop a video asset within After Effects CS4 or CS5 without copying and pasting it multiple times? This video will teach you everything you'll need to know. 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, wa...

How To: Create gold-plated title text in Adobe After Effects CS4 or CS5

With this clip, you'll learn how to generate an eye-catching gold-plated title effect within Adobe After Effects CS4 or CS5. 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: Quickly cycle between blend modes in Adobe After Effects CS5

Looking for an easy way to quickly cycle between After Effects 38 different blending modes? Look no further. 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 particle animation loop with After Effects & Trapcode Particular

This video guide offers a complete overview of how to create a seamless looping particle animation with Trapcode Particular and 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 3D motion graphics logo in Adobe After Effects

In this After Effects user's guide from Red Giant Software, you'll learn how to create an impressive 3D motion graphics sequence. 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 crowd scene with Trapcode Particular 2 in After Effects

Learn how to use Trapcode Particular 2 to generate a realistic crowd scene 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 crowd scene with Trapcode...

How To: Composite with particles in Trapcode Particular for After Effects

Learn how to use Trapcode Particular within After Effects with this helpful video 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. Composite with particles in Trapcode Particular ...

How To: Stabilize and remove objects from digital footage in After Effects CS5

In this clip, you'll learn how to stabilize and remove objects from your digital footage with After Effects CS5. 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 the After Effects presets included with Vintage Film for Looks

Looking for a quick overview of how to take advantage of the AE presets included with Vintage Film for Looks? Look no further. 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: Replace the sky with tracking & displacement maps in Adobe After Effects CS5

Learn how to use Adobe After Effects CS5 to replace do basic sky replacement. 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: Overcrank 60p footage for a super slow-motion effect with Adobe After Effects

In this clip, you'll learn how to overcrank footage from a Canon DSLR camera like the 7D or T2i to a lower frame rate for a high-quality slow-motion effect. 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 thi...

How To: Conform & overcrank 60p footage to 24p slow motion in Adobe After Effects

This clip presents a guide to overcranking footage shot on a Canon DSLR camera like the 7D or T2i to a lower frame rate for a high-quality slow-motion effect. 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 t...

How To: Create a super-quick carbon fiber effect in Adobe After Effects

After Effects makes it easy to create wonderful designs and great looking material, and this tutorial makes it even easier! Watch and learn how to create a really quick carbon fiber (or carbon fibre for all you British folks) effect using After Effects. Carbon fiber is a great-looking material, and you can used the standard toolkit in After Effects to create an instant carbon fibre texture in seconds. Great for your next extreme sports car and high-tech driver video intro title sequence! Get ...

How To: Color grade footage with Magic Bullet Colorista in Adobe After Effects

In this two-part video tutorial, you'll see what it takes to color grade and correct footage with Magic Bullet Colorista in After Effects. Whether you're new to Adobe's 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 After Effects to recreate the "Annoying Orange"

By now, everyone is familiar with the Annoying Orange, but how do they do their effects? This video will reveal the secret and show you how to put a face on an inanimate object like the Annoying Orange. See how to put any face on any object to make something that once was inanimate alive! This should work on all Adobe CS versions of After Effects. This example in this video is a beach ball.

How To: Obliterate a flying helicopter in After Effects

Attention all amateur filmmakers… if you want a cheap way to blow things up, After Effects is your man. This tutorial will show you specifically how to obliterate a flying helicopter in the sky, but this easy effect could be applied to anything you choose. It simulates the object exploding with flames and disappearing out of sight. Super easy. Great for After Effects beginners.

How To: Create the title effect from the Inception trailer

Inception might be the most anticipated movie of the summer, and now that it's out and you've had the chance to bask in it's majesty, you may be wondering if you can use any of it's magic and trickery in your own films. You can! This video will show you how to create the titles like the ones from the Inception trailer using After Effects. It's clean and simple yet dynamic, and sure to make your next film's intro much more appealing.

How To: Get rid of edge seams in Adobe After Effects

Interested in getting rid of edge seams within Adobe After Effects? This video guide will show you how it's done. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular compositing editor or just want to better acquaint yourself with the popular video editing program, you're sure to benefit from this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this tutorial.

How To: Do motion control when working in Adobe After Effects

This clip presents an overview of how to do motion control effects within Adobe After Effects. Whether you're completely new to Adobe's popular nonlinear editor (NLE) or are a seasoned digital video professional simply looking to pick up a few new tips and tricks, you're sure to be well served by this free video software tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look.

How To: Create custom particles in After Effects

Are you getting better at using After Effects and finding that you want to create your own custom particles instead of using the default ones? Then this video is for you. It will show you how to create custom animated particles which can be used to create all manner of cool effects like the one created as an example for this video. Don't keep using clublets of particles, make them do what you want them to do.

How To: Make a cool quick text effect in After Effects

After Effects contains all manner of cool tools that you can use to create really appealing title effects for your films. This video will show you how to create one quick easy text effect in this powerful software suite by using a camera, null object, 3D text layers, and a particular background, all keyed to the music levels. The result is very cool and sure to impress your audiences.

How To: Make a twisting particle field effect in After Effects

Particles are very useful for digital artists who want to create liquids, gasses, or clouds of small solids that react naturally. This video tutorial will show you how to use the twisting particle field effect to create a very cool title shown at the beginning of the first video. This particular particle effect is especially great for making galaxies and other fantastic images.

How To: Do node-based compositing as an After Effects user

In this tutorial, we take an introductory look at node based compositing from the perspective of an After Effects user. If you are someone who has lots of experience with After Effects, and wants to get into using a program like Shake, Nuke, or Fusion, this will help you get on the right track. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular compositing application or are just looking to get better acquainted with AE and its various features and functions, you're sure to enjoy this free video software ...

How To: Create a simple scrolling LED display in After Effects

This simple After Effects tutorial from Laurence Grayson will show you how to use CC Ball Action effect in AE to create a realistic scrolling LED signboard effect, like the ones you see at conference centers and football stadiums. Then end result can be altered to suit your project, and corner-pinned into a scene. There are no plug-ins required, and this method uses the standard toolset in CS3, CS4, and CS5.

How To: Simulate camera movement in After Effects

Shooting good footage with handheld cameras that wiggle, bounce, and fall onto rocks on a regular basis is tough. Sometimes, though, you may want to make it appear as if film that you've shot with tripods and such was actually shot with a handheld, like in some horror films. This video will show you how to create a fake camera movement effect in After Effects, giving your professionally-shot film just enough of that vérité quality.

How To: Create a color isolation effect in After Effects

If you've seen Sin City, what you probably remember most is the way color isolation was used throughout the film to reveal single colors in otherwise black-and-white scenes. This video will show you how to create the same effect for your own film in After Effects. Using this beautiful bunch of roses an an example, you will learn how to apply color isolation to film and maybe, just maybe, give Robert Rodriguez a run for his money.

How To: Create a portal in After Effects

If you've ever played through Valve's amazing first-person puzzle game Portal, you probably have dreams and nightmares about orange and blue portals appearing in the walls around you. Do you want to recreate the effect in a film? This video will show you how to create your very own colored wall portals on film using After Effects.

How To: Create an X-Ray vision effect in After Effects

X-Ray vision is one of the most memorable of Superman's many distinctive powers (he was so unfairly strong wasn't he?) and one that would be very useful to modern spies and voyeurs. This video will show you how to create an X-Ray vision special effect for your movie using After Effects. Whether your characters are looking into a girls' locker room or a secret Soviet meeting, the effect at least will be very cool.

How To: Make a flying effect with sonic boom in After Effects

If you've ever wanted to make an even slightly fantasy-flavored film, you've probably wanted to make one of your characters fly. Unless you're working with a bird or some really crazy rigging, you're going to need to make this special effect happen in After Effects, or whatever compositing software you use. This video will show you how to create a flying effect with a sonic boom on takeoff in After Effects, and following it's instructions will help you learn a lot about how to use After Effec...