Hot After Effects How-Tos
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: 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: 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: Create a beautifully layered 3D composition with After Effects
Using a layered photograph, chroma key footage and depth of field, prolific Italian designer Juri Ciana demonstrates precisely how to create a stunningly beautiful 3D composition with After Effects. In this informative video-only tutorial, depth of field and focus is utlized as critical elements that provide the various components of this video composition with a living vibrancy and dynamism.
How To: Use a lens flare in your animations with Adobe After Effects
Want to add a lens flare to your current animation or film? You can manipulate the picture using Adobe After Effects, and this tutorial shows you precisely how. Play around with the light, brightness settings and other tools to get a lens flare effect.
How To: Create Fringe-style floating titles in Adobe After Effects CS4 or CS5
If you're looking for a cool way to add text to your videos, like for an opening sequence to a film where the credits are displayed, embedding the text directly into the scene is the way to go, especially if you like the hit television show "Fringe", who used these kind of embedded title effects in establishing shots. Car adverts use this technique a lot, as well. "Panic Room" also use this effect in the opening title sequence.
How To: Turn day into night in After Effects
Andrew Kramer takes you through the set-up for creating a day to night effect in After Effects. These are some more advanced techniques so make sure you are familiar with the software basics. Turn day into night in After Effects.
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: Change the language to English in After Effects
Have you got a copy of After Effects installed with the language set to another language? Check out this helpful video to learn how to set the language English, whatever the current language is. Maybe your film is in French, but that doesn't mean your visual effects software has to be.
How To: Create realistic 3D cloud motion using a single cloud photo in After Effects
Use a 2D image of clouds to generate realistic video footage of 3D cloud motion. In this tutorial from All Bets Are Off, Aharon Rabinowitz demonstrates how to create this effect using a single 2D image of clouds and a few simple clicks.
How To: Create a sandstorm reveal effect with masks in Adobe After Effects
This clip presents a guide on how to achieve a sandstorm reveal-style 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: Create a flaming face of fire in After Effects
In order to be taken seriously in the world of motion graphics tutorials, one needs to teach something that everyone will remember… some kind of face distortion technique. Jerzy Drozda Jr has his "Form Face" and Andrew Kramer has his "Demon Face Warp," so the only thing that can possibly match those terrific After Effects tutorials is… FIRE.
How To: Do a shatter & disintegration effect in After Effects
Themadcowmoo continues to show us how to create a shatter & disintegration effect in Adobe After Effects. In the second part of his two part video series he begins by getting rid of the extrusion depth in the shadow by changing the value to 0 (0.00). He then instructs on how to accomplish and even smaller disintegration effect by selecting the 'Shatter Map' tab, going to the fractal layer, choosing 'Fractal Noise' in the top right panel and then selecting '10' as the value within the 'Transfo...
How To: Use Vector Smart Objects in Adobe After Effects
After Effects is one of the best digital motion graphics software programs out there. Learn it. Now.
How To: Use 3D Stroke in Adobe After Effects
After Effects is one of the best digital motion graphics software programs out there. Learn it. Now.
How To: Use FreeForm to simulate flowing cloth or ribbon in After Effects
You can use the FreeForm plugin to create the look of cloth blowing in the wind - like an animated ribbon, or a banner waving in the wind. The key is in designing the displacement map to get a truly realistic effect.
How To: Perform a creepy sky replacement in Adobe After Effects CS4 or CS5
This four-part Adobe After Effects tutorial from Laurence Grayson shows how to take an ordinary photograph of a building (in this case, a cathedral) and turn it into a spooky looking house from hell. The majority of the work done uses the standard toolset in After Effects CS3, CS4, and CS5. Adobe Photoshop is used for the sky replacement section. Create hellish clouds, eery flickering windows, sheet lightning, color correction, 3D motion and depth of field effects for your next Halloween spec...
How To: Make a pulse or pulsating wave effect in After Effects
Making really attractive titles for your films is just one of the way that you can dramatically improve them using After Effects. This video will help you make them by showing you how to create a pulse or pulsating wave effect from whence your titles can emerge. They look great, and will make your movie (especially horror or sci-fi movie) look much more professional right from the beginning.
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 smoldering text effect in Adobe After Effects
Looking for something dynamic and new for your After Effects work? In this clip, you'll see how to have elements come together in smokey bits again with no third party 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 ins...
How To: Create shine effects in After Effects without a plugin
Shine effects are one of the cooler and more popular effects that you can add to a title in After Effects. Many people use Trapcode's Shine plugin to accomplish this quickly and easily. But that costs extra money! This two-part video will show you how to create shine effects in After Effects without having to download any additional plugins. If you already shelled out the dough for After Effects, we know you don't want to spend any more, so watch this video!
How To: Fix the "rolling shutter" in SLR's with After Effects
Is your digital SLR camera creating an unintentional "Jello effect"? Well, this is caused by a rolling shutter, which can be fixed in Adobe After Effects. This tutorial serves to help you eliminate your problems on your D-SLR caused by the CMOS's "rolling shutter".
How To: Use the RG Warp Corner Pin in Adobe After Affects
In this video tutorial, Eran Stern shows you a technique to enhance your tracking and compositing results by using Mocha AE and RG Warp Corner Pin plug-in.
How To: Mask in Adobe After Effects
Get started using Adobe After Effects with the help of The New Boston! This beginner's tutorial is bound to answer the many questions you have about the popular digital motion graphics and compositing software. The main purpose of After Effects is for film and video post-production.
How To: Create a running numbers effect in Trapcode Form
In this video tutorial, Creative Cow Contributing Editor Eran Stern will show you a different technique to create the Running Numbers Effect using Trapcode Form plug-in. For more on using the Trapcode Form plug-in Adobe After Affects video tutorial. Create a running numbers effect in Trapcode Form.
How To: Use Radium Glow plugin in After Effects
This software tutorial shows you how to use the Radium Glow plug-in for After Effects. Radium Glow is also available for Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro and more. Don't settle for glow effects that are just a blur. Radium Glow simulates the way real light behaves, giving you ultra-realistic glimmers and glows. If you've never used Radium Glow, get started with this tutorial.
How To: Create custom particles in Particular in After Effects
This software tutorial shows you how to create custom particles in Trapcode Particular plug-in for After Effects. Learn how any object can be used to create particles with the Particular plug-in in this After Effects tutorial. Create custom particles in Particular in After Effects.
How To: Get started with Trapcode Particular in After Effects
This software tutorial shows you how to get started using Trapcode Particular particle plug-in for After Effects. Particular is a powerful 3D particle system that creates a wide range of effects — from natural smoke and explosions to geometric or organic abstract elements. If you've never used it before, see how easy it is to integrate into your After Effects projects in this tutorial. Get started with Trapcode Particular in After Effects.
How To: Use the XML project file format in After Effects CS4
After Effects CS4 allows you to save any After Effects project in an editable text format known as XML. This tutorial will show you how to use the XML file format to modify and dynamically update an After Effects project without having to run the After Effects CS4 application. Using XML format After Effects files is a great way to save time and maintain flexibility by using a simple text editor to make changes. Use the XML project file format in After Effects CS4.
How To: Create the Matrix raining code effect in After Effects
This Adobe After Effects tutorial shows you how to create the Matrix raining code text effect. Learn how to use this motion graphics and 2D effects compositing software and the automation options available to easily create a Matrix raining code effect in After Effects.
How To: Get 8 free VU meter plugins for Mac FCP, AE and Motion
VFX artist Roger Bolton has worked on films including The Lord of the Rings, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and Kingdom of Heaven. He has also created effects for his own use -- in this case, a wide variety of 2D and 3D VU meters, automatically animated by the audio in your project. He now offers these 8 plug-ins to artists using Final Cut Pro, After Effects and Motion -- with no watermarks, no time limits, no price tag. Please note: these plug-ins are MAC ONLY. Get 8 free VU meter plugins...
How To: Create the Smallville effect in After Effects
This video will show you how to create the Smallville effect in After Effects. He doesn't talk, so if you see new items show up on the timeline, it's him hitting CTRL-D and duplicating the selected item. Also, some areas where it's repetitive are sped up.
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: Create the Film Flash transition in After Effects
In this tutorial, Creative Cow Leader Aharon Rabinowitz shows you how to create the coveted Film Flash transition in After Effects, without the use of any 3rd-party plug-ins. Create the Film Flash transition in After Effects.
How To: Scale a motion path in After Effects
In this tutorial Aharon Rabinowitz shows you the secret to scaling a motion path in After Effects. If you've ever created motion in after effects that you needed to confine to a smaller area, but also needed to keep the exact same shape, this lesson will show you how you can easily do just that, through the use of After Effects layer masks. Scale a motion path in After Effects.
How To: Create multi-color gradient ramps in After Effects
In this tutorial, Creative Cow Leader Aharon Rabinowitz shows you how to create simple and complex multicolored gradient ramps in After Effects. No need to open Photoshop just to do your ramps ever again! Create multi-color gradient ramps in 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 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: 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.
How To: Use After Effects to stabilize a shaky video recording
We don't always have a tripod handy when we need to grab some footage for our latest video project, but shaky footage can ruin an otherwise great video. Thankfully, After Effects has a 'stabilize motion' tool that you can apply to your recording to prevent headaches brought on by a shaky camera.