Video Production Articles, Tips and Tutorials

The goal was to create an atmospheric title sequence using only the built-in Adobe After Effects tools and without using any external images or footage. Firstly we wanted faded lines, akin to fiber optics, to be emitted horizontally from the side of the screen. After experimenting with CC Particle World using the default lines it was obvious that a bespoke particle would be needed. A long, thin Solid layer was faded using a Gradient Ramp of white to black. An additional tiny white Solid square was added for the tip. This formed the particle element. In a CC Particle World composition the Particle Type was changed to Textured Square and the Texture Layer set to our new particle element. For Physics, the Animation was set to Direction Axis with 0.10 Velocity and zero Gravity. Extra and Extra Angle values were zeroed out. Once done, it was time for some variations….    read more 

The goal was to create an atmospheric title sequence using only the built-in Adobe After Effects tools and without using any external images or footage. After some initial layout sketches were done, several scene compositions were created using just circular Shape layers. Using Layer Styles, adding a combination of Inner Glow and Outer Glow it was possible to create a realistic, spherical look. This was then applied to all the circle shapes. The ‘spheres’ were attached to Nulls and rotated to achieve the appearance of planets orbiting a sun. Lens Flare, Glow and CC Lens effects were added to provide additional brightness and distortion to the sun elements. Text was added over the top. Good Headline Pro Light was chosen as an elegant, timeless typeface that sits well within the concept of a vast solar system. CC Star Burst was used in the background of each scene to add faint…    read more 

The goal was to create an atmospheric title sequence using only the built-in Adobe After Effects tools and without using any external images or footage. Firstly, admittedly, Adobe Illustrator was used to create the lozenge shapes which were imported into After Effects. Though, to animate these they had to be converted into Shape layers inside of After Effects. The lozenge shapes could have been formed directly inside After Effects but Illustrator is much more suited to this design task. Once the layered Illustrator files were imported and converted to shapes a Stroke was added, along with a Trim Paths effect. With an End Point of 50% the Offset was animated with the expression ‘time*40’ which moved the line going around the shapes at the desired speed. Each Shape layer was switched to 3D and their Z positions moved backwards in 3D space. To add texture to the lines a Solid…    read more