The thing that really sets After Effects apart from all the other video applications is its vast effects library. What Do Most People Use After Effects For? The Effects Library
When it goes behind the background, it becomes obscured. As the layer moves past the background layer toward the camera, it becomes visible. If that sounds confusing, just check out the example below. If you set your layers to 3D, you can bring them in front of other 3D layers if they are closer to your camera in 3D space. That is, of course, if you’re working in a 2D composition.
The paper on bottom won’t show up because of the paper above it. The best way to think about this is to picture a stack of paper. Just like every video editing application in the world, After Effects uses a layer system. Is the name making sense now? Image via Shutterstockĭespite being highly functional, After Effects is actually very simple in the way it’s structured. In an editing context, Adobe After Effects is usually used to apply effects after your footage has been roughly edited. This is mainly due to the fact that it doesn’t have the same playback capabilities or layout as a video editing application. It should be noted that while After Effects is an incredible software, it isn’t ideal for editing footage. A video editor might use After Effects more for title design, and an animator might use it for creating 2D cartoon characters. The reason why so many people have trouble defining what After Effects does is simply due to the fact that it does so many things - and does them well. For example, an indie VFX artist might only use After Effects for compositing 3D rendered footage. Adobe After Effects serves a different role depending on the users needs. With Adobe After Effects you can create, composite, and stylize 2D footage layers in 3D space. So, What Can You Do With Adobe After Effects? If you have any questions about what you can do in After Effects, I’m more than happy to answer them in the comments below. To clear up some of the confusion, we’ve put together this post explaining the creative and technical possibilities of Adobe After Effects. However, if you’re new to Adobe After Effects, you might be a little confused about what AE can do. There are few programs in the world capable of producing stunning works of visual art like Adobe After Effects. Mark is a founding author at ProVideo Coalition and an instructor at fxphd and the Academy of Art University, as well as a guest host on podcasts including "The VFX Show." He is located in the San Francisco Bay Area.What can you do with Adobe After Effects? A lot, actually! Let’s take an in-depth look at this exciting video compositing application. Mark's roles have included production, direction, design, and on-set and post-production supervision. Mark's clients include Sony, Adobe, Cisco, Sun, Cadence, Seagate, Intel, and Medtronic, and his broadcast motion graphics work has appeared on HBO and the History Channel. He has also created visual effects, animations, and designs for Avatar, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, The Day After Tomorrow, Spy Kids 3-D, and more. In addition to writing the definitive book about creating visual effects with the world's most popular compositing application, Mark has supervised visual effects for feature films such as All About Evil. He is also the author of After Effects Studio Techniques.
Mark Christiansen is a creator and leader.