35 Fantastic Special Effects Tutorials for After Effects


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After Effects is a popular application for creating stunning visual effects and motion graphics. It offers all the tools and features that allow designers, animators, and video editors to add an extra dimension to videos and motion graphics, making them more engaging and visually appealing.

But if you’re new to After Effects, the learning curve can be steep. However, plenty of tutorials are available to help you get started and improve your skills.

These tutorials provide step-by-step instructions and tips on how to create various special effects in After Effects, making it easier for you to master the software and produce professional animations.

So, whether you’re a beginner or a professional user, the After Effects tutorials we have for you here cover various aspects of the application, from basic animation techniques to advanced special effects. There’s something here for everyone to learn and explore.

Let’s dive in and start creating some fantastic animations!



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Special Effects Tutorials for After Effects

How To Create A Miniature Effect in After Effects

Save yourself some money on tilt-shift camera lenses and use this tutorial to recreate the same effects with Adobe After Effects. This tutorial has a video walkthrough as well as a written version.

How To Create A Miniature Effect in After Effects

Electric Elements After Effects Template

Make your videos stand out with this wonderful resource of animated electrical flash art. Completely customizable, and each animation has its own unique sound effect included.

Electric Elements After Effects Template

Cartoon Elements After Effects Template

Need something a little on the light-hearted side? Look no further than this cartoon elements pack. It’s a great choice when you need to add a dose of fun to your projects.

Cartoon Elements After Effects Template

How to Create a Cinematic with After Effects

Learn how to manipulate light levels and create film-quality scenes in Adobe After Effects with this video tutorial. Learn how to use null objects and create spotlights that will make your scenes stand out.

How to Create a Cinematic with After Effects

How To Create A HUD Eye Effect

Use this video tutorial to create a stunning heads-up display all focused around the eye’s iris. Learn how to add a bionic ring, add a scanning effect, and finish with a complete screen display.

How To Create A HUD Eye Effect

How to Create an After Effects Halftone Effect

This video tutorial will teach you how to take a still image and transform it into a halftone image in Adobe After Effects. You can use this effect to make beautiful transitions between videos or as a standalone image.

How to Create an After Effects Halftone Effect

How to Create a Translucent Glass Effect

Learn how to create and use a fogged glass effect in this video tutorial. You will learn how to use this displacement effect to its fullest and create eye-catching visuals that wow.

How to Create a Translucent Glass Effect

How to Create Meteorological Effects in After Effects

In this video tutorial, you will learn how to transpose inclement weather onto clear days and produce a full range of lightning effects.

How to Create Meteorological Effects in After Effects

How to Create an Anime-Style Explosion in After Effects

Creating anime explosions doesn’t have to be complicated, and it certainly won’t be after watching this tutorial. You will learn the basic concepts and how to create your very own anime explosions.

How to Create an Anime-Style Explosion in After Effects

How To Clone & Interact with Yourself in After Effects

There is no need to build a cloning machine to have two of yourself on screen! In this video tutorial, you will learn how to master the art of duplicating yourself into the same scene at the same time from different areas.

How To Clone Interact with Yourself in After Effects

How to Pull Someone into Another World

This video tutorial will teach you how to use a green screen and how to combine multiple video files to make a singular scene. You can then use the process on any number of projects!

How to Pull Someone into Another World

How to Create a Powerful Sun Effect in After Effects

With this video tutorial, you will learn how to create the scorching effects of any sun or star. You will learn how to create a 3D star, add flaring effects, and make it feel really hot.

How to Create a Powerful Sun Effect in After Effects

Animation Effect Tutorials for After Effects

How to Create a Colorful Glitch Effect

Learn how to create a stunning glitch effect that will add a splash of action whenever you need it. This is a wonderful way to mark stark changes between scenes or words.

How to Create a Colorful Glitch Effect

Hi-Tech HUD Logo Reveal Template

If you love glitchy animation, futuristic neon looks, and a HUD feel, then this resource pack is all you need for your next logo reveal snippet. It includes a step-by-step tutorial to help you get the most out of it.

Hi-Tech HUD Logo Reveal Template

How To Create A Faux 3D Spin Effect In After Effects

Easily create a faux 3D effect on a can using a combination of scripts and keyframe usage. You will be able to spin a full-labeled can into any scene!

How To Create A Faux 3D Spin Effect In After Effects

150 Splatter Animation Templates

Need to save time drawing out those energy flashes, streaks, slashes, or blasts? Then this resource pack is perfect for you. With 150 different splatter effects and ten different text effects, they will speed up your next project.

150 Splatter Animation Templates

How to Create a Moving Van with Wiggle Expressions

Give motion to a truck to simulate it being driven, all by a simple wiggle expression. You will learn how to give the wheels movement and make it seem like the truck is being propelled in the direction of your choosing.

How to Create a Moving Van with Wiggle Expressions

How to Create a Flat Design Conceptual Animation

In this video tutorial, you will learn how to create a flat design image and then animate it for your next brand promotional, GIF, or video. Follow these steps to ensure you never miss your mark!

How to Create a Flat Design Conceptual Animation

Liquid FX Animation Pack

Save time on your next project with this resource that includes more than 100 animated splashes and strokes, as well as ten fullscreen transitions that are completely customizable.

Liquid FX Animation Pack

How to Create an Animated Paper Box Intro

Create a 2D animation that you will then use in Cinema 4D as a texture to create a vivid animation through multiple Mograph clones in both space and time.

How to Create an Animated Paper Box Intro

How to Create an Animated Polygon

In this video tutorial, you will learn how easy it is to make an animated polygon that transitions through multiple variations featuring current and retro logos. The hardest part is just getting started!

How to Create an Animated Polygon

How to Create Dynamic Bar Graphs in After Effects

Get creative and make a graph video with just dynamic bars to create your chart. Using a single animation repeated for each bar, you can easily set your values and show off how your video is going through the roof!

How to Create Dynamic Bar Graphs in After Effects

How to Create an Audio Spectrum in Adobe After Effects

With this tutorial, you will learn how to make a colorful rendition of an audio file using the audio spectrum in Adobe After Effects.

How to Create an Audio Spectrum in Adobe After Effects

How To Create Animated Fire In After Effects

Follow this video tutorial the next time you need a flaming cartoon log. This tutorial gives a step by step instructions on how to create multiple colored animated fires atop a shaped wooden log.

How To Create Animated Fire In After Effects

How To Animate Liquid In After Effects

In this video tutorial, you will learn how to magically fill a cup with a carbonated orange liquid. By combining two different toned colors and a bubble generator, you can easily make this animation.

How To Animate Liquid In After Effects

How To Create Animated Backgrounds in After Effects

Learn how to create a background that has an animation of several different trees sprouting. This animated background is sure to be an evergreen hit.

How To Create Animated Backgrounds in After Effects

How to Animate Vector Illustrations with After Effects

Ever wanted colors and shapes coming together to form recognizable items? Then look no forward than this tutorial, where you will learn how to animate a computer, iPod, and controller in a few quick and easy steps.

How to Animate Vector Illustrations with After Effects

How to Create Flying Drops with Simple 2D Vector Animation

Learn how to draw and animate vector liquid droplets with only the pen tool without needing extra plugins or extra effects. Because the droplets are vector-based, you can make them as big or as small as you need them to be!

How to Create Flying Drops with Simple 2D Vector Animation

How to Create 3D topographic Maps in After Effects

In this video tutorial, you will learn how to make topographical maps in both 2D and 3D versions. This will include animations that start simple and can grow to be quite complex.

How to Create 3D topographic Maps in After Effects

How to Cretae a Glitch Logo Animation

In this video tutorial, you will learn how to create a glitching effect that can be used on any text, animation, logo, or image. Use this effect to spice up your next video.

How to Cretae a Glitch Logo Animation

Text & Title Effect Tutorials for After Effects

How to Create a Hollywood-style Movie Title

This step-by-step tutorial will teach you the concepts and skills needed to make film-worthy title screens. This is a multi-program tutorial using concepts in Cinema 4D, Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Illustrator.

How to Create a Hollywood-style Movie Title

PolyNoise Alphabet – Animated Typeface Template

Instead of learning how to individually create a glitched letter effect, use this template. You will get both upper and lower case letters, numbers 0-9, and commonly used punctuation and symbols.

PolyNoise Alphabet - Animated Typeface Template

How to Create the True Detective Titles in AE

Easily recreate the title sequence that is used for the HBO show True Detective. This tutorial shows you how to use several pieces of different media to make one perfect title screen.

How to Create the True Detective Titles in AE

Essential Titles Template

Save time, money, and energy with this essential title template resource. Fully customizable and completely animated, this typography will be sure to stand out wherever you use them.

Essential Titles Template

How To Create Neon Text In After Effects

With this video tutorial, you will learn to create text that looks ready for nightlife. The neon lighting effect is complete with the starting flicker to a completely on state.

How To Create Neon Text In After Effects

Minimal Glitch Titles Pack

There is no need to learn how to create your own glitch effects when you can save time with this glitch titles resource pack. It contains 200 fully customizable animated titles, a comprehensive scene library, and includes sound effects.

Minimal Glitch Titles Pack

How to Create a Vintage Typewriter Key Logo Design

With this video tutorial, you will be able to create vintage 3D typographical keys that can be animated in several different ways for use in your next project. You will need to install the plugin offered with the tutorial.

How to Create a Vintage Typewriter Key Logo Design

How to Create Kinetic Typography in After Effects

In this first part of a three-part video tutorial, you will learn how to create, animate, and sync the audio in this animated typography video. By the time you are done with this series, you will be a true kinetic master.

How to Create Kinetic Typography in After Effects

How to Create Morphing Letters in After Effects

Learn how to seamlessly morph one letter into the next with this video tutorial! This skill set will ensure you can get that A on your next video.

How to Create Morphing Letters in After Effects

How to Create Action Titles With Glitch Effects

With this tutorial, you will learn how to truly get realistic glitchy effects for your typography needs. This step-by-step video shows you exactly how to pull together several different effects almost effortlessly.

How to Create Action Titles With Glitch Effects

How to Create a Text Path Animation in After Effects

This video tutorial will show you how to use text path animation to easily create animated typography. You can use the techniques in this tutorial in multiple ways ranging from drawn-out letters to colorized shapes!

How to Create a Text Path Animation in After Effects

How to Create a Rich Typographic Animation Effect

Learn how to manipulate shapes in a way that will inspire when you put it all together in a beautiful to-watch manner with this video tutorial. No plugins or multiple-shape layers to worry about.

How to Create a Rich Typographic Animation Effect


After Effects might seem intimidating, but once you master a few tricks, it becomes an indispensable tool in your motion graphic and video editing projects. Even better, you don’t have to spend years learning the program, as these tutorials will help set you on the right path faster.



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