Here are some of the best tutorials to help teach you the basic workings of After EffectsVisual or audio effects used to create illusions or enhance scenes, including practical effects and computer-generated imagery (CGI).. We have thrown in a couple of slightly harder skills, but more than accomplishable – these will really up your editingThe process of selecting, arranging, and assembling the visual and audio components of a film to tell a coherent and compelling story. game.
Easy motion tracking
Easy motion tracking in After Effects is essential. In the tutorial above, it cover’s how you can get to grips with motion tracking. Michael covers the basic ways to work with the motion tracking tools, it’s a key skill in editing and one of the top fundamentals. Here he shows you how to stay relevant as these core skills will help you, constantly learn and pick up new techniques. This skill adds a lot of value to yourself as an editorThe person responsible for piecing together the film's footage, working closely with the director to achieve the desired final cut. but also to the projects you work on.
8-bit pixel art
This tip is for all you old school gaming fans out there! This is a great in-depth tutorial by the team at Premium beatA moment or pause in a screenplay, often used to indicate a shift in emotion, action, or thought.. They cover multiple aspects to this (CC block load, gridA framework of intersecting lines used in the composition to help arrange elements within the frame according to the rule of thirds or other guidelines., tint, posterise, posterise time, video footageThe raw, unedited material recorded by the camera, measured in feet for film or minutes for digital media. and installing the After Effects 8-but game preset).
Check it out here: Learn to Create Your Own 8-Bit Art in Adobe After Effects
Rotoscoping
Rotoscoping is an essential skill in After Effects. Rotoscoping is a technique to trace over video footage frameA single image or still in a sequence of images that make up a film; also refers to the edges of the visible area on screen. by frame to produce realistic action.
In this tutorial, it covers the basic techniques of working with masking on Adobe After Effects and the Roto Brush tools for rotoscoping tips and tricks.
READ MORE: How to get that cinematic feel in Adobe Premiere Pro
Float Yourself by Peter McKinnon
This is a great technique. It’s a little more advanced, but if you are fascinated by the sleek, floating imagery that you see so often on your favourite brands on Instagram – this one is for you. It’s not as hard as it may first seem – and Peter’s tutorial will help you perfect your craft. You’ll have some mind-bending, awesome shots in no time!
READ MORE: Lumetri scopes functionality: A beginners guide
The “Glitch” Effect
The next tutorial is the glitch effect. Perfect for you horror and sci-fi filmmakers out there. The glitch effect is used most commonly in these genres, usually to show a warped sense of reality or to build suspense. In this tutorial you will learn about wave warping, blending modes, using expressions and channel separation. All these different aspects will help you perfect the glitch effect for your movie.
After Effects: text bounce effect
Here you can learn about the basic fundamentals of text animation. These animations combined with your smooth footage will combine to create some insane looking intros to your videos.
It’s a simple but effective tutorial that shows how you can mix up and play around with the text editing in your timeline.
If this has been helpful let us know! Or, if you want to see some other tutorials for Premiere Pro or After Effects, Tweet at us: iFilmthings
Jay Neill
Jay Neill is the founder, owner, and managing editor of iFILMthings and believes everyone should have access to the film resources they need to plan their filmmaking project, which is why he’s dedicated iFILMthings to helping all filmmakers.