How to Make Videos Using After Effects Super Easy to Understand

In the world of video post-production, After Effects is considered a "magician" that creates eye-catching motion effects and impressive techniques . This is indispensable software for those who want to create professional videos, from epic intros to special effects in movies or advertisements.

However, for beginners, approaching After Effects can be overwhelming because of the interface with many tools, technical terms and quite complicated workflow. If you are wondering: "Where to start?", "How to create the first video with After Effects?", this article is the answer you need. SaDesign will accompany you to explore how to make videos with After Effects in detail, step by step . Let's find out!

1. Learn to make videos with After Effect

Adobe After Effect can be considered the leading professional video editing and editing software today, trusted and chosen by many designers. Known as the "magician of video editing and editing", After Effect has the ability to create amazing effects and techniques that other applications can hardly achieve.

Adobe After Effect (abbreviated as Ae) is a more advanced video editing and editing software than Adobe Premiere, especially widely used to create beautiful and diverse effects for videos. This is also the most popular editing and effects software in the world, not only for designers but also trusted by top Hollywood filmmakers.

In addition, After Effect also has the ability to edit images directly, without having to switch to Photoshop. After Effect is compatible with other image editing software, has a 3D camera tracking system and applies 3D technology to text and shapes. After Effect is also compatible with the famous graphics software Adobe Illustrator, helping you combine these two software easily to create the best products.

Buy Cheap Adobe After Effect Account

However, After Effect is a rather complex application and requires a high computer configuration to operate smoothly. Currently, the After Effect application has two main versions for users:

After Effect CC versions are upgraded versions compared to CS versions, however, sometimes the CS version also meets the needs of use. Many people also agree that compared to CC version, CS version is easier to use and simpler, suitable for those who need to edit simple videos.

2. Learn to make videos on After Effect

To learn how to make videos with After Effects, users have many options. They can take courses at centers or take online courses that are advertised and sold online. In addition, they can also find instructional videos on Youtube.

Online learning saves time and is flexible, suitable for busy people who cannot attend classes directly. However, learners need to be serious and self-disciplined because there is no one to supervise and promote learning. This requires learners to have passion and be willing to improve their knowledge, focus on memorizing and practicing regularly to quickly become proficient.

Compared to online learning, learning to make videos with After Effects offline is often rated higher, similar to learning other applications. Although the cost is higher and learners need to arrange time to attend classes, the learning and knowledge acquisition efficiency is huge.

When attending a live class, learners are taught and have their questions answered directly by the instructor, have the opportunity to practice and have their mistakes corrected immediately. Therefore, the speed of progress will be much faster than learning online.

With the development of the film industry worldwide and various multimedia platforms, the need to learn and study video making and film effects is increasing. Therefore, learning to make videos with After Effect is also increasingly interested.

3. How to combine videos using After Effect

Step 1: Right-click on the Project frame and select Import, then select File (shortcut Ctrl + I).

Step 2: Select the video clips you want to merge and click Import.

Step 3 : Select Create a new Composition.

Step 4: In the Duration field, enter the length of the video you want to create. Calculate the total length of the combined videos and enter a larger length to avoid missing. Then, click OK to create the composition.

Step 5: Drag the videos you want to merge down to the working frame below.

Step 6: Switch to the timeline to start merging the videos. At this point, there will be two video layers starting from the same point. Drag the next video so that the start and end points match. When the first video layer ends, the second video will automatically play, from which the two videos will be merged into one.

Step 7: If the second video has a black frame that doesn't match the first video, hold down the Alt key and drag the video to remove the black frame.

Step 8: If the original video duration is greater than the actual duration and the video refuses to end, drag the video duration (Work Area End button) to the end point of the last video layer. Now you have successfully merged two videos together!

4. How to Create Intro Video After Effects

Step 1: Create a background for the Composition

In the After Effects workspace, import the background file into the Project pane by double-clicking the Project panel or using the shortcut Ctrl+I.

Next, on the Menu bar, select Composition => Create New Composition to create a new Composition. In the Composition settings window, customize the appropriate parameters such as display quality, frame rate, etc. Then, click OK to complete the settings. Next, insert the background image and the created footage.

Step 2: On the Menu bar, select Layer > New > Color (or use the shortcut Ctrl Y) to create a new color.

Step 3: Next, you need to create text on After Effects by using the text tool, the “T” icon on the Menu bar or using the shortcut Ctrl T. Then, you can change the text color as you like to match the content and idea of ​​the video.

Step 4: Create effects for the text such as adjusting the time it appears on the timeline or changing the tilt angle of the text, etc.

You can continue to add advanced effects to the text, such as Bevel and Emboss effects - creating a 3D feel for the layer, Drop Shadow - creating a shadow for the layer or Inner Glow to create a light effect for the text,...

Step 5: Create Logo Motion in After Effects

Creating movement in your logo is an important element to make your introduction more lively and attract the attention of viewers. Some common movements include using the Opacity property to create a flashing effect and using Expression to create random flashes, etc.

Step 6: Export the finished video file

5. Frequently Asked Questions

Is it difficult to make videos with After Effect?

Making videos with After Effects can be difficult for beginners, but if you have patience and learn carefully, it will get easier.

What are the main features of After Effect?

After Effect is a professional video editing software that can create dynamic effects, transitions, edit audio, text and images to create beautiful and high-quality videos.

How to create transition effects in After Effect?

To create transition effects in After Effects, you can use available presets or create your own transitions using different effects and tools like keyframe, mask, transition, etc.

After Effects is not just a regular video editing software, but also a powerful tool that helps you realize all your creative ideas with vivid and eye-catching effects. Although it may feel complicated at first, if you grasp the basic workflow, practice patiently and are not afraid to explore , using After Effects will become easy and fun.