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  1. After Effects User Guide
  2. Beta releases
    1. Beta Program Overview
    2. After Effects Beta Home
  3. Getting started
    1. Get started with After Effects
    2. What's new in After Effects 
    3. Release Notes | After Effects
    4. After Effects system requirements
    5. Keyboard shortcuts in After Effects
    6. Supported File formats | After Effects
    7. Hardware recommendations
    8. After Effects for Apple silicon
    9. Planning and setup
  4. Workspaces
    1. General user interface items
    2. Get to know After Effects interface
    3. Workflows
    4. Workspaces, panels, and viewers
  5. Projects and compositions
    1. Projects
    2. Composition basics
    3. Precomposing, nesting, and pre-rendering
    4. View detailed performance information with the Composition Profiler
    5. CINEMA 4D Composition Renderer
  6. Importing footage
    1. Preparing and importing still images
    2. Importing from After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro
    3. Importing and interpreting video and audio
    4. Preparing and importing 3D image files
    5. Importing and interpreting footage items
    6. Working with footage items
    7. Detect edit points using Scene Edit Detection
    8. XMP metadata
  7. Text and Graphics
    1. Text
      1. Formatting characters and the Character panel
      2. Text effects
      3. Creating and editing text layers
      4. Formatting paragraphs and the Paragraph panel
      5. Extruding text and shape layers
      6. Animating text
      7. Examples and resources for text animation
      8. Live Text Templates
    2. Motion Graphics
      1. Work with Motion Graphics templates in After Effects
      2. Use expressions to create drop-down lists in Motion Graphics templates
      3. Work with Essential Properties to create Motion Graphics templates
      4. Replace images and videos in Motion Graphics templates and Essential Properties
      5. Animate faster and easier using the Properties panel
  8. Drawing, Painting, and Paths
    1. Overview of shape layers, paths, and vector graphics
    2. Paint tools: Brush, Clone Stamp, and Eraser
    3. Taper shape strokes
    4. Shape attributes, paint operations, and path operations for shape layers
    5. Use Offset Paths shape effect to alter shapes
    6. Creating shapes
    7. Create masks
    8. Remove objects from your videos with the Content-Aware Fill panel
    9. Roto Brush and Refine Matte
  9. Layers, Markers, and Camera
    1. Selecting and arranging layers
    2. Blending modes and layer styles
    3. 3D layers
    4. Layer properties
    5. Creating layers
    6. Managing layers
    7. Layer markers and composition markers
    8. Cameras, lights, and points of interest
  10. Animation, Keyframes, Motion Tracking, and Keying
    1. Animation
      1. Animation basics
      2. Animating with Puppet tools
      3. Managing and animating shape paths and masks
      4. Animating Sketch and Capture shapes using After Effects
      5. Assorted animation tools
      6. Work with Data-driven animation
    2. Keyframe
      1. Keyframe interpolation
      2. Setting, selecting, and deleting keyframes
      3. Editing, moving, and copying keyframes
    3. Motion tracking
      1. Tracking and stabilizing motion
      2. Face Tracking
      3. Mask Tracking
      4. Mask Reference
      5. Speed
      6. Time-stretching and time-remapping
      7. Timecode and time display units
    4. Keying
      1. Keying
      2. Keying effects
  11. Transparency and Compositing
    1. Compositing and transparency overview and resources
    2. Alpha channels and masks
    3. Track Mattes and Traveling Mattes
  12. Adjusting color
    1. Color basics
    2. Color management
    3. Color Correction effects
    4. OpenColorIO and ACES color management
  13. Effects and Animation Presets
    1. Effects and animation presets overview
    2. Effect list
    3. Effect Manager
    4. Simulation effects
    5. Stylize effects
    6. Audio effects
    7. Distort effects
    8. Perspective effects
    9. Channel effects
    10. Generate effects
    11. Time effects
    12. Transition effects
    13. The Rolling Shutter Repair effect
    14. Blur and Sharpen effects
    15. 3D Channel effects
    16. Utility effects
    17. Matte effects
    18. Noise and Grain effects
    19. Detail-preserving Upscale effect
    20. Obsolete effects
  14. Expressions and Automation
    1. Expressions
      1. Expression basics
      2. Understanding the expression language
      3. Using expression controls
      4. Syntax differences between the JavaScript and Legacy ExtendScript expression engines
      5. Editing expressions
      6. Expression errors
      7. Using the Expressions editor
      8. Use expressions to edit and access text properties
      9. Expression language reference
      10. Expression examples
    2. Automation
      1. Automation
      2. Scripts
  15. Immersive video, VR, and 3D
    1. Construct VR environments in After Effects
    2. Apply immersive video effects
    3. Compositing tools for VR/360 videos
    4. Advanced 3D Renderer
    5. Import and add 3D models to your composition
    6. Import 3D models from Creative Cloud Libraries
    7. Image-Based Lighting
    8. Extract and animate lights and cameras from 3D models
    9. Tracking 3D camera movement
    10. Cast and accept shadows
    11. Embedded 3D model animations
    12. Shadow Catcher
    13. 3D depth data extraction
    14. Modify materials properties of a 3D layer
    15. Work in 3D Design Space
    16. 3D Transform Gizmos
    17. Do more with 3D animation
    18. Preview changes to 3D designs real time with the Mercury 3D engine
    19. Add responsive design to your graphics 
  16. Views and Previews
    1. Previewing
    2. Video preview with Mercury Transmit
    3. Modifying and using views
  17. Rendering and Exporting
    1. Basics of rendering and exporting
    2. H.264 Encoding in After Effects
    3. Export an After Effects project as an Adobe Premiere Pro project
    4. Converting movies
    5. Multi-frame rendering
    6. Automated rendering and network rendering
    7. Rendering and exporting still images and still-image sequences
    8. Using the GoPro CineForm codec in After Effects
  18. Working with other applications
    1. Dynamic Link and After Effects
    2. Working with After Effects and other applications
      1. Export After Effects project as Premiere Pro project
    3. Sync Settings in After Effects
    4. Creative Cloud Libraries in After Effects
    5. Plug-ins
    6. Cinema 4D and Cineware
  19. Collaboration: Frame.io, and Team Projects
    1. Collaboration in Premiere Pro and After Effects
    2. Frame.io
      1. Install and activate Frame.io
      2. Use Frame.io with Premiere Pro and After Effects
      3. Frequently asked questions
    3. Team Projects
      1. Get Started with Team Projects
      2. Create a Team Project
      3. Collaborate with Team Projects
  20. Memory, storage, performance
    1. Memory and storage
    2. How After Effects handles low memory issues while previewing    
    3. Improve performance
    4. Preferences
    5. GPU and GPU driver requirements for After Effects
  21. Knowledge Base
    1. Known issues
    2. Fixed issues
    3. Frequently asked questions
    4. After Effects and macOS Ventura
    5. How After Effects handles low memory issues while previewing

Use the document to learn about the immersive video effects in After Effects.

After Effects offers native immersive video effects to edit your VR 360 and VR 180 videos. You can use a host of dynamic transitions, effects, and titles to edit and enhance the immersive video experience. You can experiment with the different immersive video effects in After Effects for a seamless post-production workflow.

GPU requirements for immersive video effects

Immersive Video effects render using the GPU of your computer. Make sure to set your video rendering preference to GPU. To set, select File > Project Settings > Video Rendering and Effects > Use > Mercury GPU Acceleration (OpenCL). If your settings are set to Mercury Software Only, the effects do not render and display a warning banner - This effect requires GPU acceleration.

Apply seamless immersive video effects to your footage

You can use the spherically aware immersive video effects that compensate for distortion in equirectangular content.

To apply these effects, select Effects > Immersive Video, or search for VR in the Effects & Presets panel.

Immersive video effects in Effects and Presets panel
Immersive video effects in Effects and Presets panel

Immersive video effects under Effects tab
Immersive video effects under Effects tab

Post Effects in After Effects provide a seamless editing experience. You can apply the effects directly to the stitched 360 footage, with no distortion along the seams. You can add the following effects to your videos to enhance immersive experience:

Apply VR Color Gradients effect

After effect application
After

Before effect application
Before

You can use the following parameters to play around with the effect on your footage:

VR Color Gradient settings
VR Color Gradient settings

Parameter

Description

Frame Layout

Sets the frame layout as Monoscopic or Stereoscopic Over/Under.

Points Number

Adjusts the number of color points that are applied to a footage.

Gradient Power

Adjusts the overall gradient power for all the color points.

Gradient Blend

Adjusts the overall blending for all the color points. The higher the number, the more the colors begin to blend together. The blending starts at the edges and moves inwards. For example, feathering around the edges.

Points

Adjusts the Color and Point of Interest for each of your color points. Each of the Points of Interests can be moved independently and can be key-framed.

Opacity

Adjusts the opacity of the overall color gradients on your footage. At 100%, the effect is opaque. At 0%, the effect is transparent.

Blending Mode

You can select from the various color blending modes for the effect on top of your original footage. The default is Normal.

Stereoscopic Side-by-Side

The Frame Layout parameter can be set to Stereoscopic Side-by-Side, in addition to the existing Monoscopic and Stereoscopic Over/Under options.

Horizontal and Vertical Field of View

The horizontal and vertical field of view can be independently set. By default, the values are 360x180. For VR 180 content, set both values to 180.

Apply VR Fractal Noise effect

After effect application
After

Before effect application
Before

You can use the following parameters to play around with the effect on your footage:

VR Fractal Noise setting
VR Fractal Noise setting

Parameter Description
Frame Layout Sets the frame layout as Monoscopic or Stereoscopic Over/Under.
Fractal Type The parameter allows you to choose between four different fractal types: Basic, Turbulent Sharp, Max, and Strings.
Contrast Adjusts the image contrast for the fractal noise.
Brightness Adjusts the brightness level for the fractal noise
Invert Inverts the color channels of the fractal noise.
Complexity Adjusts the complexity of the fractal noise. Higher the value, more detailed fractal noise, and lower the value, less detailed fractal noise.
Evolution The parameter allows you to use the cycling feature to animate fractal noise. Speed of cycling changes the animation.
Transform
  • Scale: Adjusts the overall size of the fractals on your footage. Higher the value, larger the visible fractals.
  • Tilt (X axis): Repositions the fractal noise on the X-axis of your footage.
    Pan (Y axis): Repositions the fractal noise on the Y-axis of your footage.
  • Roll (Z axis): Repositions the fractal noise on the Z-axis of your footage.
Sub settings
  • Sub Influence: Fractal noise effect is made up of multiple fractal noise layers. Adjusts the influence the sublayer of fractal noise on the appearance.
  • Sub Scaling: Adjusts the influence of scaling that the sublayer of fractal noise has on the appearance.
  • Sub Tilt (X axis): Adjusts the position of the subscaled fractal noise layer on the X-axis of your footage.
  • Sub Pan (Y axis): Adjusts the position of the subscaled fractal noise layer on the Y-axis of your footage.
  • Sub Roll (Z axis): Adjusts the position of the sub scaled fractal noise layer on the Z-axis of your footage.
Random Speed The parameter allows you to set a random speed of the fractal noise particles on your footage.
Opacity Adjusts the opacity of the effect on your footage. At 100%, the effect is opaque. At 0%, the effect is transparent.
Blend Mode The parameter allows you to choose from multiple blending modes.
Stereoscopic Side-by-Side The Frame Layout parameter can be set to Stereoscopic Side-by-Side, in addition to the existing Monoscopic and Stereoscopic Over/Under options.
Horizontal and Vertical Field of View The horizontal and vertical field of view can be independently set. By default, the values are 360x180. For VR 180 content, set both values to 180.

Apply VR Digital Glitch effect

After effect application
After

Before effect application
Before

You can use the following parameters to play around with the effect on your footage:

VR Digital Glitch settings
VR Digital Glitch settings

Parameter Description
Frame Layout Sets the frame layout as Monoscopic or Stereoscopic Over/Under.
Point of Interest Adjusts the Point of Interest, which is the central location of the effect. You can keyframe the position for movement.
POI Scale (Point of Interest scale) Adjusts the scaling for the effect from the point of interest. If you set the value as 100, the effect is applied to the entire footage. Scale down the value to apply the effect to only a part of the footage.
POI Aspect Ratio (Point of Interest aspect ratio) Adjusts the aspect ratio of the Point of Interest Scale. If you set the effect to the minimum value of -100, the aspect ration becomes wide and short. The maximum value of 100 makes the ratio narrow. 
Master Amplitude Adjusts the overall threshold value of all the effect settings together. At 100, all the effect settings remain as set by you. At a value of 0, all the effect settings scale back to 0 from your settings. 
Distortion
  • Color Distortion: Adjusts the color distortion (RGB split) on your footage.
  • Geometry Distortion X: Adjusts the distortion on your footage in relation to the X-axis of your footage. Higher the value, more distortion on the axis. For best results, adjust the setting along with the Distortion Rate.
  • Geometry Distortion Y: Adjusts the distortion on your footage in relation to the Y-axis. Higher the value, more distortion on the axis.
  • Geometry Distortion Z: Adjusts the distortion on your footage in relation to the Z-axis. Higher the value, more distortion on the axis.
  • Distortion Complexity: Subdivides the areas of distortion on your footage. Higher the value, finer the distortion. Smaller the value, blocky the distortion.
  • Distortion Rate: Adjusts the distortion amount on your footage. Set the value as 100 to cover the entire video in distortion. Set the value as 0 for no distortion.
  • Distortion Evolution: Create a loop to animate the distortion created by Distortion Rate setting. Faster the cycle of animation, video displays faster glitching. Slower the cycle, video displays slower glitching.
  • Color Evolution: Animates the RGB color distortion created by the Color Distortion setting. Cycle the setting to achieve the effect.
Transform
  • Scale X: Scales the distortion artifacts on the X-axis.
  • Scale Y: Scales the distortion artifacts on the Y-axis.
  • Scale Z: Scales the distortion artifacts on the Z-axis.Translate X: Adjust the movement of the distortion around your footage on the X-axis.
  • Translate Y: Adjusts the movement of the distortion around your footage on the Y-axis.
  • Translate Z: Adjusts the movement of the distortion around your footage on the Z-axis
Sub settings
  • Sub Influence: Adjusts subdividing of visible distortion on your footage.
  • Sub Scaling: Adjusts subscaling of visible distortion on your footage.
Noise
  • Noise Strength: Adjusts the opacity of noise visible on your footage.
  • Noise Quantity: Adjusts the density of the noise on your footage.
  • Noise Scale: Adjusts the scale of the noise on your footage.
  • Noise Evolution: Cycles the setting to animate the noise created by the Noise Strength setting.
  • Quantity settings: Adjusts the cycle speed of noise. Faster the cycles, faster is the distortion animation.
  • Color Noise: Enables colorized noise.
  • Random Speed: Random application of the Digital Glitch effect.
Stereoscopic Side-by-Side The Frame Layout parameter can be set to Stereoscopic Side-by-Side, in addition to the existing Monoscopic and Stereoscopic Over/Under options.
Horizontal and Vertical Field of View The horizontal and vertical field of view can be independently set. By default, the values are 360x180. For VR 180 content, set both values to 180.

Apply VR Chromatic Aberration effect

After effect application
After

Before effect application
Before

You can use the following parameters to play around with the effect on your footage:

VR Chromatic Aberration settings
VR Chromatic Aberration settings

Parameter

Description

Frame Layout

Adjusts the frame layout - Monoscopic or Stereoscopic Over/Under.

Point of Interest

Adjusts the position of the point of interest of the footage. You can keyframe the point of interest position for movement.

Aberration (Red)

Adjusts the scale of the Red channel of your footage.

Aberration(Green)

Adjusts the scale of the Green channel of your footage.

Aberration (Blue)

Adjusts the scale of the Blue channel of your footage.

Falloff Distance

Adjusts the falloff distance of the effect from the point of interest. The higher the value, more clear aberrations.

Falloff Invert

Restricts occurrence of chromatic aberrations around the point of interest.

Stereoscopic Side-by-Side

The Frame Layout parameter can be set to Stereoscopic Side-by-Side, in addition to the existing Monoscopic and Stereoscopic Over/Under options.

Horizontal and Vertical Field of View

The horizontal and vertical field of view can be independently set. By default, the values are 360x180. For VR 180 content, set both values to 180.

Apply VR Blur effect

After effect application
After

Before effect application
Before

VR Blur settings
VR Blur settings

VR Blur accurately blurs content while adjusting for the distortion in Equirectangular content.

  • Blurriness: You can adjust the convolution kernel radius.
  • Stereoscopic Side-by-Side: The Frame Layout parameter can be set to Stereoscopic Side-by-Side, in addition to the existing Monoscopic and Stereoscopic Over/Under options.
  • Horizontal and Vertical Field of View: The horizontal and vertical field of view can be independently set. By default, the values are 360x180. For VR 180 content, set both values to 180.

Apply VR De-Noise effect

After effect application
After

Before effect application
Before

You can use the following parameters to play around with the effect on your footage:

VR De-Noise settings
VR De-Noise settings

Parameters

Description

Noise Type

Choose a noise type - Random Valued or Slat-and-Pepper speckles.

Noise Level

Adjusts the input noise level.

Stereoscopic Side-by-Side

The Frame Layout parameter can be set to Stereoscopic Side-by-Side, in addition to the existing Monoscopic and Stereoscopic Over/Under options.

Horizontal and Vertical Field of View

The horizontal and vertical field of view can be independently set. By default, the values are 360x180. For VR 180 content, set both values to 180.

Apply VR Glow effect

After effect application
After

Before effect application
Before

You can use the following parameters to play around with the effect on your footage:

VR Glow settings
VR Glow settings

Parameter

Description

Luma Threshold

Defines the areas in the image that glows. Areas where luma (brightness) is higher than threshold, between 0.0 (black) and 1.0 (white).

Glow Radius

Defines the radius of glowing halo.

Glow Brightness

Multiplies the glow brightness intensity.

Glow Saturation

Multiplies the glow saturation (color) intensity.

Use Tint Color

Blends tint color to the resultant glow color.

Tint Color

Chooses tint color.

Stereoscopic Side-by-Side

The Frame Layout parameter can be set to Stereoscopic Side-by-Side, in addition to the existing Monoscopic and Stereoscopic Over/Under options.

Horizontal and Vertical Field of View

The horizontal and vertical field of view can be independently set. By default, the values are 360x180. For VR 180 content, set both values to 180.

Apply VR Sharpen effect

The VR Sharpen effect adjusts the amount of sharpness in your footage.

Parameter

Description

Sharpen Amount

You can adjust the relative sharpen amount from 0 to 100.

Stereoscopic Side-by-Side

The Frame Layout parameter can be set to Stereoscopic Side-by-Side, in addition to the existing Monoscopic and Stereoscopic Over/Under options.

Horizontal and Vertical Field of View

The horizontal and vertical field of view can be independently set. By default, the values are 360x180. For VR 180 content, set both values to 180.

Apply VR Converter effect

You can use VR Converter to convert your footage from 2D source, equirectangular, cubic, or spherical layouts to other VR layouts. You can also change the orientation of your footage and add logos, supers, or image patches.

The converter is divided into two functional categories:

  • Input and Output formats
  • Re-orient Camera View
VR Converter settings
VR Converter settings

VR Converter formats

VR Converter can take inputs and provide outputs in the following formats:

VR Converter Input formats:

  • Fisheye (FullDome)
  • Cube-map Facebook 3:2
  • Cube-map Pano2VR 3:2
  • Cube-map GearVR 6:1
  • Equirectangular 16:9
  • 2D Source
  • Cube-map 4:3
  • Sphere-map
  • Equirectangular 2:1

VR Converter Output formats:

Output formats

Example

Cube-map Pano2VR 3:2

Cube-map GearVR 6:1

Fisheye (FullDome)

Equirectangular 16:9

Cube-map Facebook 3:2

Equirectangular 2:1

Re-orient Camera View

You can change the camera orientation of your footage without restiching your camera views with the orientation tools in VR Converter:

  • Tilt (X-Axis) 
  • Pan (Y Axis)
  • Roll (Z Axis)

Adjust the value of the settings to achieve different results. You can keyframe the controls and achieve results such as camera tilts, pans, and rolls.

Apply VR Plane to Sphere effect

You can add text, logos, and graphics, and other 2D elements to your Monoscopic or Stereoscopic footage with the VR Plane to Sphere effect.

To work with the effect, use the following steps:

  1. Import or create 2D element in your composition.

  2. Select Effects > Immersive Video, and drag the effect to the timeline.

  3. Adjust the effect parameters. The parameters include:

    VR Plane to Sphere settings
    VR Plane to Sphere settings

    • Frame layout: Select Monoscopic layout for non-stereo (non 3D) output. Select Stereoscopic for stereo 3D output.
    • Scale (Degrees): Adjusts the size of your 2D element.
    • Stereo Disparity (Degrees): Sets the distance between the left and right view to increase or decrease the amount of the 3D pop out effect. You can keyframe the parameter to allow for a change in stereo effect.
    • Feather: Feathers the edges of the footage.
    • Rotate Source: Adjusts the X, Y, or Z rotation of the 2D element relative to the anchor point. You can keyframe the parameter.
    • Rotate Projection: Adjusts the X, Y, or Z rotation of the position of your element in the 360-degrees spherical environment.
    • Stereoscopic Side-by-Side: The Frame Layout parameter can be set to Stereoscopic Side-by-Side, in addition to the existing Monoscopic and Stereoscopic Over/Under options.
    • Horizontal and Vertical Field of View: The horizontal and vertical field of view can be independently set. By default, the values are 360x180. For VR 180 content, set both values to 180.

Apply VR Rotate Sphere effect

You can use the following parameters to play around with the effect on your footage:

VR Rotate Sphere settings
VR Rotate Sphere settings

Parameter

Description

Frame Layout

Select Monoscopic layout for non-stereo (non 3D) output. Select Stereoscopic for stereo 3D output.

Invert Rotation

Adjusts the tilt, pan, and roll, and inverts them.

Tilt (X axis), Pan (Y axis), Roll (Z axis)

Readjusts the focal point and straightens the horizon, and adds camera movements to your footage.

Stereoscopic Side-by-Side

The Frame Layout parameter can be set to Stereoscopic Side-by-Side, in addition to the existing Monoscopic and Stereoscopic Over/Under options.

Horizontal and Vertical Field of View

The horizontal and vertical field of view can be independently set. By default, the values are 360x180. For VR 180 content, set both values to 180.

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