In the post-production field, video compositing and visual effects are very essential components; they are the basics of any video production. The special effects incorporated into the visuals pique the attention of audiences, and it lures them to look more into it. With that said, viewers tend to spend more time being glued on the screen just watching well-edited videos.

After all, humans are visual-minded by nature. If you are involved in the post-production industry or are merely completing a video project for school or work, learning the basics of After Effects is your ticket to producing stunning videos.  

11+ After Effects Software

1. Adobe After Effects Software

adobe after effects software

Details

Rating: 5/5

Price: $20.99/Month

Download

2. Blender After Effects Software

blender after effects software

Details

Rating: 4.8/5

Price: Free

Download

3. Motion

motion

Details

Rating: 4.9/5

Price: $19/Month

Download

4. Blackmagic Fusion

fusion1

Details

Rating: 5/5

Price: $20.99/Month

Download

5. Nuke

nuke

Details

Rating: 4.9/5

Price: $499/Year

Download

6. Natron

natron

Details

Rating: 4.3/5

Price: Custom

Download

7. Apple Motion

apple motion

Details

Rating: 4.9/5

Price: $50/Month

Download

8. Wax

wax

Details

Rating: 5/5

Price: $299/Year

Download

9. FilmoraPro

filmorapro

Details

Rating: 5/5

Price: $89.99/Year

Download

10. Fusion

fusions

Details

Rating: 5/5

Price: $60/Month

Download

11. Autodesk Maya

autodesk

Details

Rating: 5/5

Price: Free

Download

What Is an After Effects Software?

After Effects software is commonly used in making special effects and motion graphics in online content, videos, and any visual presentations. This software application is commonplace in the television and post-production industries for the production of animations, compositing, and special effects. Video projects that were created through After Effects editor can be used, published, or displayed in kiosks, on the internet, and on TV.  

Adobe After Effects is just one of the many After Effects software available in the market and is considered the most popular. It is a component of the Adobe Creative Cloud. After Effects is used to make cartoon characters, create animation, and draft titles. However, it shouldn’t be likened to a video editing software for they are not the same.

After Effects is a software application best used when the effects are integrated only after an edited footage. It can also be used to add motion graphics and animation to static objects.  For instance, motion tracking in After Effects is downright useful to any video project as you can track an object’s movement within a footage, giving you much control over your project. An After Effects app is useful for making attention-grabbing motion graphics, and it is a great instrument for storytelling. When motion graphics are made visually appealing and are put to good use—they improve the images, mood, or story to whatever media they had been incorporated. 

Benefits of Using After Effects Software 

After Effects is basically good for composition, motion graphics, and visual effects. One of its advantages is that it is a powerfully built software. It is so robust that you can place different visual clips and audio on top of each other, and you can utilize the tools on the software to mix everything all together. Moreover, After Effects is also great for incorporating visual effects into your video project. With it, animations and creating video titles are made easy. 

Features of After Effects

After Effects software is one of the leading video editing programs for visual effects (VFX). It is a multifaceted software that lets you navigate through all aspects, methods, and approaches to creating motion graphics. After Effects has many tools at your disposal so you can make stunning detailed motion effects, and it allows you to explore the world of visual effects.

It aids in making incredibly eye-catching and high-quality visual effects for your film or video project, so you can pique your audience’s attention and imagination. In mastering the software, familiarizing yourself with its features can be a good headstart. Dynamic linking, keyframes, and pre-compositions are just some of the key features of After Effects that can help make your video projects become larger than life. It is such a versatile software that you can do a lot more than just removing the green screen in After Effects. 

Top 10 Best After Effects Software

1. Adobe After Effects

Adobe After Effects is probably the most popular After Effects software. It is a robust visual effects and powerful editing software which can be used for creating stunning videos. In fact, it has been used in producing high-profile film projects in Hollywood. It can all be credited to its feature-packed selection of tools for motion picture compositing, cinematic effects, and animation.  

2.   HitFilm Pro

HitFilm Pro is an all-in-one visual effects, 3D compositing, and video editing software perfect for motion graphics artists and filmmakers. It is a good alternative to Adobe After Effects if you need not only attention-grabbing but also very detailed graphics and special effects.

3. Fusion Studio 16

Motion graphics, Virtual Reality, visual effects, and 3D solutions are the specializations of Fusion Studio 16. Although it has often been used in making digital compositing and visual effects for high-definition commercials and footage, the software has also been utilized for post-production on popular films like “Avatar”, “Thor”, and “Lost”.

4. Natron

Natron is another alternative to Adobe After Effects. It is a free, open-source software that is suitable for those users who want to have much control over the interfaces and functions they make use of. It also allows flexibility over your video editing project. One of its key features is that functionality and interface are the same across Windows, Linux, and Mac devices.

5. Wondershare Filmora Pro

Wondershare FilmoraPro is an ultramodern nonlinear editor that grants extra finish in every video project. Navigation and a user-friendly interface that give helpful prompts are just some of their key features.

6. Wondershare Filmora X

Wondershare Filmora X’s aims at a wider user base than most visual effects software including Wondershare Filmora Pro. This software is easy enough since it’s beginner-friendly but robust enough to meet and exceed the expectations and needs of advanced users. 

7. Blender

Blender is a free, open-source 3D animation and modeling creation suite used for animation, rigging, modeling, game creation, and compositing. This software enables you to create high-quality images and animations that make use of three-dimensional geometry.

8. Apple Motion

Motion is a behavior-driven motion graphics and compositing application by Apple that allows you to create stunning animations in a 3D or 2D space as well as sparkling imaging effects in real-time for various video, broadcast, and film projects. With Apple Motion, you can add depth to your video production.

9. Nuke

Nuke is the prime software for node-based visual effects (VFX), finishing, and compositing. This robust visual effects program is used by VFX houses around the globe, and it is a well-known fact that it’s been utilized in almost all Hollywood blockbusters in recent years including movies like The Great Gatsby and Guardians of the Galaxy. Nuke has feature-packed tools that are great for commercial and collaborative use. 

10. Autodesk Smoke

Autodesk Smoke is a Mac-exclusive, non-linear video effects software. Its features help users produce stunning motion effects and 3D graphics. It combines robust video effects capacities with a simple editing platform. Autodesk Smoke is a full video editing package with a node-based compositor in contrast with Adobe After Effects with layer-based compositors. 

FAQs

Do you have any relevant information on Adobe After Effects’s cost?

It approximately costs $31.49 per month or $239.88 per year.

Why is there a Red or Green X or a watermark in the composition window?

It happens when you download the plug-in’s trial version. Many After Effects users are not aware that these plug-ins cannot just be downloaded and used for free. They come with a cost.

Why are Cycore (CC) Effects not available?

CC effects go along with After Effects 7.0 and higher versions of it. You can reach out to Adobe Customer Support for this type of issue if you cannot reinstall After Effects from the software’s CD.

The post-production industry is an essential part of production since they add life and color to video projects. With the use of After Effects software, outstanding video projects come to life. However, you don’t have to be in the film or post-production industry to enjoy the benefits of using these software. Whether you’re a content creator on YouTube, an art student, or a professional animator, the featured-packed tools brought to you by After Effects can satisfy your needs and surpass your expectations.

Related Posts