The world of After Effects is a rich landscape, teeming with an array of powerful plugins that can take your video editing to the next level. Below, we’ve compiled a list to the most used After Effects plugins and their functionalities, showing you a wide range of creative options.
The plugins
Glitch
Datamosh – Embrace the Glitch
With Datamosh, video editing becomes a psychedelic journey. This plugin applies movement from one video clip to another, causing a glitch effect that can add a unique, trippy vibe to your projects. It’s an underrated tool that’s perfect for those seeking out-of-the-box aesthetic.
Video CoPilot’s Twitch – Embrace the Shake
For editors who want controlled chaos, Video CoPilot’s Twitch provides a wide variety of shakes and twitches to add an exciting and dynamic element to your projects.
Pixel Sorter – Glitch, Reimagined
Pixel Sorter is a plugin that adds an interesting glitch or displacement effect to your clips. It’s perfect for those seeking a digital, edgy look for their projects.
Glitchify – Customize Your Chaos
With Glitchify, you can create cool, customizable glitches that add a unique touch to your projects. It’s perfect for those looking to experiment with distortion and digital disruption.
Particles
Superliminal Stardust – Crafting The Cosmos
Superliminal Stardust is the ultimate plugin for those interested in creating intricate 3D particles, models, smoke, and effects. It’s a tool for the detail-oriented creatives, providing a galaxy of options for visual storytelling.
Plexus – Particle Power
Plexus is a particle engine that makes creating, manipulating, and visualizing objects a breeze. It’s a must-have for anyone looking to introduce complex particle effects into their work.
Red Giant Trapcode Suite – Particles Galore
Create cool particle simulations and moving particles with the Red Giant Trapcode Suite. This plugin turns your projects into a particle playground, offering a new level of dynamism and complexity.
Visual Effects and Motion
Red Giant Universe – A Universe of Effects
Red Giant Universe is a crowd favorite, packed with a vast assortment of transitions and effects. Popular features like uni.Long Shadow, uni.VHS, uni.RGB Sep., and uni.Glimmer allow for near-endless customization and creativity.
BorisFX Continuum Complete – The Total Package
BorisFX Continuum Complete is like a Swiss army knife for video editors, offering blurs, light leaks, glimmers, particles (2D and 3D), colorings, simulations, transitions, and more. It’s your one-stop shop for comprehensive video editing.
BorisFX Sapphire – The Gem of Effects
BorisFX Sapphire brings 270 effects and transitions, including blurs, colorings, lights/glows, transitions, and distortions. It’s highly recommended for enhancing background effects and is particularly celebrated for its s_shake effect.
Twixtor – Slow-motion Perfection
Twixtor is the go-to tool for generating smooth slow-motion edits. By blending frames together seamlessly, Twixtor ensures your velocity edits are nothing short of cinematic.
Mastering Twixtor is a whole different story, different frame rates require different configurations.
RSMB – Motion Blur Mastery
RSMB, or ReelSmart Motion Blur, adds an extra layer of realism to your projects by introducing additional motion blur. It’s the magic touch for bringing dynamism and fluidity to your edits.
Crossphere Bokeh – Beauty in Blur
Crossphere Bokeh allows editors to add attractive bokeh effects to their projects, introducing a new depth and aesthetic quality to your edits.
Handy Seamless Transitions – Smooth Operator
Handy Seamless Transitions offers a wealth of smooth and unique transitions that can add a polished, professional touch to your edits. No more jarring jumps between scenes – only seamless storytelling.
Color Grading
Magic Bullet Suite – Color Grading Glory
For color grading and creating color effects, there’s the Magic Bullet Suite. This plugin is a powerhouse, turning your color grading process into a masterful painting experience.
Titling and Rigging
NewBlueFX TotalFX – Title Triumph
Need an all-in-one tool for titling, presets, transitions, colorings, and effects? NewBlueFX TotalFX has you covered. With its vast array of options, it’s an essential addition to your After Effects plugin toolkit.
Joysticks n Sliders – Rigging Made Easy
Joysticks n Sliders is a rigging tool that empowers you to rig basically everything, especially characters, streamlining your animation process and enhancing your storytelling capabilities.
Text and Typography
Motion Factory – Animation and Effects Extravaganza
From text animation and typography to glitch and cartoon FX, Motion Factory does it all. It’s even equipped with a particle engine for creating sand, dust, fire, and more. Plus, its HUD element builder is a dream for all motion graphics editors.
Font Manager – Typography Toolbox
With Font Manager, you can animate and add effects to text with ease. It’s a critical tool for motion graphics editors seeking to elevate their typography work
3D
Element 3D – 3D Made Easy
Element 3D brings the power of a 3D modeling program like Cinema 4D into After Effects. It’s loaded with 3D models, objects, shapes, lighting set-ups, and textures, providing a comprehensive suite for all your 3D needs.
This list offers a peek into the world of After Effects plugins, showcasing the wide variety of tools available to enhance your video editing process. Whether you’re an experienced professional or just starting, there’s a plugin to cater to your needs and expand your creative horizons.
