Uploaded January 2018 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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Learn how to create DISINTEGRATION VFX using Adobe After Effects!

TIME STAMPS
00:00 Introduction
01:03 Tutorial Start
02:53 Adding the Energy Ball
03:40 Isolating the Subject You Want to Disintegrate
11:36 Disintegration Prep Cleanup
13:38 Creating the core Disintegration Effect
22:58 Dissolving the remaining pieces
25:26 Adding Glow & Colour Grading
29:55 The Final Effect

Download the tutorial files here: surfacedstudio.com/tutorials/after-effects/disintegration-vfx?showDownloads=true

Difficulty: Intermediate

In this tutorial I will show you how to create a cool looking Disintegration VFX in Adobe After Effects.

We will first separate our foreground from the background using the the Difference Matte effect.
This will allow us to disintegrate only the person in front and not affect the rest of the footage.
We will then create the Disintegration VFX itself, using the Displacement Map and the Extract effects.
Then we will composite the person back into the original shot and add some interesting edge glow around the fragments.
Finally, we will blend everything together with some nice colour grading to finish off the final disintegration effect.

All comments and feedback welcome :)

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