Uploaded May 2023 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
An Adobe After Effects tutorial.
In this video, I share my cheats / hack template project I use to elevate my promo videos. Rather than try to remember all the ways you can improve a shot through color grading, lens distortion, light leaks, grain and more - I find it easier to have a project file with all these quick wins set up and ready to use. This way once a shot has its visual effects in place, I can make it look amazing just by dropping it into the included comp.
Are they shortcuts? Yes. Is it a bit hacky or cheating to have a template ready to go? You betcha! Do I care when the final looks better or more cinematic? Not one bit.
#AfterEffects #Cheats #tutorial
*Get ShiveringCactus VFX as phone cases, T-shirts, mugs: redbubble.com/people/ShiveringCactus/shop*
*Or buy me a coffee: ko-fi.com/shiveringcactus*
*Links:*
Project download (zipped AEP file): ko-fi.com/s/2281eb142e
Quick Chromatic Aberration: plugineverything.com/qca3
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*Chapters*
0:00 What we get
0:56 The "template"
1:40 Background blur and vignette
3:00 "Explosion Glow" Light Wrap
4:34 Optics Compensation
4:52 Lens Flare for light leaks
5:32 Lumetri Color, Noise for Grain and Quick Chromatic Aberation
7:00 Camera Lens Blur
I'm an Adobe Community Expert - which means you can find me on the Adobe forums if you need any help. community.adobe.com/t5/after-effects/ct-p/ct-after-effects?page=1&sort=latest_replies&lang=all&tabid=all
#AdobeCommunityExperts
An Adobe After Effects tutorial.
In this video, I share my cheats / hack template project I use to elevate my promo videos. Rather than try to remember all the ways you can improve a shot through color grading, lens distortion, light leaks, grain and more - I find it easier to have a project file with all these quick wins set up and ready to use. This way once a shot has its visual effects in place, I can make it look amazing just by dropping it into the included comp.
Are they shortcuts? Yes. Is it a bit hacky or cheating to have a template ready to go? You betcha! Do I care when the final looks better or more cinematic? Not one bit.
#AfterEffects #Cheats #tutorial
*Get ShiveringCactus VFX as phone cases, T-shirts, mugs: redbubble.com/people/ShiveringCactus/shop*
*Or buy me a coffee: ko-fi.com/shiveringcactus*
*Links:*
Project download (zipped AEP file): ko-fi.com/s/2281eb142e
Quick Chromatic Aberration: plugineverything.com/qca3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Chapters*
0:00 What we get
0:56 The "template"
1:40 Background blur and vignette
3:00 "Explosion Glow" Light Wrap
4:34 Optics Compensation
4:52 Lens Flare for light leaks
5:32 Lumetri Color, Noise for Grain and Quick Chromatic Aberation
7:00 Camera Lens Blur
I'm an Adobe Community Expert - which means you can find me on the Adobe forums if you need any help. community.adobe.com/t5/after-effects/ct-p/ct-after-effects?page=1&sort=latest_replies&lang=all&tabid=all
#AdobeCommunityExperts
