Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In this lesson you will create an animation from scratch to be used as the sample project for rendering and exporting.
Exercise Files:
https://dub.sh/aeugfiles
1. Creating a New Composition
1. Methods to Create a New Composition
1. Right-click in the project panel.
2. Click the icon at the bottom of the project panel.
3. Use the top menu: Composition ... New Composition.
4. Keyboard shortcut: Command/Ctrl + N.
2. Composition Settings
1. Preset: 1920x1080 pixels, 24fps.
2. Duration: 8 seconds.
3. Background color: Any.
2. Adding and Animating Background Texture
1. Importing and Fitting Background Texture
1. Select and drag the texture onto the composition window.
2. Right-click ... Transform ... Fit to Comp.
2. Animating with Offset Effect
1. Apply the Offset effect from the Effects & Presets panel.
2. Adjust origin points to animate the texture.
3. Creating Seamless Textures in Photoshop
1. Exporting a Frame to Photoshop
1. Top menu: Composition ... Save Frame As ... Photoshop Layers.
2. Check image size and divide by two.
2. Fixing Seams in Photoshop
1. Use the Offset filter with wraparound.
2. Use the Patch tool to fix seams.
3. Save and replace the texture in After Effects.
4. Replacing Footage Without Losing Effects
1. Replacing Textures
1. Hold Option/Alt and drag the new texture over the layer.
2. Adjust size if necessary.
5. Animating with Expressions
1. Applying Post-Rise Time and Wiggle Expressions
1. Post-Rise Time: posterizeTime(10);
2. Wiggle: wiggle(50, 1000);
2. Combining Expressions
1. Ensure Post-Rise Time is at the top of the stack.
6. Adding and Animating Text and Graphics
1. Adding Text Layers
1. Use the Type tool to add text.
2. Format text in the Properties panel.
3. Align text using the Align panel.
2. Applying Text Animation Presets
1. Use the Typewriter effect.
2. Adjust keyframes and add Easy Ease.
3. Animating Graphics
1. Animate position and opacity properties.
2. Enable motion blur for realistic motion.
7. Fine-Tuning Animation
1. Adjusting Timing
1. Reveal keyframes with 'U'.
2. Adjust keyframes for desired timing.
2. Adding Finishing Touches
1. Experiment with blend modes.
2. Apply Roughen Edges and Turbulent Displace effects.
3. Use the Hand-Drawn preset for a wiggly effect.
8. Using Adjustment Layers for Stylization
1. Adding Adjustment Layers
1. Right-click ... New ... Adjustment Layer.
2. Apply effects to affect all layers below.
2. Applying Noise and Lumetri Color Effects
1. Add noise for a vintage look.
2. Adjust saturation and add vignette with Lumetri Color.
9. Working with the Work Area
1. Setting and Adjusting the Work Area
1. Set start and end points with 'B' and 'N'.
2. Use the work area for looping sections of the animation.
2. Trimming and Previewing
1. Trim composition to the work area if needed.
2. Preview full-screen with the Grave key.
In this lesson you will create an animation from scratch to be used as the sample project for rendering and exporting.
Exercise Files:
https://dub.sh/aeugfiles
1. Creating a New Composition
1. Methods to Create a New Composition
1. Right-click in the project panel.
2. Click the icon at the bottom of the project panel.
3. Use the top menu: Composition ... New Composition.
4. Keyboard shortcut: Command/Ctrl + N.
2. Composition Settings
1. Preset: 1920x1080 pixels, 24fps.
2. Duration: 8 seconds.
3. Background color: Any.
2. Adding and Animating Background Texture
1. Importing and Fitting Background Texture
1. Select and drag the texture onto the composition window.
2. Right-click ... Transform ... Fit to Comp.
2. Animating with Offset Effect
1. Apply the Offset effect from the Effects & Presets panel.
2. Adjust origin points to animate the texture.
3. Creating Seamless Textures in Photoshop
1. Exporting a Frame to Photoshop
1. Top menu: Composition ... Save Frame As ... Photoshop Layers.
2. Check image size and divide by two.
2. Fixing Seams in Photoshop
1. Use the Offset filter with wraparound.
2. Use the Patch tool to fix seams.
3. Save and replace the texture in After Effects.
4. Replacing Footage Without Losing Effects
1. Replacing Textures
1. Hold Option/Alt and drag the new texture over the layer.
2. Adjust size if necessary.
5. Animating with Expressions
1. Applying Post-Rise Time and Wiggle Expressions
1. Post-Rise Time: posterizeTime(10);
2. Wiggle: wiggle(50, 1000);
2. Combining Expressions
1. Ensure Post-Rise Time is at the top of the stack.
6. Adding and Animating Text and Graphics
1. Adding Text Layers
1. Use the Type tool to add text.
2. Format text in the Properties panel.
3. Align text using the Align panel.
2. Applying Text Animation Presets
1. Use the Typewriter effect.
2. Adjust keyframes and add Easy Ease.
3. Animating Graphics
1. Animate position and opacity properties.
2. Enable motion blur for realistic motion.
7. Fine-Tuning Animation
1. Adjusting Timing
1. Reveal keyframes with 'U'.
2. Adjust keyframes for desired timing.
2. Adding Finishing Touches
1. Experiment with blend modes.
2. Apply Roughen Edges and Turbulent Displace effects.
3. Use the Hand-Drawn preset for a wiggly effect.
8. Using Adjustment Layers for Stylization
1. Adding Adjustment Layers
1. Right-click ... New ... Adjustment Layer.
2. Apply effects to affect all layers below.
2. Applying Noise and Lumetri Color Effects
1. Add noise for a vintage look.
2. Adjust saturation and add vignette with Lumetri Color.
9. Working with the Work Area
1. Setting and Adjusting the Work Area
1. Set start and end points with 'B' and 'N'.
2. Use the work area for looping sections of the animation.
2. Trimming and Previewing
1. Trim composition to the work area if needed.
2. Preview full-screen with the Grave key.
