Adobe After Effects is deemed a powerhouse in the dynamic world of motion graphics and video editing. It offers an extensive range of robust tools that make crafting VFX (visual effects) and complex animations a seamless experience. The Adobe tool’s versatility makes it an absolute favorite amongst millions of animation professionals and hobbyists, giving them the platform to bring their creative ideas and visions to life.
However, the native features of Adobe After Effects are merely the tip of the iceberg. To truly unlock the tool’s full potential, users often take the help of third-party plugins which hold the potential to bring forth new possibilities. With a plethora of useful plugins readily available on the Internet, it may be a tad challenging for users to identify the ones that are truly worth the investment.
Besides listing the steps on how to use plugins in Adobe After Effects and discussing the pros and cons of using them, this article will dive deep into the world of plugins that are available for After Effects, highlighting some of the best most useful options available for users in 2024 using which they can elevate their projects’ appeal and take them to the next level. Let us begin:
Steps to Use Plugins in Adobe After Effects
Step 1: Open the After Effects application and navigate to the “Effects” tab.
Step 2: From the list of available plugins, select the one which you wish to use.
Step 3: Certain plugins may feature extra controls which you can easily access from the “Effects” tab.
Step 4: Click on the option labeled “Apply” to apply the selected plugin.
Pros and Cons of Using Adobe After Effects Plugins
Leveraging powerful plugins when using Adobe After Effects can significantly amplify your editing prowess. However, it is important to understand both the advantages as well as the potential drawbacks of using plugins. Let us take a detailed look at both pros and cons:
Pros
- Extended Functionality: Plugins help in adding features that are not available in the After Effects tool by default. Some examples include 3D layer and object manipulation, advanced effects, advanced particle systems, etc.
- Enhanced Efficiency: Numerous plugins are specifically designed to streamline users’ workflow. They help users in saving time when working on complex tasks such as motion tracking, color grading, color correction, color effects adjustments, etc.
- High-Quality Outcomes or Results: Professional-grade plugins usually help in obtaining superior-quality results as compared to native VFX or animation tools, thereby maximizing the overall quality of every project.
- Frequent Updates: Many plugin developers roll out frequent updates to their plugins. This ensures their compatibility with the latest iterations of the tool, in addition to incorporating new features & improvements.
- Community & Support: Popular plugins generally have massive user communities, how-to tutorials, and most importantly, customer support. This makes it easier for users to learn all about the tool and troubleshoot it when needed.
Cons
- Price: High-quality plugins are often expensive, and even though they can be a worthwhile investment, the costs can add up very quickly, especially if you require multiple plugins.
- Compatibility Problems: In some instances, plugins may not work properly with specific versions of the editing software or they might come in conflict with other added plugins, which in turn could lead to workflow disruptions.
- Impact on Performance: Using numerous plugins, especially those needing massive computational power, can significantly slow down the Adobe tool, leading to enhanced render times as well as other performance-related issues.
Note: All the abovementioned cons are addressed by Postudio. The platform’s usage-based pricing model provides a comprehensive range of post-production tools along with their plugins priced hourly, thereby ensuring compatibility and minimizing workflow disruptions. The best part is, that it’s all on the cloud, so all you need is an internet connection and a browser on your laptop. No other specific system requirements, which further minimizes the computational load on users’ setups and enhances performance. More details about this are discussed later in the article.
8 of the Best Adobe After Effects Plugins
- Animation Composer
Animation Composer by Mister Horse is one of the most popular free After Effects plugins which is used by over 6,00,000 motion designers from all around the globe. The plugin’s user-friendly interface paired with the option for users to add their own stuff to the user library makes Animation Composer a force to reckon with. It features an extensive range of animation presets as well as transitions, each of which helps users to amplify the appeal of their creative project.
Besides appealing Effects presets and transitions, Animation Composer also includes a variety of popular sound effects. Moreover, users also get to choose from a wide range of fully customizable text boxes. To put it simply, this free plugin is perfect for those who wish to get the most out of their Adobe After Effects tool when working on projects that require unique animations, such as designing animated characters and environments.
- DUIK
Rigging specific characters or animals by only using Adobe After Effects can prove to be a difficult and tiring task, not to mention highly time-consuming. With the help of the DUIK plugin by RainBox, the process becomes much easier and smooth. It allows individuals to rig as well as animate bipeds, quadrupeds, etc. Moreover, it has a user interface that is easy to navigate around.
Once the user’s rig has been set up, it is very fast and easy to get the animating part done. Some other prominent features of the DUIK plugin include dynamic automations, stretchy IK, Bezier IK, 3-layer IK, etc.
- DOF Pro
The Depth of Field Pro, also referred to as DOF PRO, as its name suggests, is a depth-of-field generating plugin designed for use with the powerful piece of software that Adobe After Effects is. Backed by more than a decade of intense R&D ever since it first came out in 2005, the plugin has managed to become the primary choice of industry professionals for creating sophisticated-looking depth-of-field effects with ease and finesse.
Its top-tier features offer innovating, bleeding-edge tech which is not available anywhere else. Some of the advanced features include support for both chromatic as well as achromatic aberration, effects for astigmatism and vignetting, custom aperture maps support, noise recovery, etc. Besides these, there is also full support for alpha channel and transparency, 32-bit floating-point color, precise aperture display, and most importantly, iris array display.
- Boris FX Sapphire
The Boris FX Sapphire After Effects plugin is one of the few plugins that professional video editors consider to be immensely useful, thanks to its diverse range of effects besides faster speeds at which the plugin can be applied. The Boris FX plugin is also renowned for making stunning comprehensive effects packages, each of which delivers results that are at par with Hollywood’s standards.
This specific plugin is of immense value for users looking for an After Effects plugin that features tons of assorted presets. With the help of this plugin, video editors can easily apply an extensive range of effects as well as functions without needing to make any additional downloads.
- Nodes 3
The Nodes 3 After Effects plugin created by FXFactory is deemed the “best-ever plugin ever created” by many video industry professionals. The Nodes 3 plugin helps users composite pictures, motion graphics, as well as text into polished and clean-looking 3D animations. Thanks to its key features, it is one of the most popular After Effects plugins when it comes to creating 3-dimensional titles, special effects, etc.
What further adds to the credibility of the Nodes 3 plugin is that it has been used in mammoth Hollywood projects, including the likes of “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” “The Avengers,” “End Game”, etc. Although it is a paid plugin, there is a trial version (free) readily available for users to experiment with and check out before they officially make the purchase.
- Particle Builder
Another highly renowned plugin in the world of Adobe After Effects users is the Particle Builder. As clearly evident by its name, the Particle Builder helps users in obtaining and applying any type of particle look they require. The plugin works smoothly and prevents users from worrying about any setting or parameter in particular. Each of the presets that the Particle Builder features looks absolutely stunning, right from fire particles to magical particles and all others in between.
Some of the best features of this particular plugin include 8 different categories of particles that users can choose from, including the likes of abstract particles, geometric particles, shockwave blasts, fireworks, etc. Moreover, users also get to choose from three distinctive apply modes, namely the Brush, Alpha, and Point Emitter.
- Textevo 2
Animating text properly can make or break a project. This is where the Textevo 2 plugin comes in. It is a renowned text animation plugin that is designed specifically for Adobe After Effects. It allows users to break down advanced animations of text in different ways, i.e., letter-by-letter, word-by-word, and even line-by-line.
The latest Effects plugin version features a light and highly flexible interface. Its latest update brings a plethora of new features, including an effect that groups the main parameters, the ability to stack different effects for offering more freedom to users, a well-designed preset-system, and many other similar features.
- Orb by Video Copilot
The Orb After Effects plugin by Video Copilot is the perfect choice for users who wish to add otherworldly elements such as planets or 3D shapes like spheres featuring exceptional realism to their projects. Very popular amongst beginners as well as professional video editors and creators, this free plugin gets the job of adding celestial elements and environments done seamlessly.
With the help of the Orb plugin, users can smoothly render detailed environments featuring complex effects and that too directly on 3D spheres’ surfaces in order to create unique-looking planets. Besides this, it features excellent luminance in addition to multiple shadow presets for the creation of realistic-looking alien worlds.
- Special Mention: Postudio
Postudio is an all-in-one virtual creative studio that hosts an impressive range of post-production tools under its banner, including Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and most importantly, Adobe After Effects, to name a few. Users can conveniently access After Effects along with a variety of premium plugins from reputed companies such as the complete Red Giant Suite, Video Copilot, and BorisFX.
As opposed to traditional models, Postudio offers users the option to rent After Effects along with the desired plugins on an hourly basis, thereby offering significant cost savings by removing the need to make upfront investments. Moreover, depending on their project’s requirements, users can rent the desired virtual system with the required configuration, which is yet another factor that adds to the value-for-money quotient.
Postudio also offers a wide range of functionalities that contribute to users’ creative process, including cloud-based rendering, real-time collaboration with other individuals working on the project, and much more. This combination of seamless integration paired with flexible and reasonable pricing makes the platform a versatile and cost-effective solution for all types of creative professionals. If you wish to bring your creative project to life, get started with Postudio now!
Final Thoughts
Adobe After Effects plug-ins are highly valuable assets for every user who is looking to better their video editing and motion graphics game. They offer additional functionality and enhanced efficiency. Additionally, they can significantly amplify the creative potential and quality of your work.
When looking for the best plugins for Adobe After Effects in 2024, keep in mind that the correct set of tools hold the potential to transform your Effects projects in addition to speeding up your workflow. Irrespective of whether you are a full-fledged professional video editor or someone who is just getting started, leveraging the correct plugins can make a massive difference.
