Motion fx review how to#
Motion fx review update#
Motion fx review full#
Motion fx review software#

However, it’s important to remember that optical flares aren’t just limited to producing J.J. I think adding digital lens flares was very much a product of the DSLR era for low-budget filmmakers who needed to make footage appear more cinematic. I was somewhat hesitant to include Optical Flares as a “must-have” plugin. Newton also allows users to create realistic physics-based rigs to simulate pivots, pistons, springs, and distance joints.Ĭreate custom lens flares with Video Copilot’s Optical Flares package. More specifically, Newton can use gravity in several unique ways, including gravity scale, magnetism, and fixed rotation properties. Newton is a 2D physics engine for After Effects that allows users to apply real-world physics to 2D objects. However, for the last several years, it’s been sitting on my bookmark tab, patiently waiting to be purchased, as it’s a must-have for motion graphics artists. If you’re looking to give your motion graphics an extra edge, Plexus is the plugin to do that.Īdmittedly, Newton is the only After Effects plugin on this list that I don’t own. Plexus 3 is a potent - albeit complicated - tool. All the 3D objects in Plexus also work with 3D cameras and depth of field. Plexus allows for the use of 3D Bézier splines, meaning you can adjust lines in 3D space. Not only can you render the particles, you can create all sorts of interesting relationships between them based on various parameters.īut, more notably, Plexus can create the incredibly popular 3D-connected dots design (we see this used everywhere). Rowbyte Plexus is a next-gen particle engine for After Effects that lets you create, manipulate, and visualize data in a procedural manner. These 3D objects can serve as containers or forms for Plexus to use.

Motion fx review software#

obj support, meaning you can import models from most 3D graphics software and have the objects broken up in 3D space. Plexus is a plugin that takes layers and breaks them up into smaller objects. However, even though the promo above is nearly eight years old, the material still looks good by today’s standard. Version 2, released in 2015, included new features like ambient occlusion and lighting presets.

Motion fx review update#

There hasn’t been a new update to Element 3D for some time. The plugin works incredibly fast, considering all the functionality it brings to After Effects.

Motion fx review how to#

If you don’t know how to use modeling software like Maya or Cinema 4D, Element 3D can help you import and edit 3D models quickly. Truthfully, they’re two different worlds.Įlement 3D looks to bridge that gap by allowing users to upload and use 3D models within Adobe After Effects. Moving from a compositing software to a 3D modeling software is a big jump.

Motion fx review full#

If you’d like to read my full review on the plugin, you can do so here. When the plugin was first announced, many called it a game-changer, and they weren’t wrong. With this After Effects plugin, you can track any moving and warping surface - a T-shirt, fur, a face - and apply a graphic element that distorts with that surface. Lockdown seeks to eliminate this problem. While motion-tracking capabilities have grown tremendously with each iteration of After Effects, the ability to apply a graphic to a warping surface and have it move appropriately remains incredibly challenging. Released just last year, the plugin has already made considerable waves within the After Effects community. Lockdown is the newest plugin on this list. Price: Trapcode Particular is $399, or you can purchase the entire suite for $999 via Red Giant. Using Particular, you can create particle-based lines, shapes, and patterns in 3D space. The plugin uses realistic physics, and it offers more functionality than the Particle World plugin that’s built into AE. Trapcode Particular is a particle system plugin that lets users create customized particles in After Effects - like smoke, rain, clouds, and dust. The Trapcode Suite itself is in its fifteenth iteration. Version 1 was released during the 2000s, and a little over a decade later, the plugin is still being updated and revitalized. Trapcode Particular (and the Trapcode Suite) has undoubtedly stood the test of time. Trapcode Particular 4 (and Trapcode Suite 15) (New to AE? Here’s your fast track to a solid foundation.)ġ. If you’re ready to get more from Adobe’s powerful post-production software, add these ten essential After Effects plugins to your toolkit today. After all, plugins are a no-brainer way to save time and energy by simplifying complex functions. Whether you’re an After Effects veteran or an AE newbie, these ten plugins are a fantastic addition to your motion design toolkit.Įvery motion designer has a few plugins they rely on to customize and enhance their day-to-day After Effects workflow.