Animated Saber Outline on After Effects | FREE Plug-in

00:02:58
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HfKbqvs9Jk

Summary

TLDRIn this video tutorial, FA Visuals demonstrates step-by-step instructions on how to create a lightsaber effect using Adobe After Effects. To begin, duplicate the original clip, then zoom in on an object like a tire and use the Ellipse tool to match its shape. Track the mask in each frame to ensure alignment. Install and apply the free Saber effect plugin by customizing the core to a layer mask and altering render settings. Adjust the end size and offset to your preference and manipulate 'Mask Evolution' settings to control effect speed and complexity. For a polished finish, enable motion blur before exporting. Conclude by encouraging viewers to like, subscribe, and follow for future content.

Takeaways

  • 🎥 Step-by-step lightsaber effect tutorial in After Effects.
  • 🔍 Use Control D to duplicate clips for effect layering.
  • ⭕ Utilize the Ellipse tool for circular object masking, like tires.
  • 👀 Track and adjust the mask's alignment frame-by-frame for precision.
  • ⚡ Apply the free Saber effect plugin for dynamic visual effects.
  • 🔧 Customize core to 'Layer Mask' and set render settings for best results.
  • 🎚️ Alter 'Mask Evolution' for spinning and motion adjustments.
  • 🏃‍♂️ Add motion blur to enhance the smoothness of the final video.
  • 💡 Export tips: ensure all settings for quality output are applied.
  • 👍 Engagement encouragement: like, subscribe, and stay tuned.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:02:58

    In this tutorial video by FA Visuals, the creator demonstrates how to create a lightsaber effect using Adobe After Effects. The process begins with duplicating your video clip and zooming in on the area of interest, such as a tire. Using the ellipse tool, one creates a mask around the object. Next, the mask is tracked across frames to ensure it matches the object's movement. The Saber effect plugin, which is free to download, is then applied to the mask. The effect is customized by adjusting settings such as the end size and offset. The mask evolution is animated to create a spinning effect, which can be adjusted to change the number of spins and speed. The tutorial concludes with adding motion blur to smoothen the final output. Viewers are encouraged to like, subscribe, and anticipate future tutorials.

Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • What is this tutorial about?

    It's about creating a lightsaber effect using After Effects.

  • What tool is used to duplicate a clip in After Effects?

    You can duplicate a clip by pressing Control D.

  • What tool is recommended for masking a circular object like a tire?

    The Ellipse tool is recommended for circular objects.

  • How do you track a mask in After Effects?

    Right-click on the mask, select 'Track Mask', and then click 'Track Selected' to track it forward.

  • Where can you find the Saber effect in After Effects?

    You can find it in the effects and presets panel, and it requires prior download.

  • What setting should you change to see the Saber effect on your object?

    Change 'Customize Core' to 'Layer Mask' and 'Render Settings' from 'Black' to 'Add'.

  • How can motion blur be added to make the effect smoother?

    Enable motion blur for the layers to make the exported video look smoother.

  • Is the Saber effect plugin free?

    Yes, the Saber effect plugin is free to download.

  • How can you adjust the speed and number of spins of the lightsaber effect?

    Manipulate the 'Mask Evolution' settings to adjust speed and spins.

  • What is the final export advice given in the tutorial?

    Add motion blur for a cleaner and smoother export.

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Subtitles
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  • 00:00:03
    what's going on guys fa visuals here
  • 00:00:05
    with my first ever video today I'm going
  • 00:00:07
    to be showing you how to do the
  • 00:00:09
    lightsaber effect on after effect so
  • 00:00:13
    first you grab your clip and you're
  • 00:00:15
    going to duplicate it by pressing
  • 00:00:17
    controll D now that you've duplicated
  • 00:00:20
    this clip you want to zoom in so for me
  • 00:00:24
    I'm going to do the tire and then on the
  • 00:00:26
    top left you're going to see an ellipse
  • 00:00:28
    tool if you don't see it just hold hold
  • 00:00:30
    down on left click and you can choose
  • 00:00:31
    between different shapes so if you're
  • 00:00:33
    doing a tire like me choose the ellipse
  • 00:00:35
    tool then you're going to go over the
  • 00:00:39
    tire just so it matches the tire
  • 00:00:47
    shape okay so for me this will do but if
  • 00:00:50
    you want to play around and make yours
  • 00:00:52
    perfect to the tire shape you can do
  • 00:00:54
    that just pause the video but next step
  • 00:00:56
    is you're going to right click on the
  • 00:00:58
    mask so it says mask one you're going to
  • 00:01:00
    right click and it's going to say track
  • 00:01:02
    mask so click on that and on the right
  • 00:01:05
    right here it's going to say track
  • 00:01:06
    selected and you can mask it forward so
  • 00:01:09
    go on the first frame and click on this
  • 00:01:11
    button and let it track all the frame so
  • 00:01:15
    you can go by each frame and see if it
  • 00:01:18
    doesn't align you can fix it yourself
  • 00:01:20
    but for me it did an okay job so I'll
  • 00:01:23
    just leave it there then what you do is
  • 00:01:26
    you're going to search up saber in the
  • 00:01:28
    effects and presets so I I already have
  • 00:01:30
    it downloaded but I'll leave a link
  • 00:01:32
    below in the description where you can
  • 00:01:34
    download it it's free so you don't have
  • 00:01:35
    to pay anything for it you're then going
  • 00:01:37
    to left click and drag it onto your clip
  • 00:01:40
    with the mask on so it's going to look
  • 00:01:42
    like this then on the left you're going
  • 00:01:45
    to click on customize core so click on
  • 00:01:47
    the arrow and click on the saber menu
  • 00:01:51
    and change it to layer mask then click
  • 00:01:54
    on the render settings menu and change
  • 00:01:57
    the black to add so now you can see that
  • 00:01:59
    the save effect is on the tire then what
  • 00:02:02
    we can do is put the end size to lower
  • 00:02:05
    like this and offset lower as well so it
  • 00:02:09
    has something like that okay now what
  • 00:02:11
    you want to do is click on mask
  • 00:02:13
    Evolution when you're at the start of
  • 00:02:15
    your time line and then drag it all the
  • 00:02:18
    way to the end and you can change the
  • 00:02:20
    number to whatever you want but for this
  • 00:02:23
    clip I'm going to do -400 so we can see
  • 00:02:27
    when we're dragging it back so this just
  • 00:02:29
    does one spin basically but you can play
  • 00:02:31
    around with it and see how many spins
  • 00:02:33
    you want and how fast you want it as
  • 00:02:35
    well so this is pretty much done and
  • 00:02:38
    then we can add motion blur to these
  • 00:02:41
    videos so it just looks smoother when
  • 00:02:44
    we're going to export it going to look
  • 00:02:46
    much cleaner so that was the end of this
  • 00:02:48
    tutorial if you enjoyed this video leave
  • 00:02:50
    a like subscribe share and turn on the
  • 00:02:53
    notification Bell I'm going to be
  • 00:02:55
    posting more tutorials soon so stay
  • 00:02:57
    tuned
Tags
  • lightsaber effect
  • After Effects tutorial
  • masking
  • Saber plugin
  • motion blur
  • video editing
  • VFX