Ep16: Enhancing Your Edits with Visual Effects in After Effects and Premiere Pro

In this episode of "The Video Editing Guru," host Dustin delved into the intriguing world of visual effects using the Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro software. The episode provided an easy-to-follow guide on creating visual effects, highlighting key techniques like motion tracking and particle effects. Dustin demonstrated how to set up a workspace in After Effects, apply effects to text or graphics, and animate them to integrate seamlessly into your video. The podcast also touched on the dynamic link feature to integrate After Effects with a Premiere Pro project, offered useful tips on how to optimize the use of these sophisticated tools, and emphasized the importance of using visual effects wisely to enhance your story and stay organized. Dustin encouraged listeners to continue experimenting and using visuals to bring their edits to life.

• Dustin Elkin - Professional Video Editor / Home

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hey, what's up, Fellow creators. Welcome back to another episode
of the Video Editing Guru, the podcast where I dive
into all things video editing to help you become a
master in the art of post production. I'm your host, Dustin.
In today's episode, we'll explore the fascinating world of visual
effects with Adobe after Effects and Premiere Pro, giving you

(00:26):
easy techniques to create visual effects and seamlessly merge them
into your projects. From motion tracking to particle effects. This
will be a jam packed session, so buckle up. To
start off, let's talk about visual effects or VFX. These
are a key way to add a touch of sophistication

(00:47):
and creativity to any project, may it be social media
videos or short films. Our journey begins with setting up
your workspace in Adobe after Effects. This software is chiefly
praised for its versatility, and while it may seem daunting
at first, trust me with practice, it becomes almost intuitive.
Today we'll start with a simple yet useful effect you

(01:08):
can apply for text, logos, or other elements. Motion tracking.
This technique involves adding text or graphic elements to a
moving object in your video. You can do this by
importing your footage into after Effects, selecting the layer you
wish to track, and creating a null object. Your graphic
is now seamlessly integrated with your footage. Now that we've

(01:30):
got motion tracking down, let's discuss another amazing feature after
Effects offers creating custom animations. A fun tool to experiment
with is particle effects, which can be used to create
interesting elements like snow or confetti. Create a solid layer
in your composition, select your layer, apply the CC particle

(01:51):
World effect, and adjust the settings to breathe life into
your effect. Keep playing with the settings until you get
the effect just right for your project. This effect can
be a game changer, especially in transitions or as a
background component in certain scenes. Once you have perfected your
effect or animation in after Effects, it's time to integrate

(02:13):
it with your Premiere Pro project. The easiest way to
do this is by using the Dynamic Link feature, which
simplifies importing after Effect compositions into Premiere Pro, saving you
precious time with the hassle free importing process. This tool
is an absolute life saver when you need to make
quick tweaks to effects. Before we head towards the end

(02:33):
of this episode, i'd like to talk about some best
practices for using VFX. Remember, though visual effects add an
umph factor, they should be used wisely and not distract
from the original footage. Staying organized is essential, as you
might end up with countless layers in no time. Lastly,
use proxies or ram previews to work faster, particularly with

(02:56):
complex effects. To sum up. Visual effects are there too,
enhance your story while streamlining your workflow and keeping everything organized.
I truly hope that this exploration of after effects and
premiere pro has stoked a new curiosity in you and
given you fuel to experiment with something new. Whether you're
attracking motion, animating text, or creating your unique effect, remember

(03:21):
that your effort should enhance the story you wish to communicate.
Continue exploring and let those visuals bring your edits to life.
Please remember to check the show notes for any links
or articles mentioned in today's episode, and until next time,
keep creating.