Updated August 28, 2023
Introduction to Adobe After Effects Plugins
The following article provides an outline for Adobe After Effects Plugins. Adobe after effects is a vast application used by editors, animators, and motion graphic artists. Adobe after effects is generally used for post-production purposes where a video or an animation needs to be edited after being captured. After Effects has so much to offer its users; it also comes with third-party plugins that make the program more commercial and advanced.
The plugins help the user to work in the 3D environment and with 3D objects directly in the program. The add-ons and presets make the work easier and more user-friendly; it also supports new functions with easier options and settings. These plugins take one’s project to another level, make it advanced, and help users make fun stuff and animations.
Top Plugins of Adobe After Effects
The following are the plugins that are generally required in the software:
1. PQ FUI Toys 2
This plugin helps the user add various UI graphics to a presentation or project without wasting any time. PQ FUI Toys 2 supports a large variety of effects that are based on motion graphics tools. These tools can help the user to upgrade their designs and presentations. These plugins can also be modified from any point of view, allowing the user to change and add effects to their scenes faster than the normal manual work.
2. Magic Bullet Red Giant
This plugin offers a wide range of coloring tools and gradient effects. The plugin also gives the user a chance for color corrections and finishing effects. This plugin is helpful to users who are into the making of small video clips or films. More than 200 add-ons for this plugin may be changed and customized at any point in time. This plugin can also perform Noise Cleanup and Real-time Color Corrections functions. The tools can also balance the color tones and skin tones and edit face features.
3. Particle Builder
This plugin is specially designed to work with a specific Trapcode plugin. This plugin helps the user to modify and change the settings and properties of the particles in general. The plugin is handy and helps in a lot of ways. With this plugin, the user can create sand, fire, smoke, and sparkle particles. The tools can be used to change a particular setting of the particle, such as particle color, size, and dimensions.
4. Saber
This Plugins come from Copilot and are available free of cost. The motive of the Plugins is to create various forms of light effects in animation and projects. The tools can create Laser Lights, Neon Lights, Energy Beams, Haze, and more. The tool has more than 50 presents embedded in it and can perform functions such as Dynamic Text and Mask Outlines, Stackable FX, and Built-in Distortion. The tools can also help the users to develop high-resolution light beams and Realistic Glow falloff. Users can also utilize the plugin for upgrading and adjusting advanced settings of the core.
5. Boris FX
This plugin is in high demand and widely used. The plugins have three main parts to them. Boris FX offers three plugins as part of it, namely- Sapphire, Mocha, and Continuum. The 1st plugin, Sapphire, is a storehouse of other plugins that perform composting, editing, and motion graphics functions. The 2nd Plugin that Mocha, is a tracking engine that helps composite videos based on the planar tracking engine. The 3rd Plugin is Continuum; this tool is used for 2D and 3D Tittle settings, Color tone settings, picture settings, and other image and animation manipulation tools.
6. Element 3D v2.2
The GPU-accelerated plugin is helpful when the user needs to import 3D materials and objects into the program. Additionally, the plugin provides a platform for animating and texturing the objects. This plugin can import, export, and animate the OBJ sequence. It can also create Matter Reflection Modes and Matte Shadows with the Alpha Channels. The plugin is so powerful that it can import textures as well.
7. Plexus 3
This plugin is the most powerful; it is that plugin that helps in animating the lines and dots in the 3D environment. Moreover, Plexus 3 can create and edit particles and even animate them simultaneously. The plugin can also import OBJ sequences and create facets between the particles. It can also render sprites and is a helpful Sound Picker.
8. Trapcode Form
This plugin comes from RED Giant, which is similar to Plexus. This plugin also helps to animate the particles in After Effects. The plugin allows the user to animate 3D sequences as well. The Trapcode form can import the OBJ Sequences and has more than 130 presets. The GPU-accelerated plugin can perfectly perform 3D camera and light effects.
9. DUIK
Rigging artists commonly use this plugin for characters and models. The program After Effects cannot Rig any character on its own; thus, it needs an add-on to perform the function smoothly. The plugin helps in Bezier IK, 3-layer IK, Stretching IK, and Dynamic Automation. The tool can also rig models of animals and birds smoothly. With this plugin in hand, you can perform animation smoothly and accurately by ensuring perfect rigging.
Conclusion
The Plugins associated with After Effects are crucial for achieving smooth and accurate animation and editing. Some of the plugins are easy and available for free, while others are expensive to purchase and use a lot of computer memory. The objective to create effects will decide which plugin to purchase accordingly.
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This is a guide to Adobe After Effects Plugins. Here we discuss the basic concept and top 9 adobe after effects plugins used in the current industry. You can also go through our other suggested articles to learn more –
