Updated August 28, 2023

Introduction to After Effect Hologram

In this article, we are going to learn how to create a hologram in after effects. This effect is mostly created in sci-fi movies. The hologram, in general, is a light diffraction technique that is used to create the 3D light field, and the depth and parallax are achieved. In reality, the laser is used to create a hologram. In other words, we can say that hologram is a 3-dimensional photo.

Steps of After Effect Hologram

Here are the following steps mention below:

Step #1

We have imported a video by dragging it into the project panel and then into the layers panel. First, make sure it pans the view.

Step #2

Warp stabilize the video to make it stable and set smoothness to around 6%

Step #3

Make a precomp of the video and also move all the attributes.

Step #4

Apply track camera effect on the precomp

Step #5

Select a point created by camera tracking and create null and camera

Step #6

Then hide all the layers and create a solid name BG with white color.

Step #7

Using a rectangle tool, create a rectangle on the BG, which will create a mask.

Step #8

Create the points as shown using the pen tool.

Step #9

Then create the following shape using the selection tool and arrow keys.

Step #10

Similarly, create more points using the pen tool and create this shape.

Step #11

Again, select the rectangle tool and create a rectangle and then select its points to create a slanted shape as shown. Then, duplicate it multiple times and adjust its position.

Step #12

Similarly, create it on the other side.

Step #13

Duplicate Mask 1 and set the mode to subtract and set the mask expansion to -2

Step #14

Duplicate Mask 11 and set the mode to add and set the mask opacity to 30%, and now our background is ready.

Step #15

Create a new solid and called screen and create a small rectangle as shown.

Step #16

Using the same trick done previously, use the pen tool to add points and create the following shape.

Step #17

As done before, duplicate mask 1 and set the mode to subtract and mask expansion to -2px and then duplicate it to create Mask 3 with mode to add an opacity of 30%

Step #18

Then we have dragged an image on it and some text fields and dragged on the top left of the BG.

Step #19

Create a precomp named char for this block.

Step #20

Create another solid named ring.

Step #21

Create a rectangle as shown as a mask.

Step #22

Add a polar coordinate effect to it.

Step #23

Set Interpolation to 100% and type of conversion to Rect to Polar.

Step #24

Add Venetian Blinds effect and adjust the parameters as shown.

Step #25

Alt-click the rotation property stopwatch and set the expression to time * 150 so that it will have rotation.

Step #26

Duplicate the ring twice and adjust the parameters.

Step #27

Add a battery icon, then scale down properly and add a tint effect to make it white.

Step #28

Then make a precomp and move it to the top right by scaling it.

Step #29

Create a new solid named Lines and set its visibility off.

Step #30

Using pen and ellipse tool create follow

Step #31

Add a stroke effect to it and turn on the visibility, and set the properties as shown.

Step #32

Set a keyframe for the end key for lines starting at 0% and ending at 100%

Step #33

Then set mask expansions to negative values to get the following effects.

Step #34

Add the Fractal noise effect to BG, set the properties as shown, and add an expression to evolution. Then add the Find Edges effect to get the edges.

Step #35

Precompose all the components and name it holo.

Step #36

Create a new comp named Matte and make it green in color.

Step #37

Then create a rectangle and set the feather to 80

Step #38

Duplicate Holo and set it to Alpha Matte

Step #39

Animate the mask path property at 0 frames, set it to the top, and at around 1 second, set it to the bottom.

Step #40

Copy and paste the first two keyframes for the entire video.

Step #41

Add the expression as shown to give it a flicker.

Step #42

Create a precomp named Hologram

Step #43

Unhide all layers and turn on 3D options.

Step #44

Use the pan behind the tool to set the anchor of the hologram to the bottom.

Step #45

Copy the position of track null to the hologram

Step #46

Then adjust the position of the hologram and add curves to the footage to make it darker.

Step #47

In the 3D Tracker Camera, set Depth of field to on and adjust the aperture and blur level to get the effect of depth.

Step #48

As we can see, there is a bit of depth by adjusting the aperture and blur.

Step #49

Going back in the holo precomp, turn on the motion blur option and also set it for all components.

Step #50

Animate position and opacity of the char so that it fades in from the right.

Step #51

Delay the animation of lines, so it starts after the char has moved in.

Step #52

Then delay the animation of the ring and set the keyframe to a scale of 0 at the start, and after 5 frames, increase the scale and select the second keyframe and press F9, which do the easing of the animation.

Step #53

We have applied to-scale animation to the hologram so that it appears to pop from the bottom.

Step #54

Let’s adjust the position of the hologram and add an expression wiggle(7,50) which will add a flicker to the hologram for added realism to it.

Conclusion – After Effect Hologram

In this article, we have learned how to make a surreal hologram that fits seamlessly into the scene to give a cyberpunk vibe like the Hollywood superhero movies. Apart from that, we also have seen how to use various animation effects and also the 3D Camera options to tweak the scene.

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After Effect Hologram