Adobe After Effects
Version | 2022(as of 1/12/2022) |
Platforms | Windows, Mac |
License | Commercial |
Category | Video |
Main Features
- Packaged with hundreds of special effects
- Mask tracking to automatically adjust masks on moving objects
- Advanced puppet tools for mesh sculpting
- Selective color grading with Lumetri color
- Shape, graphics, and text creation and editing tools
- Video content-aware fill capabilities
- Integration with Premiere Pro and other Adobe CC programs
- Support for hundreds of plugins to expand the functionality of the app
Software Overview
Adobe After Effects is a special effects program for Windows and macOS used to create visual effects and motion graphics for video. It enables you to animate video layers, create and insert special effects, and choose from various presets. The application is available as a standalone app subscription or part of the Adobe Creative Cloud (CC) subscription and is often used with Adobe Premiere Pro to enhance a video.
After Effects has many features that you can use to create visual effects in your video. You can combine multiple layers of footage and graphics in the application, then animate the separate layers. After Effects has a great set of tools for creating and animating masks in your project and automatically adjusts masks on moving objects. The application also comes with advanced puppet tools that enable you to bend, curve, twist, and scale animations.
After Effects includes a vast library of special effect presets to help bring your effects to life. The special effects features include multiple color keying effects for moving your actor from a green screen to whatever location you can imagine. After Effects also comes Lumetri Color tools for accurately fine-tuning colors and maintaining color fidelity across your workflow in Premiere Pro and After Effects.
Summary
Adobe After Effects is an excellent choice for creating professional visual effects to enhance your video projects, especially if you use Premiere Pro. The application features an array of advanced tools for professionals and a Learn panel with built-in tutorials and templates for beginners. If you are simply trying to edit a video and are looking to use minimal effects like crossfades, there are simpler and cheaper options available. But if you want to enhance your video with motion graphics and other visual effects to give your video that "wow" factor, try Adobe After Effects.
Primary File Type

Supported File Types
Extension | File Type |
---|---|
.AEP | After Effects Project |
.AAF | Advanced Authoring Format File |
.AEC | Cinema 4D After Effects Composition |
.AECACHE | After Effects Cache File |
.AEPX | After Effects XML Project |
.AETX | After Effects XML Project Template |
.AOM | After Effects Output Module |
.ARS | After Effects Render Settings File |
.AVI | Audio Video Interleave File |
.CFA | Adobe Conformed Audio File |
.FFX | After Effects Preset File |
.GIF | Graphical Interchange Format File |
.JPG | JPEG Image |
.MOV | Apple QuickTime Movie |
.MP3 | MP3 Audio File |
.MPG | MPEG Video |
.MPGINDEX | Adobe MPEG Index File |
.PCT | Picture File |
.PEK | Adobe Peak Waveform File |
.PNG | Portable Network Graphic |
.QTINDEX | Adobe QTIndex File |
.R3D | REDCODE Video File |
.RPF | Rich Pixel Format File |
.VPE | Photoshop Vanishing Point Export File |
.WAV | WAVE Audio File |
.XFL | Animate Movie Archive |
Additional Related File Types
Extension | File Type |
---|---|
.AET | After Effects Project Template |
.EXR | OpenEXR Image |
.JPEG | JPEG Image |
.JSX | ExtendScript Script File |
.MPEG | MPEG Video |
.PICT | Picture File |
.ZDCT | Adobe Language File |