Adobe After Effects
| Version | 2025(as of 6/13/2025) |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac |
| License | Commercial |
| Category | Video |
Main Features
- Motion graphics tools let you animate text, shapes, and other design elements using keyframes
- Visual effects features allow you to apply filters like blurs, glows, and distortions to enhance video
- Compositing tools help you combine video, images, and graphics into a single layered composition
- Roto Brush 3.0 uses AI to quickly isolate moving subjects from backgrounds
- Multi-frame rendering speeds up rendering by using multiple CPU cores in parallel
- 3D workspace lets you build and animate scenes with 3D layers, cameras, and lighting
- Lumetri color provides precise color grading and exposure correction tools
- Premiere Pro and Frame.io integration enables efficient project sharing and real-time collaboration
Software Overview
Adobe After Effects is a professional motion graphics and visual effects application for Windows and macOS. It is used in film, TV, and online content creation to design animated graphics, apply visual effects, and build complex compositing sequences. After Effects is available as a standalone subscription or as part of the Adobe Creative Cloud (CC) suite.
The application allows you to combine and animate multiple layers of video, images, audio, and graphics. You can create motion graphics using keyframes, masks, and shape layers, and utilize built-in tools such as motion tracking, camera tracking, and rotoscoping to refine your effects. Version 2025 (25) includes updated AI-based features like Roto Brush 3.0 for more accurate object isolation and multi-frame rendering for improved performance during previews and exports.
After Effects also includes hundreds of effects and presets to help speed up design workflows. These include chroma keying tools for green screen removal, the Lumetri Color panel for color correction and grading, and advanced text and title animations. You can customize effects, create templates, and use the Essential Graphics panel to make reusable elements for use in Adobe Premiere Pro.
After Effects supports many popular multimedia formats and works closely with Adobe Premiere Pro, allowing direct import and export of .PRPROJ files and dynamic linking without rendering. It also includes built-in Frame.io integration, making it easier to collaborate, review, and share projects in real-time with team members and clients across different locations.
Summary
After Effects is a professional tool for creating motion graphics and visual effects. It includes powerful animation tools, preset effects, support for many media formats, tight integration with Premiere Pro, and real-time collaboration features. While Adobe After Effects may be more than casual editors need, it is a top choice for professionals who want to add cinematic polish and dynamic effects to their video projects.
Primary File Type
.AEPAfter Effects Project
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 |
| .AET | After Effects Project Template |
| .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 |
| .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 |
| .XFL | Animate Uncompressed Animation |
Additional Related File Types
| Extension | File Type |
|---|---|
| .EXR | OpenEXR Image |
| .JPEG | JPEG Image |
| .JSX | ExtendScript Script File |
| .MPEG | MPEG Video |
| .PICT | Picture File |
| .ZDCT | Adobe Language File |