Setting Up Scenes for Animation in After Effects

To prepare images for animated scenes it's important to translate the movement of the camera into the dimensions of the image. You can use the semi-3D environment of After Effects to enhance your animations.

The Secret of Multiple Track Points in After Effect

You can track as many points in AE's motion tracker as you like. This is very helpful for Motion Capture. Thanks to Meli Alexander for action-acting footage used in this tutorial.

Tips for Motion Tracking in After Effects for Animation

After Effects has a great motion tracking feature. Here are some tips for using it for motion capture for 2D animation.

Create Looped Background Footage

For film artists and VJs This video will show you how to make looped footage for seamless, endless play in your projects.

How to Animate a Dress, Walk Cycle

Cut out in After Effects is pretty simple when animating limbs such as arms and legs but to animate cloth, hair and other deforming masses takes a few extra steps.

Home Mocap for Animation Head Rotate

Us After Effects and one camera for 2D motion capture. This tutorial shows you how to rotate a head following a motion capture.

Face Motion Capture for 2D Intro

This is the most inexpensive, 2D facial mocap solution that I have found. It only requires a video camera or webcam and After Effects. You can do this at home on your PC.

Facial Motion Tracking in After Effects

Facial motion tracking in After Effects can be done!

Attaching Animated Tears to an Animated Face

This shows you how to use the After Effects puppet tool and motion tracking to attach to video files together to add moving tears onto an animated face.

Motion Tracking for 2D Animation Only Needs One Camera

Here is an overview of motion tracking for animation, 2D. This approach uses After Effects.

Motion tracking for Animation in After Effects Walk-Through

This tutorial offers step by step on motion tracking for animation in After Effects.

Use of 3D to Animate Heads in After Effects

Here is another approach to animating heads for animation in After Effects.

motion track head movement to null 1
make all objects 3D
make new null, position as pivot point, name "rotator"
add expressions to "ratator" X Rotation and Y Rotation
parent layers to "rotator"
arange objects on Z plane


"rotator" X Rotation expression:

0-this Comp.layer(null 1).transform.position[0]


"rotator" Y Rotation expression:

0-thisComp.layer(null 1).transform.position[1]

Animated Head Turn in After Effects

Use After Effects 3D capabilities to created animated head turns.

Cut Out Animation in After Effects

Some tips and advice on how to rig a cut out puppet for animation in After Effects.

3D Animation in After Effects, Interior

3D or 2.5D interior scenes in After Effects can be made by arranging Photoshop images in virtual 3D space. This video shows how.

Adapt a Story to Film or Graphic Novel by Storyboarding

This video lesson takes a classic fable and shows you how to adapt it to visual mediums using the art of storyboarding.

Some Basics on Storyboarding a First Draft

This tutorial shows the best approach to start "writing" your story in storyboard fashion for film and graphic novel.