If you need to make a spectacular presentation, create an image gallery for your company, make an intro, an animated promotion or create quality special effects in your videos, don’t hesitate to use Adobe After effects. A quick way is to use templates of impressive creations by other editors, if you do a search, in a short time you will find many ideas, some free and others paid. But first of all you will have to know the advantages and disadvantages of templates in After Effects.
The benefits of templates in After Effects
1- You learn
With the free templates you can always learn to control the frames and how the file structure works. By seeing its internal construction you will be able to apply changes, seeing the result at the moment and trying different effects that can be very interesting.
2- Avoid bad changes
Professional After Effects paid templates often lock or hide layers that don’t need to be edited. Normally you are interested in changing the images (if it is an intro, gallery, etc) and the logo.
3- Allows you to incorporate 3D elements
With the camera tools you will be able to orient them as you need, treat the light and the camera route.
4- Compatibility with the Adobe family of programs
You can embed assets and files created with other Adobe programs, such as Photoshop .psd files, Illustrator .ai files, Flash .fla files, or Premier files (with different types of video files). Giving the possibility of working the layers, blending modes, etc. This makes it possible for logos and vector illustrations to be scaled and edited directly in the program.
5- Incorporate texts and subtitles
with the text tool and the features panel you can customize the font family, size and key frames of appearance.
6- Help from the author
The payment templates can access the help of the same author, being able to send an email to access to edit all aspects freely or for any other question.
7- Save time
Using a template can save a lot of time developing and creating a special effect or business presentation. Among all the free and paid variety that you can find on the net, you will be able to find the ideal one in a short time. Due:
8- Save money
As the saying goes “time is design” because in programs like After Effects, Premier, Flash, etc… that is fundamental because they are programs that need investment of time when creating new proposals for effects and editing.
Disadvantages of templates in After Effects
1- The complexity of the program
the After Effects program is a very complete program, with many options and a workspace between Adobe Flash and Adobe Premier, you will have to have knowledge of frames and know how to position the panels and internal effects options.
2- Edit hidden elements
To avoid bad changes, background elements, basic animation, etc. are hidden. To modify these aspects you will have to click on the eye icon and leave it open, to see the breakdown of the entire animation. If you do not take this aspect into account, it can take a long time to locate that background that you want to change, or the tone, lights or hidden texts.
3- Final video
To create a video mp3, mov, etc. Thinking of a publication for mobile, web or tablet, you will have to use the Adobe Encore intermediate program, free that is installed with After Effects itself, but that you will have to know a little about to get light videos, that weigh few megabytes and adequate. But don’t worry Adobe Encore is a breeze to use compared to After Effects.
4- Sound
In the payment templates they do not usually include the music that you have seen in the demo. You will have to pay for it separately or incorporate a different one. For this reason, be very careful when you present this option to the client, you must make it very clear that music has a separate price.
Adobe After Effects Templates
The best way to check the advantages and disadvantages is to choose a template by taking a look at the following Adobe After Effects template download websites:
- Freeaetemplates.com: It is a fairly complete website, where you will see the templates ordered by categories. With a royalty-free license, so you can use them in all types of productions (commercial or not).
- DS templates: Free templates website, where you will find interesting resources and options for After Effects intros.
- Shareee: Free you can see many options categorized with different forms of download.
- Rocketstock: Bank of paid professional templates, you will see many options, but remember to buy the music to get a full video, it reminds you at the end of each animation. Be sure to look at the demo menu option “Free stuff” where you can find free stuff.
- Designscrazed: You can find many interesting intros to use with a logo, for example for your youtube channel, others to present a product and many others for trailers. They are all free but perhaps in some cases they will ask you to register.
- Enchantment: It is the most professional option and it is paid but affordable prices, with news, but as in the previous case, the music must be purchased separately. The attention of the creators for any doubt is very good.
Dare to try them, you will see how your projects look much better, saving you a lot of time in their creation and editing. Have you already downloaded any template? Let me know in the comments!
Related course: Digital Video Editing and Postproduction Course