Hey guys, just the other day I got an e-mail from a guy in Nicaragua asking me if I share with you guys the plug-ins I use and any tips about them which I might have. I picked a few plug-ins that I find really useful for after effects projects, check them out and be sure to download trial versions and see what you can do with them.

- Knoll Light Factory
- Trapcode Suite

A combination of Knoll Light Factory’s ‘Chroma Hoop’ lens flare as well as Trapcode Form as the text disintegrates into sand (below). Frame 1, we have the text with some particles floating above it. Frame 2, the lens flare is turned on (notice how the lens flare isn’t too bright or garish). Frame 3, the text begins to particulate (like that word) into nothing and the lens flare’s light source follows the movement. Finally in frame 4, the text is completely gone and the particles blow of like wind to the left.

Knoll light factory is used a lot more than you think, lens flares add atmosphere and drama to shots, the are very simple to integrate and can make a simple piece of footage look much more dramatic. In saying that, I always hold the believe that actually using reality and doing what you can when recording the footage rather than adding them in later and trying to make things look real in post. For instance, it’s much better to have real rain in a scene rather trying to put it in later in After Effects or whatever composting suite you use.

TIP: The closer to the center of the comp the brighter the lens flare should be and visa versa, it should be less vivid when near the edges. This of course isn’t always the case but I think it works nicely and is a great way to keeping the flare realistic.

As for particular, there are a lot less guidelines I can give you with that as it’s not exactly trying to imitate reality. The best advice I can give you is play, play and play some more. Mess with a parameter and see what it does, try a negative value, see what that does, then try putting an expression on it, take it slow and give it time. Particle generators are some of the most powerful and enjoyable plug-ins to work with and can yield some spectacular results. This is something I made with Trapcode Form, for more info see workflow.

This isn’t exactly done with Trapcode Form, but it resembles the effects one could achieve with Form.