Cinematic Title Design: Fantasy FX Tutorial! 100% After Effects!

Introduction

Welcome to another exciting tutorial from Video Copilot! In today's lesson, we'll focus on creating stunning, fantasy-style bevel effects in After Effects without any third-party plugins. Let’s dive into the process of bringing your titles to life!

What We Will Create

In this tutorial, we’ll focus on:

• A beautiful bevel effect with metallic and reflective qualities.
• The ability to customize the bevel profile for more intricate designs.
• Dynamic lighting that interacts with the text and background.
• A responsive setup that automatically updates for different logos.
• Possibilities to enhance effects using the free Saber plugin.

Setting Up the Project

1. Project Settings:

   • Ensure your project is set to 32 bits per channel.
   • Create a new composition titled "Bevel Title" at 1920x1080 resolution, lasting ten seconds.

2. Creating the Text:

   • Use the Type Tool to type an epic title using a font of your choice. After adjusting the size, pre-compose the layer and name it "Type 001".
   • Duplicate this layer and pre-compose it to create a "Bevel Profile."

3. Creating the Depth Map:

   • To establish a depth map, apply an Inner Glow effect to the "Bevel Profile". Adjust settings such as transferring mode to normal and change the color to black.
   • Add an Adjustment Layer with Channel → Solid Composite and set it to black, followed by a Fast Blur to manage edge fringing.

Implementing 3D Text

1. Background Image:

   • Import and pre-compose a background image. Ensure to fit it to the composition.

2. Applying CC Glass:

   • Apply the CC Glass effect to the environment layer, specifying the "Bevel Profile" as the bump map.
   • Adjust settings to manipulate the displacement and enhance 3D qualities.

3. Refining the Metal Effect:

   • Introduce a Grunge texture to simulate a rougher, realistic metal feel. Use Compound Blur to integrate the texture with the text.

4. Adding Lighting:

   • Incorporate After Effects lights to simulate various reflections and highlights. Adjust the height and intensity accordingly.

Enhancing the Effect

1. Utilizing Motion Tile:

   • Add the Motion Tile effect to create dynamic reflections, ensuring edges are mirrored for improved realism.

2. Color and Material Adjustments:

   • Play with the diffuse and ambient settings in the CC Glass effect to strengthen highlights and shadow perception.

3. Animating Your Title:

   • Explore animation possibilities by keyframing positions and introducing effects like Saber for light effects.

4. Exporting Your Final Design:

   • After final tweaks, such as refining the camera and particle effects, your cinematic title design is ready for export!

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can create a beautifully crafted cinematic title using purely After Effects tools. Feel free to experiment with different fonts, backgrounds, and effects to make the design truly your own.

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Keywords

Cinematic title design, fantasy effects tutorial, After Effects, bevel effects, CC Glass, dynamic lighting, 3D text, motion tile, textures, animation effects.

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FAQ

Q: Do I need any third-party plugins to follow this tutorial?
A: No, this tutorial utilizes only the built-in features of After Effects.

Q: What font should I use for my titles?
A: You can choose any font you like, but serif fonts often work well for epic titles.

Q: Can I change the background image?
A: Yes, you can easily swap out the background image for different looks and moods.

Q: How can I make my text reflect light realistically?
A: Adjust the lighting and material settings in the CC Glass effect, and experiment with the Motion Tile to enhance reflectivity.

Q: Is there any way to make the animation smoother?
A: Yes, use keyframes with easy ease settings for smoother transitions and animations.