In this tutorial I will show you how to make the opening Star Wars horizontal Text Crawl seen in the Star Wars movies. I will show you an easy way to create. Download Star Wars After Effects projects. 20 stock AE templates starting at $5. Immediate downloading, easy to use.
As the release of Rogue One looms like the Death Star over Endor, let’s take a look at some of the best After Effects tutorials for learning how to recreate Star Wars VFX.
Top image via Lucasfilm
Whether you’re dipping your toes in creative fandom or creating wholly original content, VFX are easier than ever to replicate. Video producers from all backgrounds now have access to incredible movie-quality assets,as well as software that can turn a home movie into an epic space adventure. Let’s take a look at some recent After Effectstutorials that walk through the process of recreating Star Wars VFX.
1. Star Wars Hologram Tutorial
Seen in just about every Star Wars film (and likely to be featured inRogue One), the iconic hovering hologram can add serious production value to even the most basic video. Also popping up in movies like Prometheus and Iron Man, this effect is a sci-fi film lover’s best friend. To help you pull the effect off, our friends at PremiumBeat have provided free project files and video assets that can be downloaded here.
2. Star Wars Lightspeed Tutorial
Nothing says Star Wars like making the jump to lightspeed. The video tutorial above shows youexactly how quick and easy it is to create a star funnel right out of the classic films using native plugins and effects. Fire up your hyperdrive and download a free anamorphic lens flare, a PDF file, and the free After Effects project filehere.
3. Star Wars Opening Crawl Tutorial
This twenty-minute video tutorial covers everything you need to know to create an exact replica of the familiar Star Wars opening titles and exposition crawl. Created by Capon Design TV, this excellent tutorial nails the look and explains how little time the whole process can take you —even if you know nothing about title animation.
4. Star Wars Force Push Tutorial
Creatrix Visuals released this stellar “force push” After Effects tutorial a few months back and the results are stunning. The effect can be used in plenty of other types of science fiction video, as it’s more of a lesson in general “impact” VFX. It’s definitely a good trick to have in your arsenal.
5. Star Wars Blaster Tutorial
Flawless Films gives us this charged-up tutorial that demonstrates how to create an action-packed blaster battle. These effects look great and are incredibly believable for anybody familiar with Star Wars (or even Star Trek, for that matter).
Of course, your video isn’t complete just because you’ve added VFX — you need sound too. To find some wildy effective sound effects and music for your next space opera, check out PremiumBeat’s loaded library of futuristic/sci-fi content.
What After Effects tutorials would you like to see in the future? Let us know in the comments below!
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Take a look at the miniatures, models, matte paintings, puppets, and other practical effects that brought a distant galaxy to life.
Star Wars is famous for a lot of reasons, but one of the original trilogy’s greatest accomplishments was its masterful incorporation of practical effects. To celebrate May the 4th, we decided to round up a few videos that showcase the unparalleled talents of the Star Wars special effects team.
The original trilogy has been released on home video seemingly a thousand times at this point, and a few of the following videos appear to have been transferred from VHS tapes. So, to paraphrase the Emperor… Let the nostalgia flow through you.
Slimy Piece of Worm-Ridden Filth – Life Inside Jabba the Hutt
By: Filmumentaries – Jamie Benning
In Jamie’s own words:
After interviewing puppeteer Toby Philpott at great length over Skype I decided to go a step further and create a mini documentary about his work on Jabba the Hutt for Return of the Jedi. This led me down many paths. Here is the result.
Dennis Muren Interview: The Rancor
By: Star Wars
Keeping with the theme of Large & Fairly Disgusting Creatures… In this video, hollywood effects legend Dennis Muren discusses the challenges he faced when bringing the Rancor to life in Return of the Jedi.
Return of the Jedi – Special Location Effects
By: Filmumentaries – Jamie Benning
Renowned special effects master Kevin Pike talks about his location special effects work on Return of the Jedi, including participating in the construction of a full-sized AT-ST Scout Walker and Jabba’s sail barge. Which is awesome.
Star Wars Visual Effects, from AT-ATs to Tauntauns
By: Star Wars
This is easily my favorite video in this roundup. With a couple of segments narrated by Mark Hamill himself, this vintage clip showcases the unbelievable patience and precision it took to create some of the most iconic sequences in film history.
BB-8 Droid From the Force Awakens Rolls out on Stage at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim
By: Inside the Magic
Anybody worried that Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be Prequel-like display of overdone CGI effects can rest easy. Here’s a quote from J.J. Abrams himself, speaking to fans at the 2015 Star Wars Celebration in California:
The thing that struck me, that wouldn’t get out of my head, is just how real you knew and felt Star Wars was when you first saw A New Hope. You couldn’t deny it… It’s Star Wars. There will be an endless number of effects. We needed a standard. You want it to be legitimate and authentic.
Star Wars After Effects Project
And in one of the convention’s most exciting moments, Abrams introduced BB-8, a completely practical and present droid. As BB-8 rolled up next to R2D2, on stage and in front of a live audience, it was as if millions of cynical voices suddenly cried out in relief and were suddenly silenced.
Things have definitely come a long way, but not so far that the lessons of the past are forgotten. It’s refreshing to see the Star Wars legacy in the hands of people who recognize the undeniable emotional pull of tangible practical effects.
If you’d like to see a few more examples of great (and a few pretty not-so-great) special effects, check out these stories from the PremiumBeat blog:
Free Star Wars After Effects Title
What are your favorite Star Wars practical effects? Are practical effects worth the trouble? How adorable is BB8? Share your thoughts in the comment section!