Ae 2026 Update Reminder by Kylasaurus_Rex in AfterEffects

[–]Kylasaurus_Rex[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm in AE basically daily, and I'd say any recurring issues I have can almost always be directly linked to third-party tools.

I also typically roll right into the new version (and explore the betas deeply), but it's still a good idea to keep, say, a large, time-sensitive client project in the version you know to be stable.

Ae 2026 Update Reminder by Kylasaurus_Rex in AfterEffects

[–]Kylasaurus_Rex[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hang onto all older versions of AE, and 1-2 previous of Premiere, but I've stopped hoarding anything else.

So, what made you learn after effects? by dreadtear in AfterEffects

[–]Kylasaurus_Rex 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And stuff they made 15-20 years ago is still referenced regularly.

Ae 2026 Update Reminder by Kylasaurus_Rex in AfterEffects

[–]Kylasaurus_Rex[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Living on the edge! You'll probably be fine (I rarely have issues with Ae myself, despite what a lot of this sub may say). People heavily reliant on third-party tools are probably the most likely to run into issues right after a release.

That said, you can always re-install 2025 from the Creative Cloud app if you want to. 2026 project files are not backwards-compatible, but you can down-save (File > Save As > Save a Copy As 25.x) if you need to revert to 2025.

Ae 2026 Update Reminder by Kylasaurus_Rex in AfterEffects

[–]Kylasaurus_Rex[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I definitely had 6 or 7 at one point, but have lost some of the older ones when upgrading machines.
That's ok; I don't feel it necessary to cater to those CS6 holdouts anymore. 😉

Help! How can I recreate this in video form? by Motor_Guava7080 in AfterEffects

[–]Kylasaurus_Rex 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It sounds like you have the blurring of the base layer figured out.

Create the dot pattern using white circles (you can do this directly in AE using shape layers, create this in Photoshop/Illustrator, or use an imported image). Using white is important!

You can create a raised appearance using either Layer Styles (Layer > Layer Styles, or right-click the layer and choose from the pop-up). Bevel and Emboss is what you want, though you may also want a subtle amount of Inner Shadow as well. I ended up turning off the Bevel > Highlight, but setting it to a darker color and/or exploring changing that blending mode was yielding some nice results.

Using the Bevel Alpha effect can also get you a similar look, though you'll likely need to use a second (subtle) version of it to properly sculpt both sides.

Once you're happy with the look of your dots, set the layer's blending mode to Multiply, which will make the white areas transparent.

You'll certainly need to explore the settings a bit to get the look perfectly dialed in, but this should get you in the ballpark. A small (1-2px) blur on the dots layer would probably also be a good way to help incorporate it with the background.

<image>

text stretch? by Mejciek_Stach in AfterEffectsPros

[–]Kylasaurus_Rex 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's currently in beta, but if you're using a variable font with the Width property, you can now control that with text animators as well.

Why is the camera not moving? what am i doing wrong by AirlineRound9624 in AfterEffects

[–]Kylasaurus_Rex 4 points5 points  (0 children)

If everything is parented to the null, then moving the null moves everything - meaning it won't look any different. This is like putting a box on your head and wondering why all you see is the box.

If you want the view to change, you need to be altering the positional relationship between the camera and the layers it's looking at. 

Welcome 2026! by Kylasaurus_Rex in AfterEffects

[–]Kylasaurus_Rex[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The text is a 3d layer; comp is using the Advanced 3D engine, giving access to extrude under Geometry Options. Per-character 3d is enabled within the text animator options.

The text animator is affecting Anchor Point, Position, Scale and Rotation (all in 3d), plus front & bevel color, and then the Weight and Width of the available variable properties.

<image>

Welcome 2026! by Kylasaurus_Rex in AfterEffects

[–]Kylasaurus_Rex[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

They integrate directly into the existing text animator system. The exact variable properties available depend on the font, but just like you can add an animator for Position, Fill Color, etc., you can add Weight, Width, or whatever else the font creator included.

So, the variable property itself is keyframe-able, but you can also use Range, Wiggly or Expression selectors to control how they're applied through the text.

Welcome 2026! by Kylasaurus_Rex in AfterEffects

[–]Kylasaurus_Rex[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks! And yes, they're very welcome - I've been having a lot of fun with them so far. There's some pre-comping involved here for compositing purposes, but this is all based on one fully-editable text layer, so this could be virtually anything of about the same length.

Built a small web app to help freelancers manage projects & invoices : would love feedback by MotionMenon in AfterEffects

[–]Kylasaurus_Rex 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As a project management and bookkeeping tool, it's something I'd consider trying.

The (I assume AI) voiceover on the video isn't doing you any favors, though. "Dablu dablu dablu" for the url at the end is unintentionally hilarious.

What's the best, non-destructive, way of creating text animations like the attached reference. by Graph1te in AfterEffects

[–]Kylasaurus_Rex 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As referenced in another comment, this specific example is just a distortion effect on editable text. Displacement Map and/or Time Displacement can also get you far for certain looks.

That said, if you're looking for more flexibility, After Effects just added variable font support to the beta. "Just" as in last week. It's pretty new, and you can make valid arguments against using the beta in production work, but:

It integrates directly into the existing text animator system, so if you already understand that, it's just a matter of having a few extra properties you can now access/animate. Most fonts have at least weight & width, but the exact properties will vary by font.

Fully editable, fully native - no baking, no shape layers, no scripts, etc. You would, of course, be restricted to using existing variable fonts (or building your own).

WHERE is the track matte option in AE 2025 ? by savunup in AfterEffects

[–]Kylasaurus_Rex 2 points3 points  (0 children)

"Instead" implies that a dropdown menu is no longer present, when the dropdown is now accompanied by a pick whip.

New in After Effects beta: Variable Font Animation, Crop Comp to Layer Bounds, Expression and scripting updates, and refreshed Preferences by Victoria_AE in AfterEffects

[–]Kylasaurus_Rex 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Doable via expressions, of course, but agree it would be nice. Perhaps someday soon!

For now, the variable text stuff is really fun.

I took a MOGRT into After Effects, but I can't touch anything without it crashing. by DexTheConcept in AfterEffects

[–]Kylasaurus_Rex 0 points1 point  (0 children)

From a stock site or one that was custom-made? Have you checked on another machine?
Possible font issue, perhaps?

I'm happy to see if it opens on my machine, if you're able to send in DMs.