How to Create a Glass Effect in Adobe After Effects

Create a translucent glass effect using only the built-in tools in After Effects. No third-party plugins or filters required!

The always excellent Andrew Kramer from Video Copilot has released a tutorial on creating a translucent glass effect in Adobe After Effects. The slick effect is perfect for a film or video intro!

The tutorial can be completed with all the tools that come with After Effects, so you won’t need to have a speciality (read: expensive) plugin to pull off the effect. Here’s the AE glass effect in its finished form.

Modify the look to get a fogged look or create an effect that makes the camera seem like it’s “seeing” through a glass window. Kramer utilizes the AE camera to give the glass animation motion and depth. The final effect is a cold, icy animation that would be right at home in a horror or mystery project. And be sure to check out Video Copilot for more great AE tutorials. 

Here’s the After Effects glass effect tutorial in all its glory.

If you’re looking for more After Effects action, take a minute to browse PremiumBeat’s AE archives. You’ll definitely find something helpful and cool.