Quick Tip: 3 Ways to Fix Banding in After Effects

Removing banding in After Effects is easier than you might imagine.

Banding is seen on the left side of the image above.

Banding occurs when similar colors appear ‘posterized’ in your video image. For motion designers, it can be an annoyance and create ugly results. It’s all do to the color limitations associated with codecs but it can be avoided if you follow a few simple techniques. Feel free to follow the following written steps below for an in-depth look at banding and how to get rid of it.

1. Scatter a Gradient Ramp

Simply increase the ramp scatter parameter in the gradient ramp effect box. You should be good setting it around 70.

2. Add Grain

Simply use the ‘Add Grain’ effect and change the intensity to around “.3”.

3. Change Bits-per-Channel

By default the Bits-per-Channel is defaulted to 8, but if you want to make it even more smooth option-click on the bits-per-channel button in the project panel. However, if you are outputting to the web your video will end up being 8bpc even if you export 16bpc in After Effects.

Of course the best thing to do when trying to avoid banding in After Effects is to simply choose a different color if you can.

Have any tips for minimizing banding in After Effects? Share in the comments below.