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Create and Composite Sci-Fi UI Graphics in After Effects + FREE Assets

By Joshua Noel

Published: November 01, 2017

Bring your Sci-Fi film to life by designing, animating, and compositing UI elements in After Effects with this video tutorial.

Shooting a high tech sci-fi video project? If so, then there is a good chance you may need to create and composite display interface motion graphics. Creating UI interface graphics is an abstract form of designing and animating. When creating motion elements that viewers have never seen in the real world, you have endless possibilities. However, it’s very important to make sure your animations and designs have a purpose.

When designing your interface graphics, think about the story and the type of characters interacting with or near the graphics. For example, you may create health-orientated graphics if your scene takes place in a hospital. Out-of-place interface elements can draw attention away from your story, so it’s important to practice sympathetic design.

Lets get started!

Download Free After Effects Project File

Included with this tutorial is a free After Effects project file with all of the assets used in the video. Click the button below to download.

DOWNLOAD FREE PROJECT FILE

How to Create SCI-FI UI Interface Elements

Interface elements couldn’t be easier to create. The best place to start is by looking at current UI interface graphics and breaking down the elements in each design. You’ll see that just about everything is simply a collection of shapes — all of which you can lay out in Adobe After Effects.

Create and Composite Sci-Fi UI Graphics in After Effects — UI

Here’s what to take away from this After Effects tutorial:

How to use shape layers to create sci-fi UI elements.
Composting your elements into a display.
Understanding the breakdown process of interface elements.

Follow along with a free After Effects project file, which you can download by clicking the button below.

Enjoy the tutorial and good luck!

BONUS: 29 Free Sci-Fi Sound Effects

Did you miss our Sci-Fi UI free SFX bundle? Head on over to this page to download the 29 free sound effects.

Over 400 Sci-Fi UI Assets

In a pinch and need custom interface elements fast? Check out Interface from Rocketstock.com. Interface is a curated collection of over 400 HUD video elements that are compatible with nearly any NLE. Easily drag-and-drop these assets into After Effects, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, DaVinci Resolve, and more!