How To Add Adjustment Layer After Effects

Adjustment layers are a powerful tool in After Effects, but information technology is often ignored or misused by Editors. They can be used for a massive variety of effects and can save you time and energy applying furnishings to multiple clips. To optimize your workflow using Afterward Effects adjustment layers, follow through our pinnacle tips and handy ways to create cool effects.

Part 1: How to Use Adjustment Layers in After Furnishings

Aligning layers can be added to your timeline and do non bear on your compositions because they are invisible until you lot start calculation effects. Once an effect is applied to the adjustment layer, information technology will readapt the upshot on every clip beneath information technology.

A fun way to think about an adjustment layer is as a sail of drinking glass that sits in front end of or between your other layers. If you add a tint to the drinking glass, everything 'backside' it will prove the tint.

Adjustment layers are used when you want to apply effects to multiple layers without adding the effect to each prune individually. You might use it across your whole timeline for adding general effects such as color grading or film grain or beyond shorter sections of your composition to create transitional effects.

Adding & Using Aligning Layers

Let's have a quiet look at the basics of adding and positioning an aligning layer to your timeline.

Edit your clips in the timeline every bit usual.
Right-click on the timeline and choose New > Adjustment Layer.
Move the adjustment layer upwards or down your stack depending on the clips you want the adjustment layer to affect. Remember, your adjustment layer effects volition just exist viewable on the layers beneath it in the timeline stack.
Drag the ends of the aligning layer to change its duration.
Yous can also highlight information technology in the timeline and utilise ALT+[ or ALT+] to trim the layer to the playhead.

Troubleshooting Adjustment Layers

Adjustment Layers are pretty straightforward to employ, only in that location are a few instances where they tin behave in unexpected ways.

Cheque the Position

If you lot can't come across the effects yous are adding to your adjustment layer, it is probable it is in the wrong position in the stack. Try moving the adjustment layer to the very pinnacle of your stack to see the effects.

Check Effects are not Off

A second reason you might not be able to come across a particular effect is if it is toggled off in either the Effects Command panel or on the timeline.

Check the eye icon is on in the timeline Layers panel.
Select the aligning layer and check the effects are turned on in the Furnishings Control panel.

Don't Employ for Just a Single Clip

One of the biggest misuses of adjustment layers is using them on single clips. Adding an adjustment layer can speed up the rendering, but just when using the furnishings over multiple clips. If you but need to add effects to a single clip, add it direct to the layer.

Don't Use the Solids Adjustment Layer

When you create an adjustment layer for your timeline, a solid associated with it is made in the Project browser. This is not your Aligning Layer! Dragging this solid to your timeline volition create a white rectangle on your screen that doesn't work in the aforementioned way. If you delete your adjustment layer, create a new i using the method above.

Function 2: Most Popular Effects Editors Use with Adjustment Layers

1. The Tint Effect

The tint consequence is beneficial for creating unique looks and styles using color options. The tint effect initially changes your layers to black and white, merely you can then use a color picker to map the blacks and whites to other colors. Finally, yous can employ the Amount setting to adapt how strong the tint is, assuasive y'all to create some cool, desaturated looks.

2. The Modify to Colour Effect

The Alter To Color Outcome is another tool for adjusting the colour tones in your Layers, and only this one allows you lot to select single colors for Adjustment.

Add the Change to Colour event to your aligning layer.
Select the layer, and in the Effects Control panel, select the From Picker. Choose the color in your shot you wish to change.
Go to the To color options and select your new color.
In the drop-downward menu alongside Modify, you can choose from various options for After Effects to calculate the change from, choose the one that all-time fits your shot.

3. The Distortion Effect

Calculation baloney to your adjustment layers can create some fantastic and otherworldly mode effects, which tin can be cracking for transitional effects.

Go to the Effect panel and search for Warp. Add together it to your adjustment layer.
In the Effects Controls console, gyre through the Warp Style options to discover a look you like. We're using Fisheye to create an incredible bending at the edge of the frame.
Adjust the Bend Amount, so your clips all the same fill the screen.

iv. The Hue and Saturation Issue

Adjustment Layers can besides be used with masks, allowing you to add together effects to portions of the screen throughout your limerick. Allow's look at using the Hue and Saturation Event with a mask to create a vignette.

Select your adjustment layer in the timeline and go to the Shape or Pen tool.
Draw a shape on the screen (we're using an Oval to create a vignette look).
Go to the Outcome panel and search for Hue and Saturation.
Elevate the effect to your adjustment layer.
Adjust the settings in the Effects Command panel, and so you can come across the furnishings.
In the Layers panel, go to the mask options.
Conform the Feathering and Expansion of your mask until you are happy with the mask'south shape, size, and position.
If your mask adds the effect to the opposite area of your clips, cull Subtract from the mask drop down menu.
Finally, go to the Furnishings Control panel and adjust the Hue and Saturation until you are happy with the wait.

Pro Tip: You tin utilize the Opacity setting on an adjustment layer to change to overall effect it has on the Layers below.

After Effects adjustment layers are single layers that can incorporate many furnishings for multiple clips. This makes using adjustment layers a considerable advantage when you desire to modify your effects at whatever point, you only need to do it one time. Call back, aligning layers are only worth using when you lot take multiple clips to effect.

Now you know all about After Issue adjustment layers, why non cheque out this awesome tutorial on blending modes to create the double exposure effect in After Effects.