How to Make a Carousel in After Effects - No Plugins

Introduction

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a carousel effect in Adobe After Effects without using any plugins. Using movie posters as an example, we'll animate layers in a circular motion utilizing 3D rendering and various After Effects tools. This guide will walk you through the steps to add depth, shadows, and motion blur, making your carousel visually appealing.

Step 1: Set Up Your Composition

• Open Adobe After Effects and create a new composition.
• Set your desired dimensions (e.g., 1920x1080) and frame rate.
• Name your composition (e.g., "Carousel Animation").

Step 2: Import Your Assets

• Import the movie poster images you want to use for the carousel.
• Drag and drop each image into the timeline to create individual layers.

Step 3: Arrange the Layers

• Select all poster layers in the timeline.
• Right-click and choose "Transform" then select "Position" to adjust their initial positioning.
• Space the layers evenly in a circle to prepare for the animation.

Step 4: Enable 3D Layer

• For each poster layer, check the "3D Layer" box in the layer panel. This allows you to manipulate the layers in 3D space.

Step 5: Create Circular Path

• Select the "Convert Vertex Tool" from the toolbar.
• Click on one of the layers and create a smooth circular path by adjusting the vertices.
• Make sure to adjust the Z-depth of each layer to create the carousel effect.

Step 6: Animate the Carousel

• Select all layers and press "P" to open the position property.
• Click on the stopwatch icon to create a keyframe at the starting position.
• Move forward in the timeline (e.g., 3-5 seconds), and rotate the carousel by adjusting the position values for each layer.
• This will create a smooth rotation effect.

Step 7: Add Drop Shadows

• Select each layer and go to "Layer" > "Layer Styles" > "Drop Shadow."
• Adjust the settings (opacity, distance, spread, and size) to create a realistic shadow effect for depth.

Step 8: Apply Motion Blur

• Enable motion blur for each layer by clicking the motion blur icon in the layer panel.
• Activate motion blur for the composition by clicking the motion blur switch in the timeline.

Step 9: Depth Blur Effect

• Select the entire composition and apply a "Gaussian Blur" effect from the Effects & Presets panel.
• Adjust the blur settings to enhance the depth of the carousel animation.

Conclusion

You have successfully created a carousel animation in After Effects using 3D layers, circular paths, and various effects. Remember to experiment with different animation timings and effects to tailor the carousel to your project's needs. For further enhancements, consider exploring additional After Effects features or incorporating other assets. Happy animating!