How to Create and Animate Planets in After Effects

Creating and animating planets in After Effects can add a dynamic touch to your video projects. With the right tools and techniques, you can bring celestial bodies to life with ease. Follow these step-by-step instructions to learn how to make your own planets for free.

Obtaining the Planet Texture

To begin creating your unique planet, you will need a high-quality planet texture. Visit solarsystemscope.com to download the planet texture of your choice. Ensure you select a texture that aligns with your creative vision for the planet.

Applying the CC Sphere Effect

Import the Texture: Start by importing the downloaded planet texture into After Effects.
Add the Effect: Locate the 'CC Sphere' effect under the 'Perspective' category in the Effects & Presets panel.
Adjust the Radius: Modify the radius value within the effect settings to scale your planet accordingly.

Setting Up Lighting

Light Height: Access the light settings and adjust the light height to control the exposure of your planet. Experiment with different heights until you achieve the desired look.

Animating the Planet

Rotation Settings: Navigate to the rotation settings of the planet layer.
Apply Expression: To animate the planet's rotation smoothly, ALT-click on the stopwatch next to Rotation Y.
Use Expression: Enter the expression time * 20 to create a continuous and natural rotation effect.

By following these simple steps, you can quickly animate any planet of your choice within After Effects. Whether you're working on a sci-fi project or educational content, animating planets can elevate the visual appeal of your videos.

For additional resources and templates, consider downloading the free 100 tablet pack available for After Effects and Premiere Pro. Enhance your projects further with these versatile assets.

Start creating captivating planetary animations today and let your creativity soar across the galaxies!

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