Advanced Burn Effect - After Effects Tutorial NO PLUGINS!

In this tutorial, we’ll check out an After effects setup for a high quality burning transition effect. Using only native effects, we’ll generate glowing embers, trailing smoke, heat distortion, and more.
2024 Update! I moved Texturelabs off of Patreon - you can now pick up the turbocharged template version of this project here:
texturelabs.org/tools/burnout...
PROJECT SETUP
1920x1080 24fps 16bit
BURN OBJECTS (Precomp):
1) Adjustment Layer
Fractal Noise Effect - Contrast 10, Brightness 30, Scale 3
2) White Text Layer
TRANSITION MATTE (Precomp):
1) Adjustment Layer
Brightness & Contrast Effect - Contrast 99%, Use Legacy On
2) BURN OBJECTS PRECOMP - Overlay Blending Mode
Gaussian Blur Effect - Blurriness 40, Hue Saturation - Saturation -100
3)Solid - Overlay Blending Mode, 25% Opacity
Fractal Noise Effect - Scale 200
4) White Solid - Scale 200%
CC Burn Film Effect - Burn keyed from 0 at frame 30 to 100 at frame 130
Solid Composite Effect set to black
MAIN COMP:
1) Adjustment Layer
Transform Effect - Scale keyed from 110% at frame 0 to 100% at frame 120
CC Vignette Effect - Amount 250
Noise Effect - Amount 5%
Gaussian Blur - Blurriness 2
Unsharp Mask - Amount 100, Radius 1.5
2) Adjustment Layer - Screen Blending Mode, Opacity 15%
Gaussian Blur - Blurriness 200
3) Black Solid - Opacity 100% at frame 0, 0% at frame 40
4) Adjustment Layer
Displacement Map - Displacement Map Layer DISPLACEMENT REFERENCE, Effects & Masks, Horizontal 20, Vertical 10
5) DISPLACEMENT MAP REFERENCE (TRANSITION MATTE PRECOMP) - Visibility off
Fast Box Blur Effect - Blur Radius 25
Invert
Shift Channels Effect - Take Alpha from Luminance
Fractal Noise Effect - Complexity 4
6) EMBERS (TRANSITION MATTE PRECOMP) - Screen Blending Mode
CC Wide Time Effect - Forward Steps 0, Backward Steps 60
Solid Composite - Black
Fractal Noise - Contrast 220, Brightness -90, Scale 40%, Opacity 50%, Multiply Blending Mode
Brightness & Contrast Effect - Contrast 100%, Use Legacy On
Fractal Noise Effect - Contrast 200, Scale 10%, Blending Mode Multiply
Turbulent Displace Effect - Size 50, Offset Turbulence - expression “[time*65,540]”, Evolution - expression “time*200”
Set Matte Effect - Take Matte from BURN OBJECTS
Set Matte Effect - Take Matte from DARKEN BURN / TRANSITION MATTE, Luminance, Invert Matte On
Tritone Effect - Hilights FFDD83, Midtones 8D3F18
Glow - Radius 50, Intensity 3
7) SMOKE (TRANSITION MATTE PRECOMP) - Screen Blending Mode, Opacity 20%
CC Wide Time Effect - Forward Steps 0, Backward Steps 10
Set Matte Effect - Take Matte from BURN OBJECTS
Set Matte Effect - Take Matte from DARKEN BURN / TRANSITION MATTE, Luminance, Invert Matte On
Fast Box Blur Effect - Blur Radius 10
Solid Composite Effect - Black
Fractal Noise Effect - Fractal Type Dynamic, Scale 300%, Complexity 10, Sub Influence 90%, Sub Scaling 65, Sub Rotation 100, Evolution - expression “time*200”, Blending Mode Multiply
Turbulent Displace Effect - Displacement Twist, Amount 40, Size 50
8) FIRE EDGE (TRANSITION MATTE PRECOMP) - Add Blending Mode
Invert Effect
Turbulent Displace Effect - Size 20
CC Composite Effect - Composite Original Multiply
Fractal Noise Effect - Contrast 200, Brightness -25, Sub Influence 200%. Blending Mode Multiply
Set Matte Effect - Take Matte from BURN OBJECTS
Tritone Effect - Hilights FFDD83, Midtones 8D3F18
Glow - Radius 50, Intensity 3
9) DARKEN BURN / TRANSITION MATTE (TRANSITION MATTE PRECOMP) - Linear Burn Blending Mode
Fast Box Blur Effect - Blur Radius 30, Repeat Edge Pixels On
Levels Effect - Gamma .6
Hue Saturation Effect - Colorize On, Hue 30, Saturation 15, Lightness 15
10) BURN OBJECTS (BURN OBJECTS PRECOMP)
Set Matte Effect - Take Matte from DARKEN BURN / TRANSITION MATTE, Use for Matte Luminance
11) Black Solid
*Optional: For a background other than black:
DARKEN BURN / TRANSITION MATTE LAYER
After the other effects, use Set Matte - Take Matte from BURN OBJECTS, Effects & Masks, Alpha Channel
Levels - Alpha Gamma at 2.00
Turn off Adjustment Layers and Black Solid, but copy Displacement Map Effect to BURN OBJECTS layer and FIRE EDGE layer
*For a transparent background, use the additional settings above, plus:
DARKEN BURN / TRANSITION MATTE: Turn on Preserve Underlying Transparency checkbox (between Blending Mode and Track Matte in timeline panel)
FIRE EDGE: Turn on Preserve Underlying Transparency checkbox
SMOKE: After other effects, use Set Channels - Red Green and Blue Source set to Full, Alpha Source set to Luminance
EMBERS: Before the Tritone Effect, use Linear Color Key - Key Color set to black
00:00 Intro
01:24 Burn Objects Precomp
02:53 Transition Matte
07:39 Set Matte
08:45 Burnt Edge
10:08 Fire Edge
13:57 Smoke
18:10 Embers
23:10 Displacement Map
25:30 Final Effects
27:31 Outro

[@Texturelabs]

Hey everyone, thanks for the feedback and hope you've enjoyed the vid! Couple notes based on requests: I’ve added a few optional steps at the end of the written description above if you need a different background (or keyable graphic). As for the music, I pulled a sample from the Ring of Fire intro, slowed it down, played around with some reverb and a beat from SampleSwap. Wish I had a full track but I just looped out enough for the intro!

[@ramsessanchez8795]

Vf

[@ramsessanchez8795]

Efrcf

[@joe-cm4lz]

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” ‭‭John‬ ‭3:16-21‬ ‭KJV‬‬ bible.com/bible/1/jhn.3.16-21.KJV “Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.” ‭‭Joel‬ ‭2:12-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬ bible.com/bible/1/jol.2.12-13.KJV my discord is only#2968 if you have any questions, i choose discord because sometimes i don’t get the notifications on youtube if you comment just search up discord in the app store then you’ll find it, if you’re on pc search it up

[@Adhithya2003]

Ok brad

[@KeremDeniz]

Hi, let me ask u something, How can I extend the burn time?

[@BenMarriott]

This is insane! I'm floored. Such beautiful effect and elegant process.

[@RickEditor]

my two heroes! Please do a collab 🥺

[@eamonlaughlin226]

Yes these are my favorite channels

[@ccuny1]

Wow, Ben Mariott in da house. Praise indeed...

[@alansmith5267]

Well, when Ben is impressed….that’s good enough for me!

[@Texturelabs]

Nice! I thought to myself "luckily I don't need to do any AE tutorials since the world has Ben Marriott" but glad to be part of the conversation. Cheers Ben!

[@JakeInMotion]

I'm with Ben. Pretty sure this just took the award for best tutorial of 2021.

[@ssscout]

this looks incredibly realistic, the smoke is the cherry on top for me

[@stzzzy]

Sc6ut the goat

[@tonystete3988]

lol yt recommend you also

[@phammo1]

THE G O A T 🐐

[@KatonTyler]

nice pfp dude

[@vizual.09]

no way i thought you mastered ae

[@AlfredRehbach]

Having watched all your amazing Photoshop tutorials I am actually not surprised how devastatingly efficient your AE game is. You are a great inspiration and gifted teacher. Thank you for all the work you put into these videos.

[@Texturelabs]

Very kind of you, thanks Alfred!

[@barny_knikman]

Man, Brady - you’ve been holding out on us! :D That is amazing! Creating such a cool and responsive look with like five AE effects. I can’t wait to see the next tutorials

[@TheDrMike25]

I just love how efficient it all works! Putting every native effect on AE to work on their best! Great great job

[@Boissevain]

Your Ps. tutorials are all amazing and now your first one on After Effects makes me even more excited for your future uploads! Learned so much from this video alone! Thank you so much for sharing your experience! :)

[@philhighfield4741]

Possibly the most beautiful AE effect I've seen yet! Thanks for sharing!

[@mrCetus]

Awesome. What a great, useful and well-structured tutorial! It's been a long time since I've seen something so effective and comprehensible. Thanks a lot for this! 👍😊

[@STRAIGHTP]

Wow. you did EVERYTHING to make this accessible and easy to follow and learn. The Video, the markers, the description is a textual walkthrough. Well done

[@RoloBcrra]

This is such a good tutorial, made me go back to 2007ish when AE didn't had so many external plugins and the tutorials used mostly built in tools and plugins, great work and very useful, I learnt a couple of ways to do some things I haven't thought about, and I've used AE for almost 17 years!

[@gabepe3972]

Awesome as ever! Never ceases to amaze!! Even the most basic edits are HEAVY with knowledge for people to absorb and put to use in their own works. thanks!

[@lupin2232]

This is the best native burning effect i've ever seen being done on youtube. Great job my dude. Great job! Being a VFX artist / Motion Graphics Designer myself I cannot commend you enough on this tutorial. Keep it up! Subscribing now!

[@bm6298]

could this be the best tutorial ever? and the additional notes for making it transparent background, excellent - thank you!

[@mareksuchanski4313]

WOW. These are really mind blowing tutorials, not just for the amazing results, but also when considering the planning and in-depth knowledge of After Effects to come up with this stuff. Thank you!

[@timcity]

I am absolutely stunned. This is the best Ae tutorial I've ever seen. This is legendary. If you taught a class, I would pay for it.

[@GEOgraphicdesigner]

BRADY, JUST DID THIS TUTORIAL WITH MY FRIENDS, AND HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS TOTAL INSANITY! Thank you for sharing this!

[@fnkfrsh]

This is my first time commenting on KZbin in 11 years. Your fx chains processes are phenomenal. You make the most inspiring tutorials on KZbin. Thank you

[@majorpaiyne2124]

Nice! One of the best tutorials I've followed in years of fiddling with AE. Thank you for your contributions! 👍

Amazing tutorial! Would love to see more AE tutorials in the future. Your work and channel is much appreciated! :)

[@Texturelabs]

Cool that's good to hear... fun to get into some new territory on the channel

[@Jacobooze]

Holy sh!t, this effect and tutorial was fantastic. This marked the start of my Texturelabs tutorial binge!

[@FrancescoScaramucci]

bro this is the most amazing tutorial I've EVER seen in my whole life. wish I discovered your channel earlier, your way of explaining stuff is so easy to understand yet very specific. thank you very much for sharing, can't wait to see more stuff from you!!!

[@Sonnen_Licht]

I've never used After Effects before but I still watched the whole thing! The way you explain stuff is just so captivating.

[@BingBangPoe]

Jawdropping tutorial. Insane to think this can be done without a single plugin. Gorgeous effect and an even better tutoring. Thank you so much for this. You're arguably one of the best AE designers I've ever seen and I'm baffled I didn't find your channel sooner.

[@Dodik349]

This is the most make sense AE tutorial that I've ever found on internet! Cheers for texture labs

[@DavidRenartMaciasOfficial]

This tutorial is nuts! It's it so elegantly done that it drives me crazy. Awesome job man!

[@laserfloyd]

I don't do much in After Effects lately but it's nice to know I can pull this effect off without too much trouble. Plus I love fire 🔥🔥🔥. All these tutorials are top notch. Keep em comin'! EDIT: Grats on 100k subs. Well deserved!

[@shikomartins]

I have no words to explain how awesome is this tutorial!!! The way you explain all the steps (why to use each effect and how it's going to work) is amazing! I'll definitely put this technique to a good use! Thanks a lot for this video!!!!!

[@GameOverRobsonB]

Can't say how is incredible when you see a native tutorial to Adobe programs! And this is a perfect one!

[@felipemiranda6382]

I can say, for sure, that your channel is the best thing I discovered on youtube this year. Thanks so much!

[@CHITUS]

I love how you making your effects staying responsive for later usage or changing something without repeating the whole process. I also like how you understanding effects working together are react. Old school tricks i noticed and introducing your own in the mix making it pure gold. Respect for your experience. Waiting for next one. Show us more you came up with :)

[@RyanMayer]

This is INCREDIBLE!!! I'm going to finally dive into AF this weekend with this. Really great job and wicked effect! Thank you!

[@isnow6915]

This is amazing. I think that i just saw one of the best tutorial of all. Such interesting, such beautifully constructed tutorial, no music, good voiceover, that is what i was looking for for a long time. I was watching your videos for a short period of time, but i definently adore them, thank you so much. Such underrated chanel. Thanks.

[@HoofCreaition]

I was already extremely happy with the new and original insights in Photoshop, I learn new things, even after 25 years of using it. After Effects is surely another love of mine, with a less years under the belt, so the excitement is even bigger now you are doing this kind of tutorials as well! Your way of thinking in sustainable and repeatable methods is very much how I approach things (thanks to years of working for clients) and this effect is really cool, but more important is seeing you use effects that I might have seen existing in the menus for years, but never knew for what they could be used. This expands the tool box in using the software, and opens inspiration. Thanks for this! You are a great tutor.

[@1sanak]

This is mind blowing. Truly one of the best tutorials out there!

[@imiy]

Not only the effect is awesome, but the effortless narration and overall teaching style makes videos on this channel outstanding. No stupid intros, no facecam, no shit. I've watched almost entire Ae playlist and it's crazy that this channel has so few subscribers. I also wonder how you come up with this techniques. Please keep it going!

[@deadneck13]

Wow!! As a fairly new After Effects user, I'm impressed by a large number of things in this video. The number of effects is so much higher than I'd think of using, but I've learned an enormous amount about how to streamline processes. Also, the pace of this video is fantastic. I can't stand sitting through a KZbin tutorial where I can go faster than the instruction. Altogether, a great video, and you've gotten a new subscriber here.

[@EmmelineToussaint]

Your tutorials are always the most comphrensive and thorough! I can't thank you enough ♥ I hope you make more After Effects tutorials!!!

[@peterstom]

I’m a year late, but this is the single greatest tutorial I’ve watched on any subject since I logged onto the internet for the first time way back in the 90s. Not only is the end result stunning, you explained why you were doing every step and even showed why you aren’t doing other alternatives. Just brilliant all around.

[@Safirasama]

The way you are using Alpha Matte to generate effects is absolutely incredible! Thank you so much for showing me the different style of working with After Effects.

[@x0tt4z]

Beyond the visual, I see art in your process! Thanks Texturelabs!

[@MotionNations]

Loved it! Such an amazing technique.

[@AaronZOOM]

This is incredible work. Not just the result, but the amazing efficiency. I have been working with After Effects for over 15 years, and I learned some invaluable tips just from this. Keep up the good work!

[@kevinjackson4933]

You have an insanely deep understanding of the tools of Photoshop! Your videos are mind-blowning. I know you hear it in all your comment sections, but it still needs to be said!

[@k.v.2049]

i am in awe of this tutorial, this is definetly something i will come back to. you nailed a good explaining speed for this, for advanced and not so advanced folks

[@quvliyy]

thank you, i will spend hours watching my beautiful creations burn before my eyes 😍😍

[@joostdehaas]

Wow. Thanks! Please keep making After Effects tutorials. There's a lot out there, but nothing is as good as this. Even if you don't want to do a burn effect, there is a lot to learn from your process.

[@ConnorEckdahl]

BRO my mind is blown!!!!! INSANE tutorial and amazing effect. LOVE that you can drag and drop anything in. Instant subscribe

[@iamvicwest]

This is such an amazing tutorial.

[@haoxianlu8705]

This is the best tutorial I've participated in. EVER

[@theexpressionistofaparadisical]

I'm sold, man this is the best its going to take me about 3 days to get it but I love it thanks.

[@dmellis]

I love this discussion at 11:50 about the joys of not pre-composing.

[@cysgu8804]

Congrats for 100k!

[@JordanKiener]

This tutorial made me feel simultaneously so dumb and so empowered, I can't wait to dive into this and everything else in this channel. Thanks!!

[@edwinGiraldo]

I was so excited to try this out, worked perfectly, thank you for dropping this, I had lots of fun following along!

[@_hunu]

This is amazing you did this with native plug ins. So cool!

[@jika0413]

Best tutorial EVER for burn effect. So mind blown how it is done without plugin! It is extremely helpful for a scene of burning out the map. Thank you so much!

[@ephsk0t]

Stumbled upon your video. Absolutely blew my mind. Would love to see more AE Tutorials. I learned so many techniques with this one tutorial.

[@harcerka]

Amazing tutorial! 🔥 The effect is insane and you get us through like „it was so easy”. Such a great job

[@NickyAlmasy]

This is brilliant! Easy to follow, very clear with a great end result.

[@masonthompson3284]

I'm floored to see you doing AE tuts as well!!!!! Hopefully we'll get to see more in the future!

[@jconway2907]

That was so great and so high end. So well-explained and just beautiful!!

[@rankgaming3514]

I did this last year and I forgot to do it again so I watch it again lol never fails to give me nose bleed. love you texturelabs

[@generodidtheedit]

Great tutorial my guy, I really like the way u utilize blending modes/mattes & displacement here and keeping it all inside one controller comp. Would love to have more tutorials like this one!

[@marcelofrey1388]

Man, keep bringing af tutorials, this is great!

[@Mysticaldragon576]

Man these tutorials are fantastic. You explain exactly what to do and how it affects the layers and the objects. You have a walkthrough and a learning session all in one. Fantastic!

[@samuelwong5141]

I honestly can't believe that I can watch this tutorial for free. Specular job as always Brady. Would love more AE tutorials!!

[@TheMrLeoniasty]

This is such a professional tutorial with some amazing techniques ! Thank you very much for sharing you knowledge ! You got some masterful tutorials man.

[@luizdalgerossini7495]

I was waiting for this moment! Please make more AE tutorials. Just like this one, your PS tutorials are amazing and I always try to apply them somehow in AE. Really like and appreciate you work!

[@BingoCS]

This looks absolutely amazing! Love the videos you're a huge inspiration :)

[@Webpixum]

So thankful for your tutorials and assets. You explain in great detail and i'm able to follow along without skipping a beat. All the best.

[@michaelart.212]

really need to take the time to say that ... you put the tuto game to an ALL OTHER LEVEL dude ... all your content are very very very good ... quick , efficient, so freaking accurate ... keep going you the MAN fo real ...

[@vladimiryanushevich2015]

Bombshell! I am delighted!

[@kassfox8381]

This is absolute FIRE tutorial! We need more like this!

[@ROMTHIRTY]

As a VFX professional, I found this AMAZING. I honestly feel like I learned something new in this video. It's been a long time since I could say that.

[@UnexpectedCreativeStudios]

Wow, just wow. Such a stunning effect.

[@kalerazor4297]

By far The Best Tutorial channel I've seen. Thank you man for these awesome tutorials.

[@msnspy]

This is the best and most realistic effect tutorial i have seen !! You deserve a sub and a bell notification

[@MichaelBTraveller]

wow. Just "wow" that's amazing. You've won me, I'm in!

[@theBomblu]

This is just rad! Great stuff 🔥 💨

[@kateminina4520]

So glad to discover this channel! You are a great teacher. Looking forward for more AE videos

[@vjmaniofficiall]

Its awesome thanks for this tutorial man. I stopped working in AE for over an year . But randomly i saw your video in yt today and i did it ❤

[@ramanrafiq7888]

Man I love this guys he makes really awesome videos and great ideas!

[@djvertical]

Not even joking, but I think this might have been one of the best tutorials I have ever watched. Ever. Amazing work! 👌🏻

[@gabarikrea]

This the best man!Thank you for great tutorials!

[@DaviAndrei]

Holy sh*t this is the best after effects tutorial a ever seem in my life, thank you so much!!!

[@formingdata]

One of the best tutorial I've ever seen.Great job!!!

[@mortisnoctu]

Fantastic video! And thanks for the additional steps in the description for transparency and alternate backgrounds!!!!

[@patriciaaiken]

Instant smile, instant thumbs up. Yet another mind-opening, mind-blowing pro tutorial! Proud to be a Patreon supporter.

[@Texturelabs]

Proud to have you on board... thank you!

[@patriciaaiken]

@@Texturelabs Only missed seeing your face in this one ;O)

[@jaagup_does_things]

Will possibly never use it, but watched through the whole thing a loved it. Just seeing your workflow is so valuable. Looking forward to more amazing tutorials!

[@lishaISprincess]

Don’t know squad about after effects but watched the whole thing just because it’s fascinating and you make it look like magic! Congratulations on 100k btw!

[@GerblerM]

Brady back at it again with another absolute banger

[@Texturelabs]

Ha cheers thanks!

[@joonashaverinen8508]

Watched the first 5 seconds of the video and had to hit that like button right away! Love your work!

[@loicmiermont8401]

Once again, high end tutorial. Thank you. I just love how your brain works.

[@konrTF]

I watched this months ago and have just had a reason to actually use it.. thank you! Very good effect and it has taught me a lot.

[@bullpaxton2001]

Awesome tutorial! Really elegant and beautiful workflow and final result.

[@NawazAlamgir]

Been a long time since i've seen a AFX tutorial and learnt something I didn't know, great job, this is video copilot standard. keep them coming

[@_insomniack]

that was actually very interesting, as someone who as struggled a lot to understand whats going on with AE, i must say that this tuto definitely helped me out ! thanks for the awesome effect ! you win a sub !

[@ccuny1]

And he does After Effects too. How did I not know that? This is a beautiful effect. Love the no plugins approach and the results. Thank you very much as always. Greetz from France.