how i create volumetric fog - after effects fog tutorial

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Volumetric fog is one of those things that can really take the vibe of your shot to the next level but its not exactly easy to pull off. So hopefully me going over my process helps you out if you ever want to get a similar look for your footage! Now personally I don't really like stock footage of fog all too much, it usually seems a little too obvious for my taste, so instead I opt to use the Turbulent Noise Effect.
By animating the transform settings and evolution options of the Turbulent Noise we can get it to slowly drift in any direction while the evolution gives it some fog like movement. (The expression I usually toss on the transform is [value[0] + time*25, value[1]] which basically just means change the X value by the composition time times 25, and the evolution expression I use is time*60
After that I just set the fog layer's blending mode to Screen. But that alone isn't enough to give off a realistic effect at all, the real power of the process comes from stacking multiple fog layers on top of each other, while making the fog heavier and heavier as it gets further away from the camera.
There's more than a few ways to go about doing that but what I think is a good solution is to decide on what in your scene can be split into different depth sections. For my example it's pretty straight forward because buildings are a great way to easily identify depth changes in your footage. After you've identified what you think would be some good depth layers, create a black solid and mask out whatever you'd consider to be part of your first Depth layer. After that, precompose the layer because we'll be using it as a Luma Matte for one of our fog layers!
That's the general process right there - to simplify even further, say we have fog layers 1, 2 and 3 as well as Depth/Matte layers A B and C. We're essentially saying we want Fog 1 to put fog everywhere except A, Fog 2 to put fog everywhere except A&B, and Fog 3 to put fog everywhere except A,B&C. That way A will have the least amount of fog on it, B will have twice as much as A and C will have the most fog over top of it.
After adding the fog and optionally color correcting your footage to look a bit darker, what really ties the whole thing together is stacking Adjustment layers with Glows on them.
By having glows that are the same color as the sky, it makes it look like the fog is softly wrapping around whatever we choose to apply it to! I usually operate on 3 Glow layers. The first I usually let apply to everything, this one is a very soft and subtle glow with a small radius just to soften edges. The 2nd and 3rd Glow are more targeted ones that I usually apply to object that are particularly far away or high up using a mask on the layer. The second glow is meant to be fairly strong and the 3rd is usually my glow with an intensity set to 1 - meaning almost completely wash out whatever it's applied to.
And that's it! The main takeaway I think would be to layer your effects for a more nuanced and realistic look. Fog aside, even layers drop shadows creates a more realistic shadow for your projects so give it a try!
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timestamps
0:00 - intro
1:55 - making our first fog layer
2:14 - creating our first depth matte
4:02 - more fog more mattes more fun
6:04 - time to colour grade
8:23 - take it up a notch with glows
10:17 - applying it to a video
12:18 - final advice nuggets
tags
after effects, after effects tutorial, after effects fog, fog tutorial, after effects fog tutorial, volumetric fog, realistic fog, after effects realistic fog, how to make fog in after effects, ae fog, ae real fog, real fog tutorial, academy of edits fog, how to make fog, how to make fog ae, fog compositing, fog compositing tutorial, no fog stock footage, after effects turbulent noise, turbulent noise tutorial

[@recs5685]

before this I was using an unecessarily long method in blender, I knew that I could use after effects but the other guides on yt had very bad results, not anymore man, thanks

[@Ana-uf6ev]

this was so helpful! love how you talk through the process + tools. tysm :)

[@RobbertScholten]

You're amazing! Excited to see more tutorials!

[@henrycollingham]

Love these tutorials - keep it up!

[@jeromyperez5532]

I love the effect, but if you wanted to push it a step further you could always attack the cast shadows while retaining the occluded shadows. When the day is actually foggy or overcast you typically don't have the dark cast shadows from a noon day sun.

[@hikaru_e]

Man your tutorials are one of the few if i didn't say the only ones that hook me so much till the end, I've learned a lot in a very short amount of time, thank you!

[@AcademyOfEdits]

I’m glad to hear it! :)

[@adityakhaware5712]

You deserve way more views man. I hope you don't stop uploading cuz your videos are so helpful.

[@AcademyOfEdits]

Thanks! I definitely won’t stop! I’ve been really busy lately but I’m close to having another video uploaded to get the ball rolling again :)

[@wishah1]

I know how this is done already but still a delight to watch it 😍 I wish I was as good as you at explaining stuff 😍

[@oscarbastarrachea468]

Great!!! you explain and show things in a superb way, thanks!!!

[@Javier40657]

I love your tutorials. They are comfortable to watch and they are pretty good. Keep it up, bro

[@AcademyOfEdits]

Thanks :)

[@artsysundae]

your tutorials are amazing! thank you so much!

[@tgrainforsleep3498]

[value[0]+time*25,value[1]] for someone need this.

[@Galper6]

thanks broo

[@Bust3r]

How does this video only has 3.2k views???? Awesome work mate! You have a new subscriber, hope that helps :) Also, as someone who is really new to AE, this helped me out a lot, thanks!

[@Neohippyy]

Whoa, I've been looking for a channel like yours. Thanks a ton and keep it up! :)

[@rakmichal]

I like your way, keep creating!

[@vloggerdayz1958]

Looks so real nice work

[@brayanlotbest]

This content is GOLD

[@macauleyliamcurran2925]

This is the best channel for an intermediate/advanced editor. The way you get to the points, the topics you tackle, the counterpoints you raise. I'm learning a lot of editiquette which I'm definitely going to apply

[@AcademyOfEdits]

thanks a lot! I'm glad I'm able to help :)

[@macauleyliamcurran2925]

@@AcademyOfEdits Using this technique on a live music performance. Using green screen to create a set and I'm hoping the fog tops off the immersion I'm aiming for!

[@NoahSemus]

You deserve way more views.

[@user-sc9vx6bt8g]

your account is amazing im in shock thank u so much!

[@sergeiegorkin7873]

Nice! Catch a thumbs up, mate!

[@aryamik9722]

thank you soo much!

[@icyjaam]

Thanks for the gem tutorial

[@Gangsterbriz]

Commenting to influence the algorithm, so u can get more views and make more of these.

[@AcademyOfEdits]

Haha I appreciate it Byron

[@talmishaly7457]

God like skills my guy

[@ChristyAK47]

thank you bro, keep doing

[@rashawn2737]

You’re a good sport. I literally just skipped to the results I’m not worth your honor.

[@danimorrow6317]

Thanks!

[@mminto]

That 4th time of recording was well worth it.

[@abdullahhelwani5453]

I hate watched the whole thing! Thank you

[@homerfrasier]

Great tuts. More tuts please sir

[@Kastsevich]

🔥🔥🔥

[@Austrasie2.0]

i'm using glow on all my fogs because of you ! ... thank you tho

[@engridmedia]

This is premium

[@x1roman]

hi, do you do tutorial pls...🙏

[@user-vw5ik1ig2s]

3:20 when i select the white solid to multiply everything becomes black the selection of my mask didnt show up ... any idea edit : i forgot to click on move all attributes when I created the precomp. thaaaanks

[@samwallaceart288]

I don’t use AE, nor did I understand 60% of what was said, but that was engaging.

[@Drasma]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@SinisterDrG]

WOW

[@engridmedia]

I am pretty sure instead of creating the fog with turbulence noise , you can use stock footages ?

[@averymerzproductions4194]

How would you make the fog go diagonal or horizontally?

[@AcademyOfEdits]

We're making the fog move to the right with [value[0] + time*25, value[1]] which is just adding time*25 to the X value -- We can make it move in any direction by just thinking about what we'll need to add or subtract time*25 to. If we wanted to go diagonally (up and to the right) we'd be adding time*25 to the Y (making it go up) and to the X (making it go right) which would look like this [value[0] + time*25, value[1] + time*25] Hope that helps!

[@averymerzproductions4194]

@@AcademyOfEdits thanks a lot!

[@passion_proh-jects]

"Hate watch"? Is that a thing?

[@s1ler]

just curious. Your voice sounds a lot like Garbaj the youtuber....

[@Shian_n]

Nah, this is not volumetric fog Its just 2D noise man