New Tutorial: The GRID
March 19th, 2014

In this tutorials we will be creating an intricate Grid animation inside of After Effects without additional plug-ins. We will be using the Advanced Lightning effect along with many other unexpected tools!

Watch on Video Copilot+ Project File
Watch on Youtube

Andrew Kramer
POSTED:
11 years ago
78 Comments
8 years ago
I always love your tutorials but this is bad
Scott
9 years ago
Thank you! 3 years old and very relevant.
TaleK
11 years ago
can anybody tell,how to render this awsome Grid!
11 years ago
Here is my version of The Grid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaLw4GbzKtI

I hope you like it!
Shreyas
11 years ago
Reg : The Grid

The Rendered *.mov files aren't working. Kindly help me out. I have AE CS6.
Awal
11 years ago
Andrew, can I kiss you?
11 years ago
I bet you can create a cool cracking glass or ice effect using this method with the lighting.
Charlo
11 years ago
Hey great video, but I was wondering what font type you used because I am having a hard time finding it?
11 years ago
Charlo, there is a great free font finder tool called: what-the-font. You just upload a screenshot and it will match the closest fonts to it. Here is the site: http://www.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/
Tim
11 years ago
This green grid effect is currently being used on NBA TNT playoff coverage.
zhouyang
11 years ago
大????好???害????????偶???
Ralf
11 years ago
Im not good at After Effects but i edit the GRID text to my Channel name. But how can i render the whole video like i see in the beginning of the tutorial? when i render the comp i have only the ending. Help pls^^
Anurag
11 years ago
i have registered to video copilot account, but i am unable to log in for vc download section. plz plz help me why i am getting this trouble... thank u so much..
11 years ago
Planet Formation Scene : Rendered in AE
(Element 3D & Particular)

http://tinyurl.com/nw5balm
11 years ago
ELEMENT 3D
Motiongraphics Title Works Screenshot

http://tinyurl.com/mf8ok9q
http://tinyurl.com/kl4kq7q
11 years ago
CYSIS HUD _ Aftereffect Composite
done in Element 3D

http://tinyurl.com/lvrh3af
toComp
11 years ago
thanks for share!its very helpful and i like it very much!
heinz denial
11 years ago
Hi Andrew I am very big fan of you.
So when will you put new tutorial. I am waiting for that.
Products intro animation .. created in Adobe After Effects using similar techniques with "advanced lightning" .. Take a look:

https://vimeo.com/90261983
11 years ago
Nicely done Art. Pleased to see you are still at it. Nice transition between shoe to the next section :0)
11 years ago
Hi Christian
Thanks a lot for your kindly comment.
Sure .. I'm still on it .. It's always fun .. Cheers!
Kannan
11 years ago
Hi Andrew.
This the one of your best tutorials. I love it, and its amazing. I was wondering whether you can upload the project file of promo like video which you showed at the start of this tutorial. Its kinda good. Thanks.
11 years ago
Andrew Andrew ANDREW!! I have a question! I'm trying to figure out how to use the alpha level of say, a persons head! does the principle apply in that case to allow them to materialize out of the grid work? I've tried doing it, but the effect just isn't working out like the text does in your tutorial.... i know your awesome and busy, but if you have a spare two seconds, i would greatly appreciate it sir..thank you!....or if any one here has any suggestions for me i would welcome the help!. thanks all- Tim
Stephen Kennedy
11 years ago
Tim - Alpha is not the same as a luminance or color value. Imagine Alpha as being "nothing". When you write text using the text tool, all the space around your text is "nothing." It is Alpha. It is a "non-color". It is the absence of any color value. If you are using video, you will need to either key out some of your footage or create a custom mask before applying the lightning. The nice thing about doing a custom mask is that you can animate your mask shape for the lightning to bounce off of.
Hope that helps! -Stephen
11 years ago
Thanks to you i have a job
captain
11 years ago
The project doesn't open up in AE CS5.5.Could someone please upload CS5.5 version too.I think AE CS6 has option to save for CS5.5.
11 years ago
With all the advanced plugins, Andrew Kramer makes a sweet effect using Lightning???.. That's why he's the master
Anthony
11 years ago
I know it's unorthodox, but will you ever do a sound design tutorial??
11 years ago
This is another exciting tutorial. This is so generous sharing these with us. Sure, its tough for our ego and it give me a complex of inferiority but its my problem. I'll try to find a tutorial to deal with this. Thank you very much.
Amar
11 years ago
Thanks for Great tutorial Andrew.
yes experimentation is must inside the after effects for creating these kind of titles and motion graphics stuff..you are right...
jack
11 years ago
super nice, makes me hot.
11 years ago
Soooooo it seems I???m too busy working with after effects these days to explore the basics. This was a fabulous little tut that shows amazing effects with the bare basics WITHIN AE. Fabulous job sir.

I seriously need to find time between working with this great program, to explore all its little nooks and crannys that I always skim by :0)

As for my new piece that???s attached to my name above, Its for adults only. If you cant view as an adult you have no right to peek :0)
11 years ago
that's awesome. Andrew you are the best. Will recreate this myself right now.
Gregory
11 years ago
I may have missed it in a comment, but what about using the grid as the actual text reveal instead of the preset. Use the Alpha of a comp and reveal the text, that way the text doesn't materialize so uniform like. It would actually match the design better.
11 years ago
Another Cool Tutorial
Thank You Mr Kramer
Akbar
11 years ago
Very nice thank you very much !!
almostdarkslide
11 years ago
Thank you for this wonderful tut!
11 years ago
Hey Andrew!

Really impressive results with good old effects in AE!
I was wondering, as I watched it, if maybe this is the same technique you used in 'Almost Human' title sequence, you know, the hand with those grids of blue lights on it?
Could you confirm that?
Can't wait for the next tutorial!
11 years ago
There! I used the technique in my last video Here
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja0dgC9TPos
Tim B
11 years ago
Awesome work as always, i really love the look of the design!! Compliments to andrew you're the man.
Sante
11 years ago
great ... as always! each tutorial shows some of the effects in another perspective
11 years ago
Amazing! Thank you very much for sharing, this is exactly what I was looking for, short opening, about 5 sec intro to my 3D tutorials. You ROCK!
JMS
11 years ago
Great stuff...any new development on the 'copter pack & E3Dv2? I'm really looking forward to those shadows.
11 years ago
Sweet! Watching it right now!
Federico
11 years ago
Always the number 1!
Zee
11 years ago
Yohoooo! A new tutorial! I can get entertained for another 30 mins! A BIG THANKS to Andrew Kramer and his fellow crews!
Firoze Melsyte
11 years ago
hey Andrew can i expect a tutorial from you which
could describe the effect as we see in the music
video of michale jacksons black or white.
at about the end where face transformation
occurs
like girl changes to boy etc. and i dont know the
name of the effect so.........
it would be a great help if you create one.
Thank you.
mayank(india)
11 years ago
great tutorial andrew kramer sir .
Alex
11 years ago
AWESOME! Andrew your work is a great inspiration for those who are not blessed... I'm always enjoying your tutorials. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
11 years ago
By the way: have you seen my latest little experiment? Another shot about a futuristic Barcelona! I've used some buildings from the free Futuristic Bldngs Pack, Element 3D, Optical Flares... Basically, all your products, he, he. My intention was doing something similar to the Almost Human landscapes or something like that.

Sadly, there's no sound, sorry. This is only one shot of a huge project I'll upload in a few months or so, I guess. Then, there will be sound effects and music, I promise. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/user/CRoblexVFX/videos
Michael
11 years ago
Great job Carlos! Very impressive!!!
11 years ago
Thank you, Michael! I'm glad you like it.
11 years ago
Great stuff Carlos. Your work is quite beautiful. I hope to see a lot more of it!
11 years ago
Excellent tutorial, Andrew. You have some kind of gift: you allways upload a tutorial about something I need to do! In the next few days, I have to find some time to make an intro video for a mobile phone store website (they fix mobiles and tablets). This is just the kind of looks I was looking for. Thank you very, very much.
11 years ago
Hey Andrew!

I added some 3D elements Text and this is what happened: http://youtu.be/SCbE6io2NPM

Hope you like it! Cheers~!
Flo
11 years ago
Once again great work!

I#ve tried to achieve that kind of effect and also looked at the lightning FX. But not deep enough, it seems...

And overall your latest SoundDesign is outstanding! Really stylish and powerful. Can't wait for SoundFX #2 in the ¿near? future.
André
11 years ago
That was very good!

Thx!
Badhan Ganesh
11 years ago
Heyyy, Brilliant stuff and BTW, I kinda noticed a weird thing, that you worked in FULL resolution all the way through the tutorial. Which is weird for me..
11 years ago
Had to. The lightning effect gets weird at half...
lexiongxiong
11 years ago
??常???谢 AK大?? ^_^
gaurav
11 years ago
its awesome
thank u
11 years ago
andrew sir you are too good and awesome.....
you have got a good skill ....
good job
www.movies-now.net
Miguel
11 years ago
Very genius Mr. Kramer!!!!!!!!!
11 years ago
I actually did something similar quite a few years ago, though not as much detail, but similar in concept. http://youtu.be/zDWc_fwxOCw

Great Tutorial, I may try some more experimenting.
play
11 years ago
Awesome as always....LOL
11 years ago
super ji super ji
11 years ago
Again, great job Andrew- thanks for all you do!!
11 years ago
needs to be more conducive, man. just sayin.
11 years ago
thankyou andrew i daily watch our website to see this grid project
ThomasO
11 years ago
Very creative and inspirational. Really like the way you bring in some of the lesser known plugins. Thanks for taking the time to creating this tutorial.
longkinght
11 years ago
AWESOME!!A long time waiting for this tutorials,now go try！
IamFilipino
11 years ago
At last the master is back!!! great tut!
that was Fantastic!!
Denny
11 years ago
Is there a way to make the tekst to change en de rest change with it?
mgt
11 years ago
and the* GRAMAR NAZI STRIKES AGAIN!!
11 years ago
thanks alot man ! you're the man !
Jim Gravina
11 years ago
That was forking awesome!!
kasto
11 years ago
wow ! thnx Mr.Andrew Sir....
11 years ago
Great! Thats very impressive creativity and skills right there. As always.
Andrei Balaj
11 years ago
Finally! Been waiting 1 month for this... Thank's Andrew!
Ramzes
11 years ago
Andrew you are genius!You find ways to use this plugins in different ways!Who could think that lightning plugin can be used for spiderwebThanks a lot for your hard work and share with us!we all love you man!
MbarekAmsoft
11 years ago
very veryy stuniinG TuTorial Bro
11 years ago
Nice! I saw the preview this morning on youtube. really good stuff.
Marcus
11 years ago
AWESOME!!! I'll try this right away!
11 years ago
Oh yes! This is something that can be used in a lotta high tech looking stuff
Meet
11 years ago
This is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!
ARE YOU WORKING FOR A MOVIE OR SUMTHING..??
CAUSE YOU ARE WORTH MAKING A VFX MOVIE..
AWESOME BRO..
kobolguy
11 years ago
I think he did work on Star Trek Into Darkness
sublinker
11 years ago
Uuuhm, if you've watched FRINGE, star trek, Super 8, aaahm, yes and this series called Almost Human , then you'll know this Man is a genius.
I love his hardwork.
PureMotion
11 years ago
HOLY SHIT THAT'S AWESOME
11 years ago
^