After Effects CC 2022: How to Use Shift Channels Effect
Solids Folder Basics
Description:
This tutorial is will show you how to use the Shift Channels Effect in Adobe After Effects CC 2022 to produce an RGB Split or Chromatic Aberration/Distortion that is commonly seen in vintage footage.
Why Use Shift Channels Effect?
The Shift Channels Effect is often used to give footage a retro or vintage look as chromatic aberration or distortion (color fringing around the edges) was common in older photos and videos.
Chromatic Aberration:
Chromatic aberration or distortion, is color fringing or distortion that creates an outline of color along the edges of objects in a photo or video.
Shift Channels Effect:
It is under the ‘Channel’ effects and it allows you to replace the values from one channel with the values from another channel or turn channels off.
Channels:
Alpha (A) (transparency)
Red (R)
Green (G)
Blue (B)
Keyboard Shortcut:
Duplicate Layers: Cmd/Ctrl + D
Nudge Layers: Tap Arrow Keys (left, right, up, down)
Rename Layers: Tap Enter or Return and type a new name
Chapters:
00:05 Intro: What you will learn
00:26 How to apply Shift Channels Effect
00:47 Duplicate Layers (Cmd/Ctrl + D)
01:07 Rename Layers (Enter/Return)
01:26 Red Layer: Shift Channels Settings
01:52 Green Layer: Shift Channels Settings
02:04 Blue Layer: Shift Channels Settings
02:16 Change Blend Modes to ‘Add’
02:46 Select Red Layer: Nudge Using Arrow Keys
03:27 Align Panel to Reset Channels
03:57 Cheers! 👍
Software Used:
Adobe After Effects CC 2022 (Click To Try or Buy)
How To Apply the Shift Channels Effect
- Create a New Composition (Cmd/Ctrl + N)
- Add Footage (Text, Photo, Video, etc)
- Select Layer
- Go to the ‘Effects & Presets’ panel (Window…Effects & Presets)
- Search for ‘Shift Channels’
- Drag Shift Channels on to Footage Layer
- Select Layer in the Layers Panel
- Duplicate 2 times (Cmd/Ctrl + D)
- Select the bottom layer and tap Enter or Return and rename it ‘Red’
- Select the middle layer and tap Enter or Return and rename it ‘Green’
- Select the top layer and tap Enter or Return and rename it ‘Blue’
Shift Channels Settings
- Select the Red Layer and go to Effect Controls Panel
- ‘Take Red From’…•Red
- ‘Take Green From’…Full Off
- ‘Take Blue From’….Full Off
- Select the Green Layer and go to Effect Controls Panel
- ‘Take Red From’…Full Off
- ‘Take Green From’…•Green
- ‘Take Blue From’….Full Off
- Select the Blue Layer and go to Effect Controls Panel
- ‘Take Red From’…Full Off
- ‘Take Green From’…Full Off
- ‘Take Blue From’….•Blue
Nudge Channels To Create the RGB Split Look
- Select Red Layer
- Tap the Arrow Key in any direction (left, right, up, down) until you see the color fringing around the edges
- Repeat with the Green & Blue layers if necessary
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