After Effects Tutorial: Awesome Light Streaks With No Plugins!

We create the legendary Trapcode Particular effect, without using Trapcode Particular...

1. Create a Composition. Create a Solid.
2. Go to Effect, Simulation and add a CC Particle Systems II to the Solid.
3. Go to Layer, New and create a Null object.
4. Alt Click the stopwatch next to Producer in the CC Particle Systems II.
5. Using the pick-whip tool link it to the position of the Null.
6. Alt Click the stopwatch next to position in the Null object.
7. Write the expression: wiggle(1,300);
8. Go to CC Particle Systems II and set Radius X and Y to 0.1.
9. Set Animation to 'Direction Normalized'.
10. Set Velocity and Direction to 0
11. Set Gravity and Extra to 0.1
12. Set Particle Type to Line.
13. Set Opacity Map to Fade Out.
14. Set Transfer Mode to Add.
15. Set Birth Colour to blue and the Death Colour to a darker blue.
16. Set Max Opacity to 10.
17. Copy and paste the Solid containing the particle system.
18. Do this a few times, offsetting the anchor slightly for each copy.
19. Set all the solids to an add operation mode.
20. Enjoy your handy work.

[deborahpotgieter]

I have been going through 50 minute tutorials and you taught me more in 5 minutes. THANK YOU!

[bikotheanimator]

Best tutorial so far. Short and many possible usages for effects. Amazing.

[infinitepossibilitiesmotio]

Hello this is Mike with Infinite Possibilities Motion Graphics - I was laid off from my job about 3 months ago. Just started getting into After Effects - Found your channel - You do an amazing job of explaining how to. Thanks! Keep up the great work - I'll be watching!

[JustinEames]

I definitely appreciate your going back and showing us without Trapcode. I'm teach motion graphics to high schoolers, and we spent all of our money on our Adobe subscriptions! Nice work.

[kodeth]

The whole no plugin thing makes it even more educational

[Quick_VFX]

wow 60k views, thanks guys...please share this video

[rushankuma]

This helps me to create a nice jewellery commercial. instead wiggle the null object position, I animated that manually and set gravity to 0. Thanks man

[LillySchwartz]

Thanks man, that was super helpful! Just used it to animate the trail of a rocket.

[fightshd]

thank you bro, waiting for your new genius tutorials .actually do that without plugins.Nice work

[kelvinwilson]

Good direct tutorial and straight to the point. Is it possible with this method to use particles, and track the body of a person, and eventually remove the subject person to only leave the particles outlining the subject? Thank you in advance.

[PERRYDAEZIOUH]

This was great, I used it on a presentation for a product of mine. Keep the videos coming!

[frostgothic]

AWESOME. I followed you step by step and oh boy oh boy oh boy, I have it on my screen now. You rule

[SunnyState]

Great tutorial! I have a little problem with point 5; my CC 2014 has no pick-whip at the Producer>Position. Is there any way to do this point without it? Or are my settings wrong? It would be great if you can help me out!

[Pesens]

Great tutorial! Maybe can you say us if it's possible to choose the itinerary of the Light streaks, and how do it??
Thanks a lot!!

[robbswiatekfilms]

My duplicated streaks' anchor points don't seem to move off the original position! Not sure why?

[sparklesapp]

can this be used when combined with live action footage to create a swirl around them ?

[jaideepverma]

Thats was great tutorial !!! Can we make the the streak follow a particular path ???

[yasirshaikh]

wow gr8 and outstanding light streaks thank u very much sir its so easy and amazing biggest like fully played

[dariaklimova]

Great Tutorial! Is it possible to manipulate where the lines are going?

[moonbunny]

Is it possible to manipulate the direction in which the streak is heading towards? And like actually control it's movement rather than it being completely random?