Adding motion blur in After Effects can dramatically enhance the realism of moving objects or footage by simulating the blur captured by cameras during movement.
Easy Steps to Add Motion Blur
Based on the provided reference, one straightforward method to apply motion blur utilizes the built-in layer settings and a global composition switch.
Step 1: Enable Motion Blur Per Layer
The first and simplest way to add motion blur in After Effects is with the motion blur toggle in your layer settings. For motion blur to appear on a specific layer, this toggle must be active for that individual layer.
- Locate the layer(s) you wish to apply motion blur to in your composition timeline.
- In the layer settings area (usually to the right of the layer name), find the column dedicated to switches and toggles.
- Click the motion blur toggle (often represented by three overlapping circles) for each relevant layer to enable it. When enabled, the toggle icon typically appears solid or highlighted.
Step 2: Enable Motion Blur for the Composition
Even if motion blur is toggled on for individual layers, it won't be visible in your composition preview or render until the global motion blur setting for the composition is also active.
- Look above your layer menu in the toolbar within the composition panel.
- Click on the “Enable Motion Blur for all layers with the Motion Blur Set” button. This is the master switch for viewing and rendering motion blur across the entire composition.
- This toggle typically looks like a switch or the same three overlapping circle icon used for layers.
Once both the layer-specific toggle and the composition-wide toggle are active, After Effects will calculate and display motion blur based on the movement of your layers.
Summary of the Process
Here's a quick overview of the steps based on the reference:
| Step No. | Action | Location | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toggle Motion Blur | Individual Layer Settings | Must be ON for the layer |
| 2 | Enable Global Blur | Toolbar above Layer Menu | Must be ON for the comp |
Both steps are necessary for motion blur to be visible and rendered. Disabling either the layer toggle or the global composition toggle will turn off motion blur for that specific layer or the entire composition, respectively.
