Create Incredible Light Trail Texts in After Effects (No Plugins)

After Effects has so many tools, it can be challenging to know where to start when creating fantastic titles, credits, and typography videos. There are many different styles of title animation you can create, all of which can be taken to the next level by adding stunning light trails. While we will show you how to add this incredible light effect to your text elements, the technique can also be used with shape layers.

Part 1: Easily Create Light Trails Title Effects

One of the best things about this title effect technique is that once you have created it, you can apply the effect to any title by changing the base layer. We highly recommend you take the time to label your layers so that you can add them to your own quick and accessible library of effects.

Step 1: Animate Your Title

The first step is to animate the title layer with the movement you want to use. For this guide, we’re going to use a mix of Scale, Tracking, and Rotation keyframes, but you can animate your title however you want.

1. Create a New Composition, ensuring it is 1920×1080 and 30fps.
2. Grab the Title tool and click on the screen to create the layer. Type your message making sure it is central.
3. Select the layer, then press S on your Keyboard. Then, holding Shift, press R on your keyboard.
4. With your playhead at the animation start point, create a keyframe for the Scale and Rotation settings. 
5. Move the playhead forward 12 frames and create a second set of keyframes.
6. Go back to the first keyframes, adjust the Rotation setting to -45 and the Scale to 0.
7. Select all of the keyframes in the timeline and right-click > Easy Ease.
8. Open the Speed Graph Editor, and grab select the second set of keyframes. 
9. Pull the keyframe Handles toward the start of the composition to create a smooth speed ramp.
10. Finally, select the layer, right-click > Precompose (or hit Cmd+Shift+C or Ctrl+Shift+C on your keyboard).
11. Name the new composition Base Text.

Step 2: Create an Echo

Now your Title is animated; we can get to adding the cool light trail effect. There are lots of native effects in AE, and it can be challenging to figure out how to use them in your projects; for the light trails, we’re going to use the underrated Echo Effect.

1. Select your Base Text comp in the timeline and hit Cmd+D or Ctrl+D to duplicate it.
2. Select the bottom of the 2 layers and hit Return. 
3. In the Layer panel, rename it Short Trails.
4. In the Effects Control panel, search for and add the Echo effect to your Short Trails layer.
5. In the Effects Control panel, adjust the Echo Amount to 5, the Time setting to -0.003, the Start Intensity to 0.5, and the Decay to 0.9. You can play with the settings to see what works best for you.
6. Select the layer, and from the Effects Control panel, add Gaussian Blur.
7. Adjust the Blur Amount to about 5; this will help smooth out the light trail.

Step 3: Add Color

The text effect already looks pretty awesome, but you probably want to adjust the color to suit your brand or message, so we’re going to use the Colorama effect.

1. Search for and add the Colorama effect to your Short Trails layer.
2. In the Effects Control panel, go to the Output Cycle and choose Red Ramp from the dropdown list. You can try other preset effects if you’d prefer.
3. Double click the red box to access the Color wheel and picker and choose your title color.
4. Adjust the Input Phase to Alpha.
5. In the Effects panel, search for Fill and add it to your Title Base layer.
6. In the Effects Control panel, adjust the color of your main title layer.

Step 4: Create the Long Light Trails

Short Light trails look pretty cool, and you might want to stop with the effect here. However, creating longer light trails doesn’t take much more time, so why not give these next steps a go.

1. Select the Short Trails comp, and in the Effects Control panel, deselect the Composite Over Layers and Modify Alpha checkboxes.
2. Hit Cmd+D or Ctrl+D on your keyboard to duplicate the layer and rename the bottom of the 2 Long Trails.
3. In the Effects Control panel, adjust the Echo Time to -0.01 and the Echo Amount to 150.
4. Next, adjust the Start Intensity to 0.15 and the Blurriness to 15.
5. In the Output Cycle, move the colored box around the circle a little and select the black area of the Color wheel.
6. Drag the black box off to the side so that it disappears. 
7. Duplicate the Long Trails comp to create a more intense look.

Step 5: Tidy Up 

By now, your light trails effect will look incredible, but there are a couple of minor things you can do to get those edges looking tidier. 

1. Right-click on the screen and choose New > Adjustment Layer.
2. Position the adjustment layer above your trails comps and below your BaseText comp.
3. In the Effects panel, search for and add the Glow effect and the Noise effect.
4. In the Effects Control panel, adjust the Glow Radius to 100 and the Noise Intensity to 2.

Part 3: 5 Fantastic Text Light Effect After Effects Templates

If you’re looking for cool light title effects but don’t have the time to create them from scratch, then Motion Array‘s got you covered. With hundreds of templates available to download across After Effects, Premiere Pro, Davinci Resolve, and Final Cut Pro. You’re sure to find what you need!

1. Neon Cinematic Titles

The Neon Cinematic template provides a range of stunning neon glow title cards in a modular build. The floating titles provide a colorful glowing aura, perfectly matched with the shimming backgrounds and bokeh light leak look.

Download Neon Cinematic Titles Now

2. Meta Design Intro

The Meta Design Intro template offers a unique and stylish way to intro your video with titles or logos. The Colorful jigsaw of light shards comes together to form your message, with beautiful aurora style light streaks trailing behind. 

Download Meta Design Intro Now

3. Stomp Opener

The Stomp Opener is a fast-paced and vivid template that includes 24 editable text placeholders. The chromatic titles use your colors to create a prism of rainbow light trailing behind the animation.

Download Stomp Opener Now

4. Technology Reveal Pack

The Technology pack is a little different, as the light trailer precedes the text rather than following it. Including 7 different styles, this pack creates a glowing circuit to reveal a simple title in a high-tech way.

Download Technology Reveal Pack Now

5. Spectr Instagram Stories

The Spectr Instagram Stories pack includes 8 title placeholders, ideal for quick typography social updates. Similar to the Stomp Opener, Spectr turns the text into a wavey, rainbow-filled light show.

Download Spectr Instagram Stories Now

If you’re looking for a unique title effect that works with any font on any background, you can’t go wrong with these trendy light trails. However, the echo effect technique can be used for far more than title messaging, giving you a unique look to try across a range of projects. If you want to improve your base animation, why not learn how to create trippy title effects in After Effects.