Motion Array is pleased to announce the release of six brand new effects plugins for Premiere Pro. You might remember a transitions pack we released a while back. Unlike the transitions, this is not a themed package. Each of the six plugins is a very different, individual effect and can be applied to any footage or text asset in your video.
Let’s take a closer look at what the effects are, how they work, and keep reading to the end to pick up some useful tips on how to get the best use out of them.
Summary
Part 1: What are Effects Plugins?
Effects plugins are ready-made visual effects for you to add to your footage and text to create instant results. They work in much the same way as the premade effects built in to Premiere Pro, and all you need to do is import them first.
From Camera Shake to Extreme Flicker, there’s a wide variety of plugins to choose from. Each one is fully customizable, and you can apply keyframes and alter every parameter in each one. Either make the effects subtle or extreme, whatever works for you and your project. If you’re working across an entire sequence, apply the effects to an adjustment layer to alter multiple assets. Simply drag and drop the plugins from the effects panel onto the timeline, and save the settings as presets if you want to use them again regularly.
These new Motion Array Effects Plugins have been designed to make your workflow as smooth and seamless as possible, while still creating high-quality results. Let’s take a look at what the effects are.
Part 2: 6 Awesome Effects Plugins to Choose From
Camera Shake
Want to give your smooth and steady shots a bit of movement? Add some artificial camera shake to get things going. You can apply it to a tripod shot to help it match other footage, or you can increase the intensity of an existing handheld shot.
Bad Signal
Use this effect if you want to make it feel like it’s coming through an analog signal. Great for footage that needs to be comped into an old TV set, or if you want to end a sequence in a stylish way. The effect adds noise and distortion to lower the overall quality of the footage.
RGB Offset
Give your footage some stylized color shifts, offsetting the red, green and blue channels. Whether you apply a subtle or an extreme color shift is entirely up to you and the effect you want to create. Control the parameters and create a result you’re happy with.
Extreme Flicker
Apply this to your footage to create an erratic, abstract look. You might have seen this effect in horror films before. It’s an fast flickering that inverts the image and adds colored frames, creating an intense visual style.
Slasher
Use this plugin to carve up your text or footage into slices which move independently. This is very much a stylistic effect, and the amount you slice your video is up to you. Apply it to an adjustment layer if you want to match the effect across multiple clips on the timeline.
Chromatic Aberration
This is an effect that is usually caused by imperfect lenses. Chromatic aberration slightly warps the image, creating a distorted and unusual look. You can make this a subtle or an extreme look, it’s entirely up to you. Simply change the parameters and the keyframes in the Effects Controls panel to get the result you want.
Part 3: How to Use Motion Array’s Effects Plugins
Getting started with Motion Array effects plugins in Premiere Pro is easy. Here’s how to use them in your own project.
- Head over to https://motionarray.com/plugins/premiere-pro and download the Motion Array plugins installer. We’ve kept it simple whether you’re using Windows or Mac.
- Double-click on the installer to start the process and follow the instructions on screen.
- Open Adobe Premiere Pro.
- Head to the Effects tab and your Motion Array plugins should have their own designated folder.
- Drag your chosen effect onto the timeline to use as a transition.
- Before you start using them you’ll notice there’s a red cross on the footage. This is because you’ll need to activate your Motion Array account to start using them. Simply click on the transition in the timeline, head to Effects Controls, and log in to your Motion Array account via the prompt.
Best Use Cases
RGB Offset is a powerful effect that can create some great results, but there is such a thing as too much. This kind of effect works best in moderation, used briefly to create a glitch effect, and brings out key moments in your video. Using it consistently throughout a video will be distracting and diminish the main message of the video, so keep it simple and use it sparingly.
Chromatic Aberration is an effect based on a real-life lens effect. When imperfections in a lens reveal a slight color split or purple outline, it creates an interesting texture. Some video footage can be too perfect, looking very clean and digital. Use the chromatic aberration plugin for After Effects to add this kind of realistic lens texture artificially. Try adding it to CG images or motion graphics to make a seamless join between them and live-action footage.
We’re excited to share with you Motion Array’s new effects plugins and we hope you enjoy using them as much as we enjoyed creating them. The six effects can be used in a wide variety of situations in your videos and can be applied to both footage and motion graphics. They’re easy to use in your project, simply download the installer and follow the step by step instructions, but you’ll need to activate your Motion Array account first. Enjoy!
