0:00
/
0:00
Transcript

How to Use Free Videos for Motion Graphics Effects

Create unique video effects with free stock footage & blending modes! Learn to blend black backgrounds and colorize for dynamic Adobe After Effects visuals.

In this post, I'm going to share a really cool trick I use to create dynamic video effects using free stock footage and the blending modes available in many video editing programs. This technique can elevate your visuals without the need for complex particle systems or micro-animations, and it's particularly useful for motion graphics.
I did this tutorial in 2023, but it still works great, today.
The article, below, was generated with transcription and LLM restructuring, so there’s a chance there may be inaccuracies, and if so, be sure to reference the video, above, for step-by-step instructions.


Ivan David Lippens is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.


Leveraging Free Stock Footage for Unique Effects

One of the first things I learned when I started experimenting with video editing software, like Adobe After Effects, was the immense value of free stock footage. Instead of trying to create particle effects and other complex animations from scratch, you can often find pre-made clips that can be used as overlays to add incredible effects to your videos. Many free stock media sites like Pixabay are great resources for this.

The key is to find video footage with a solid black background and white (or other strong contrasting) objects. This is ideal because of the way video editing software blending modes work.

How to Use Blending Modes

In my example, I'm going to use footage of abstract blobs (like slime or ooze) and apply it to another video clip I have of honey dripping over a gold surface. The “oozy” effect is what I was looking for, and this process will allow me to achieve that.

  1. Import Your Base Video and Overlay Video: Begin by importing your primary video clip and the free stock footage you intend to use for the effect.

  2. Apply the "Screen" Blending Mode: Most video editing software offers blend modes, which can often be found in a drop-down menu in each video layer. When you apply the “screen” blend mode to your overlay video, the black background will effectively become transparent. This mode is perfect for blending black backgrounds onto a primary clip.

  3. Adjust Size and Positioning: Once you have the background transparent, you can resize and position the video as needed. It is even possible to make the video clip a small localized effect within your primary video clip, but in this example, I want to make sure that the effect encompasses the entire screen.

  4. Apply Colorization: After the black background is removed, you will often be left with the white objects of the overlay video, and that's a perfect blank canvas for colorization. Most video software will also have color effects. You can then select your preferred effect and add it to the overlay video, and then you can manipulate parameters within the color effect to change to your desired color palette. Experiment with colorization parameters like “multiply”, “hard light”, “darken”, or “luminosity” which will color the white objects in the video. I found that “darken” works the best.

  5. Adjust Opacity: The last step is to adjust the opacity of the layers to get your desired level of overlay and effect. I found that setting the video to 70% opacity and the effect to 100% worked best in my example.

  6. Combine Blending Modes for Magic: The really great thing about blending modes is that you can apply them to the base video and the effect separately for enhanced control.

Step-by-Step Guide: Creating Video Effects with Blending Modes

Here's a quick breakdown of the steps to achieve this effect:

  1. Import: Add your base video and stock video footage into your editing program.

  2. Apply "Screen" Mode: Select the stock video and change the blend mode to "Screen".

  3. Adjust Size and Position: Resize the overlay to cover the required area of the base video.

  4. Colorize: Add a colorization effect to the overlay.

  5. Experiment with Blend Modes: Fine-tune the color effect and try different color blending modes.

  6. Adjust Opacity: Change the opacity of the video layers for your desired intensity.

Unleash Your Creativity

This approach is a quick and effective way to create dynamic effects for motion graphics and other video projects without complex editing methods. The combination of free stock footage, blend modes, and colorization effects opens up a world of creative possibilities. This screen mode and colorizing effect trick allows you to create visually stunning motion graphics.
Thanks for watching! Subscribe for more video editing tips and tricks!


Ivan David Lippens is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Get more from Ivan David Lippens in the Substack app
Available for iOS and Android