Text to Sand Transition - After Effects Tutorial (No Plugins)

This tutorial shows how to turn text to sand or dust in After Effects, and then have it blow away in the wind - all without 3rd party plugins. This sand reveal effect is just one of 200 custom text styles at creationeffects.com/creation-....
This effect can also be tweaked to make a sparks transition, fairy dust, or sand assembling to form text, all using the CC Particle Systems II effect, which comes with After Effects. After Effects has surprisingly few tools for making good-looking text, like in Photoshop. If you create a lot of title animations in After Effects, check out the "Creation Title Effects" template at the link above. It uses the effects and layer styles available in After Effects to create detailed, polished titles that are ready to go - just change the font.
0:00 Intro
1:31 Adding Text & Particles
2:25 Animating Producer
3:50 Editing Other Properties
5:55 Adding Randomness
8:30 Warping/Turbulent Displace
12:30 Revealing Text/Linear Wipe
14:00 Sand Texture
16:05 Blending Mode
17:00 Other Cool Effects

[@creationeffects]

IMPORTANT UPDATE: At 2:00, the video says to add a "CC Composite" effect. In AE 2024, this effect no longer works to expand the particles. Instead, use a "Calculations" effect.

[@williampowell9013]

Thank you!!

[@johnoyelowo8172]

Thought I was stupid 😆 so glad you pinned this awesome tutorial 7 years going!!!

[@nathanbgerman]

This is the first tutorial I have seen that actually explains what all those different settings in Particle Systems mean. Most people just say the numbers they use without really explaining what they really mean, so thank you for that explanation!

[@kanmaneenampakdee3020]

I started from zero knowledge of After Effect and followed your steps. It worked so well. Thanks for explanation and demonstration. I'll adjust the techniques and improve my skills. This is the most WORTH watching on TH-cam ever!!!

[@amacieforever9474]

Thank you for explaining what the functions/options mean as you were creating this. Most tutorials tell you to do this and that and not explain what they do. I am taking notes on stuff as I do different tutorials, so I appreciate you explaining more!

[@desmanage]

A particles masterclass in 17 minutes. I am becoming a fan of expressions following this. Superb! Thank you very much indeed
KP

[@VJ4rawr2]

I've used this effect about 10 times and always forget how to do it. This video is amazing. Repeat viewer!!

[@nn414ch44i]

There are some good tutorials out there, but what makes yours great is that you explain what you're doing, and why, and what the different settings do, instead of just giving us settings and values to punch in. Thank you, I really appreciate that! Keep doing what you do, I feel like I've learnt more in the past 20 minutes than I have since I started using After Effect. :)

[@creationeffects]

That means a lot - I appreciate that!

[@fedeshuriken]

I strongly second this coment

[@DanleySound]

I agree entirely.

[@diogopacheco2107]

Dito.
The "why's" are, in my view, more important than the" Hows"
Keep up the good work, and thanks for the help

[@yiannisbot]

Thank you so much for this amazing tutorial. It is so magical that I never have used after effects before and I managed to have a result like that. Thank you, thank you !!!

[@Pitaoj]

Must Comment Again! Easily on of the most informative and well executed tutorials I've seen on Particles. The addition of simple and easy to use expressions made my day! Diving into it now!

[@finesketchdesignstudio]

This is timeless and limitless. I love. Thank you so so much. . .

[@steffansilfverberg7806]

5 year after and still an amazing tutorial, thank you

[@pramodyadawad4339]

All i got good of you is explaination of what you are doing with settings. Keep doing good sir. Thanks...!

[@kirak1986]

very simple and clear explanation of the particle plugin. Thank you

[@KaterCarlinki]

Excellent! Everything works! I realized it on a CS6 version. Thank you very much!

[@tricksterjwk]

Just wanted to say that your step-by-step process and clear explanations of not only what, but how, everything takes place is incredibly informative and very, very easy to follow. Thank you for your hard work and expertise!

[@creationeffects]

Thanks, Michael!

[@daniellewood5534]

Thank you so much for such a useful tutorial!! I'm totally new to AE and animation, and your explanations of the process/purpose of settings (etc.) were super helpful and enabled me to create particle effects for a logo of my own. Thank you again!

[@Chris-ge1et]

Awesome tutorial, Love all the explanations for each of the parameters. Keep up the good work.

[@guilhermepereira1322]

You are the best tutorial guide I've ever encountered. Thank you.

[@lawlelulaylow]

Great Tutorial. Easy to follow along to and outstanding results.

[@tomasdabasinskas8977]

Great tutorial. Thank you very very much! As most here already noticed - one of the best on internets.

[@Glasseyyy]

Thank you so much. You explained everything so clearly and the result was fantastic.

[@VadimID]

Wow, this is a nice tutorial. I've never thought about such way of using of Particles System.

[@waynelewis7334]

Noel, you're not only extremely creative, your tutorial videos are great as well. You must have the heart of a teacher.

[@creationeffects]

Thank, Wayne. I've been told that before. If kids didn't scare me so much, I might have gone down that road...

[@veroniquerenault1324]

Merci beaucoup ! C'est vraiment très joli ! J'ai bien réussi l'effet !

[@MnnnM1]

This my friend, is brilliant! Informative, and helpful. Thank you!

[@jayprayag]

Always grateful to you for this work.

[@rupalijondhale2892]

just love the way u described each detail... Thanks... :)

[@SyaifulMukhlis3402]

The introduction was very helpful, thanks!

[@RachelLerch]

Really excellent. Loved this. Followed along and subscribed. Made my own sand effect! Added a wind look. Excited!

[@GODAVARITALKIESCHITRAM]

Thank you sooo much for this amazing tutorial!

[@canelamlr]

Great tutorial! Simple and to the point.

[@tomasrakauskas8983]

thank you for tutorial with no plugins! a great one, learned alot.

[@noobcitiey2442]

You are insane, one of the best tutorial on TH-cam. Keep it up dude...

[@Dirkanador]

Love the effect and even better that no stinken plugins are needed. Thanx for explaining what the settings dol

[@kellyM1001]

Thank you for this great tutorial! It helped so much.

[@desertdotabq]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate you sharing your impressive skills!

[@breanneisawesome1]

this was extremely helpful, thank you so much!

[@kdawnmayorga420]

Very knowledgeable. Thanks for the informative tutorial. Top shelf.

[@jeffreyduvernay9875]

fantastic tutorial. Many, many thanks!

[@svitlanashynkaruk]

Thank you very much for this tutorial!

[@ecofriend93]

Thanks! I'm starting a new TH-cam channel and when it takes off, I'll definitely purchase the full effects set to save time on future videos. Right now, I gotta put in all the hard work myself since I have practically no budget and thanks to this video, I can make my initial videos looks professional!

[@creationeffects]

The "hard work" will grow your skills. Best of luck!

[@MayaWeksler]

great tutorial! thank you! that just awesome and the outcome - excellent.

[@Milothatch17]

Great tutorial, thank you so much !

[@Veechana_Jaimandi]

Wow ! Amazing for text to sand transition

[@sticgolf9288]

Great tutorial! Keep it up, love the detail in your videos

[@WindCivilian]

You're really know how to teach! Thanks you so much.

[@antonchernyshov8759]

A bomb tutorial. Hands down. Sooo helpful! Thanks, man!

[@helenabraun9210]

Excellent tutorial, thanks!

[@maikeferrerasbatista179]

God bless you Thanks for your contribution, greetings from the Dominican Republic

[@CurmudgeonBoy]

Superb tutorial! Thank you!

[@gshockstyles]

thanks for this amazing tutorial... helps a lot.

[@user-yo6rj5ql4c]

It was very easy for me to understand, even as a Japanese person, to learn. thank you!!

[@ABNERJUDE]

Great tutorial and well explained!

[@optumcss]

thank you so much for these tutorials, you are the best

[@joshkillen1489]

Great video man you do a fantastic job. Now the video I got hired for is gonna have much better lower 3rds! It's some mystical/meditation yoga group type video so this is perfect. Thanks for the help

[@clio2902]

thank you so much! very useful and helpful

[@FreedomToSeek]

Thanks for sharing this. It was exactly what I was looking for

[@steveclarendon8756]

Wonderful. And your voice is perfect.

[@user-ti4oj7mh9q]

I love this toturial

[@icvideoservices]

Many thanks, this is a fantastic tutorial.

[@ehabfatah]

Wow .... this is the "absolute perfect".......... thank you, it's useful lecture

[@CahayaDiana]

Thank you so much for the amazing tutorial..

[@jigarbavarva9906]

Awesome Tutorial

[@TheNightfly84]

Amazing! Thanks a lot for this tutorial!

[@marcinpopadiak3269]

Perfect tutorial! Greetings form Cracov, Poland

[@jonathanmadeja8349]

Thank you so much for this tutorial!:)

[@timh4168]

What a great how-to video. Thank you!

[@pluriversum]

thank you very very very much! That was so helpful and easy to understand.

[@larachanelle]

this was so so helpful. thank you so much!

[@aliraza-wt4my]

Thank you, I really needed to hear tNice tutorials!!

[@BananazChannel]

thanks for your help! I love this clip.

[@Tarek-Fouda]

One of the best Tut I ever saw and his Tuts are really awesome 👍. I just ordered a couple of his templates because:
firstly, he diserve that we support his work.
secondly, it saves a huge time.
thirdly, it works perfect and easy.
and fourthly it looks more than great.
Thank you so much for this wonderful work 👍.

[@creationeffects]

I really appreciate it, Tarek!

[@ScottHelp]

This was a very helpful tutorial thank you!

[@callgamer1609]

Awesome Tut bro!!

[@mikehutchinson2972]

Great tips and nice effect!

[@rjbiz3639]

I want to thank you very much, awesome tutorial !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@volcogabriel]

Great tutorial man! Awesome job!

[@josefinadiaz1233]

the way i love you man, thank you

[@ivisions3615]

fantastic tutorial

[@niektenhagen560]

finally a good tutorial, no long bullshit talks just to the point and with good explanation. Also no stupid background music.

[@angelosa.3178]

You are awesome! Thanks a lot

[@jayprayag]

Great, really. You educated me more. Pl keep up the good work

[@wut_stock]

Absolutely well covered.

[@miguelpow266]

Awesome tutorial! Liked and subscribed!

[@hameedmukhi3354]

u give the great idea of partical effect tks bro from pakistan

[@meralkaz]

Really helpful! Thank you!

[@Sam-we7zj]

OMG this is the first time ive heard about cc composite. mind blown haha

[@voyceuk3346]

Thank you! Just used elements of this for a project. I'm creating a video for a building company! Thanks dude. Keep up the tutorials... voyce 🐓

[@manjeetmoharil]

You are awesome!! LOVED IT!!!

[@TheComposer1979]

ha ha a another underrated professional man ur the man

[@akku7043]

loved the video man

[@dub3swt]

I think this is the best tutorial I have seen in a long time. Thank you for making this video.

[@galefraney]

Perfect tutorial !!!

[@chilliparker4960]

Thank you so much great tutorial gotta hate them plugins

[@rso4768]

Great video man..

[@englishsandwich2928]

Thank you - that worked a treat! :)

[@mennegyo7019]

Great thanks for your help may god bless and protect you man

[@Dhrushya_Digital_Gift_Gallery]

Thank you very much sir

[@netplanetgr]

Amazing. Thanks!

[@YZ212]

Excellent, Thank You!