Adobe After Effects is a powerful video editing & effects application. It includes a code expression engine, allowing you to write scripts to automate mundane and complex tasks. Discover how to use After Effects Expressions to quickly & easily create a countdown timer video.
How to Create a After Effects Expression
- Create a new After Effects composition, matching the exact duration of your countdown timer
- Create an empty text layer
- Expand the ‘Text’ options
- Hold down the ‘Alt’ key, and click on the stopwatch next to the ‘Text Source’ property
- Paste your expression code (seen below) into the code editor area
Create a Solid and then apply the effect Numbers located in the Effects Text category. You can animate the numbers to create the countdown. LoopOut (type = 'cycle') This expression repeats all keyframed animation, after the last keyframe, for the duration of the composition. The Loop “Cycle” expression is perfect for creating animated loops from as little as two keyframes. CREATE A FEW SIMPLE COUNTDOWN TIMERS IN AFTER EFFECTS EASILY! Learn to write the expressions that you need to build a very simple or very complex timer in.
After Effects Counter and Countdown - Free Templates. This blog shows multiple after effects counters and countdown templates for motion designers to use for their own projects.
That’s it! You’re done! Scrub the playhead across the composition, and see your lovely countdown.
Expression Code: 60 Seconds
After Effects Countdown Expression With Comma
Expression Code: 5 Minutes
Fonts
When creating a countdown, you may notice the numbers jumping around. You can try and avoid this by adjusting your text alignment. However, the best way to keep the numbers is a consistent position is to use a monospace font.
One reasonable monospace font is CMG Sans Mono Digits. This font, based on Montserrat has been specifically designed to make it easier to create church countdowns.
Hopefully these 9 videos will help you get some insights and the techniques you need to get going with expressions in after effects. If you have watched the videos below, you will hopefully have a good understanding of some of the techniques and things you use to create expressions inside of after effects, and have improved your basic skills!
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In this lesson we'll cover how to use expressions in After Effects.
In this After Effects tutorial we'll cover a few fantastic After Effects expressions that you may have never used before.
In this video you’ll see the expression wiggle being used and learn how to use it
There's a lot of amazing features hidden in After Effects to those that aren't familiar with expressions. When I first heard about expressions, I was trying to create a cool effect that I knew existed in Final Cut Pro, but years later I can say expressions are way more useful than just making cool effects. Using the right expression, in the right workflow can drastically improve your results. Whether that's an ease on an animation or a huge time-saving duplicator. I know starting expressions can be daunting and the thought of coding animations can be tricky. As if After Effects wasn't already a lot to begin with. But don't worry because we're kicking off this intro to expressions by going over the most useful ones that are also easy to learn. If you're new to the program, or an expert that might want to brush up on your After Effect skills, you're going to want to stick around because we'll be showing you real examples of motion graphics and animation using expressions.
In this quick and simple tutorial, I'll be sharing my top 10 countdown for the most used expressions in After Effect, they will save you so much time. You'll learn that expressions are nothing to fear, you'll be able to automate all the animations you have and you can even write your own. This tutorial is suitable for beginner-intermediate users. Please leave a comment if you'd like me to explain anything I skimmed over. Don't forget to tell me what you'd like to see next in my video!
In this tutorial, I want to shine the light on Expressions. It's amazing how far a simple line of text can take you. Unfortunately, many of us still fear expressions. I want to change that by showing you simple expressions you can use daily. They are easy to remember and quick to execute. Give this tutorial a try and you'll be amazed by the simplicity of these expressions. I hope you enjoy it!
This week, we take a look at some advanced expression concepts that can be applied to all sorts of expressions, and especially to those for paths in shape layers.
CREATE A FEW SIMPLE COUNTDOWN TIMERS IN AFTER EFFECTS EASILY! | Learn to write the expressions that you need to build a very simple or very complex timer in After Effects.
After Effects Timer Script
In this video you’ll see some more advanced techniques where expression are useful.