Not an easy task due to the fact that After Effects has dozens, if not hundreds, of wonderful plug-ins. Not every plug-in is essential, of course, and different artists have different needs, however, this is one case which I found that it wasn’t so easy to separate the chaff from the straw.

I know many of you, especially those who are beginning to learn the software, are not enthusiastic about plug-ins — not only because they cost an arm and a leg but also due to the fact that it prolongs and complicates the learning progress. I even know some users which are simply in principle against extensions – yes! There are also such users. I guess that’s the beauty in a democratic country

Objectively, I can tell you about one friend that I consider to be one of the most talented AE artists in Israel. He actually insists on working without any extensions. “Clean, Clean” as he says. But still when no one was looking, he himself wrote some of the most impressive filters I came across (too bad he keeps them to himself).

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In any case, the principle which I followed in this list is to try to vote on the plug-ins which, in my eyes, has no alternative inside the built-in internal effects of the software. Another measure is the ability to work with other software — if you decide to invest in a plug-in, it might be worth to have the tool in your edit suite as well. So any plug-in which supports other software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, AVID Media Composer, Apple Final Cut Pro or Motion, has received a higher score and move up on my list. Note that these are not ten individual effects, because some of the products come in packages that contain more than a single effect (prices are matched).

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Therefore, after hours of deliberation, I would like to share with you the final list (which includes Estimated Retail Prices in U.S. dollars) with the hope that whoever of you that are still wondering, or perhaps do not have purchase experience, can use this list to consider expanding the impressive set of tools that already come from Adobe. These plug-ins can be purchased directly from the manufacturer’s website or through Toolfarm website.

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1. Trapcode Suite – $899
   This package is in the first place with no doubt at all what so ever, if only for the most advanced particle system ever created for After Effects – Particular. Version 2 of Particular includes many significant improvements and impressive new tools. To me, it seems that effects shots with particles would not tire the eyes or go out of fashion any time soon. It’s almost like watching fireworks, I just never get tires watching them (by the way, Particular has excellent templates for fireworks in the effect presets – make sure to check them). Above all, I found that although this effect is so heavy and intense – it is also rock solid. I never experienced a crash or a lag when I chose to use it – This means the code here is strong and clean and even though this is all happening under the hood, it never ceases to impress me. Tutorials on Particular can be found almost anywhere on the net but also here, here and here.
   On top of Particular, you can also find other phenomenal plug-ins in this package. Some of them are also supported by other software.
   3D Stroke – uses paths from one or more masks to render volumetric strokes that can be rotated and moved freely in 3D space. Watch the related tutorial.
   Echospace - Speeds and automates the creation of sophisticated 3D layer effects in After Effects. Watch the related tutorial.
   Form - Bend nature as you like by creating flame, smoke and other organic 3D shapes — and then synchronize it with your favorite audio. Watch the related tutorial.
   Horizon - Create ultra-realistic environments to wrap sphere maps, panoramas or video around the After Effects world. Watch the related tutorial.
   Lux - The missing link in with lights behavior in After Effects, simulates “visible light” phenomenon, depending on the different types of lights you choose in the comp. Watch the related tutorial.
   Shine - Creates the illusion of peripheral light rays and are based on the layer properties or the text. You can choose from a wide range of colors and patterns. Watch the related tutorial.
   Starglow - Add Hollywood glamour to any text or shape with the fast-rendering Starglow. Watch the related tutorial.
   Sound Keys – Visually select parts of an audio track and convert that audio into keyframes. Watch the related tutorial.
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   This package does not come cheap but does offer a great bargain. You’ll save more the 500 bucks, if you wisely choose to buy this bundle instead of each plug-in on its own. It also offers the most successful visual effects eye candy look, without compromising on quality. Some of the effects have been here a long time and might need refreshing but over the years they also became standard tools for any self-respecting artist who also respects his parents A comprehensive article review on the package by Jim Harvey can be read on Creative COW.
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2. Boris Continuum 3D objects – $299
   A relatively new effects package which is part of a wider family titled: Continuum Complete. Additional software are supported as well which is one of the reasons for being high ranked on my list, but mostly because these handful effects have the ability to generate impressive three-dimensional headlines bodies at a very high quality, without having to work in a unique interface. Not only that, but also thanks to the built-in support for Hebrew – which for me is a necessity. The plug-ins respond to AE 3D system and beyond that, most effects come with built-in 3D shatters and bend deformers. This is the modern substitute for one of my most favorite plug-in of all times: Invigorator Pro (which unfortunately doesn’t support Hebrew, only through Illustrator). You can watch these effects in action here.
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3. Video Copilot Twitch – $45
   Andrew Kramer doesn’t need my recommendation; this talented guy probably helped more AE artists than he’ll ever know. His website, full of fantastic products and wonderful techniques, became second nature to most people in the industry. Twitch is just one of them and it serves as a plug-in to After Effects that synchronizes random operators to create stylistic video effects which have become so popular recently. On the product page you can watch a tutorial that explains the nature of the effect. But you can really get a sense of it once you start playing with the sliders. The high rank on my list is due to the simple approach of the effect, which yields a spectacular result at an affordable price.
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4. Magic Bullet Looks – $399
   The ultimate color correction system out there. This plug-in, which supports other software as well, is actually a separate utility (Looks Builder) which enables a complete change of atmosphere and mood to your video. It was designed by Stu Maschwitz (Visual effects supervisor for many blockbuster movies such as “The Spirit” and “Sin City”, to name a few). The approach here rely on the logic of professional color correction suites and gives the power of an expensive finishing system for a fraction of the price. It includes dozens of ready-to-use templates and utilizes the power of graphic cards for snappier results. If you cannot afford it, you may consider the more affordable alternatives from the same creator, Colorista and Mojo.Watch the related tutorial.
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5. Genarts Sapphire – $1699 or $169 per month
   Undoubtedly, the most comprehensive package of effects which also works with most editing software. Although it does not come cheap, I would justify the investment just for the Lightning group which includes the best glow in the industry. Other groups incorporate some of the most advanced distort filters which overshadows everything After Effects has to offer in this field. In addition to those filters, you will also get a variety of tool-amendments for color correction, compositing aids, cool transitions and lots of filters to create sophisticated textures and backgrounds. Those of you, who are not sure if it’s worth the price, can download the trial version which works thoroughly for 3 weeks. If you still find it difficult to justify, you might consider renting the plug-ins for a month. Watch the related tutorials.
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6. Knoll Light Factory Pro – $399
   Like particles, the lens flare effect is still one of the most used effects in After Effects routines. It adds drama and atmosphere to every animation and catches most viewers’ attention especially if you’re working on sci-fi shots. John Knoll, the man behind the success of Photoshop and Star Wars, shaped a unique set of lenses based on the behavior of rays of lights when they hit the lens and breaks into colors. You will notice the cool use of the lens flare in almost every shot of J. J. Abrams’s Star Trek. The filter supports additional software hosts. Watch the related tutorial.
   It’s also worth to mention a new up-coming plug-in from Video Copilot, which takes this effect to the next level.
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7. Zaxwerks 3d Serpentine – $199
   The new toy in the box is much more than just eye candy — this is one of the most elaborated effects with many capabilities and controls. The idea here is to create 3D noodles, also called path extrusions from simple AE paths using basic shapes, masks and text. Your creation can be enhanced using textures, different colors at the beginning and at the end and even reflection maps. Who believed you could get this 3D quality live inside After Effects without using external software – This calls for an animated toast celebration Watch the related tutorial.
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8. Pixel Farm PFHoe – $99
   Not exactly a plug-in, but no less important – This external software calculates a decent Camera solving, almost automatically. Use the wizard to guide you through importing and setting up your footage to track the shot. This simple one-click toolset provides an environment even for the most inexperienced user, which will get great results from its use. The result is a Maya bake camera which you then import to After Effects. Now all that remains is to import the original clip and add 3D layers to the comp which then will respond to the solved camera as if they were part of the original shot. This software will get you started with 3D tracking with minimal effort at almost a symbolic price (compared to other products in the field) yielding very impressive results. There is also a pro version which doubles the price, and includes additional capabilities such as a deeper tool set to further refine and tune solved shots, and also adds support for image sequences and further 3D format support. Watch the related tutorial.
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9. DigiEffects FreeForm – $299
   This sweet plug-in will allow manipulating a flat object into almost any shape using a mesh in 3D space. I specially liked the ability to use a layer as a map for true 3D displacement. You can also bend, twist, distort, and shape your layer any way you please, right in the After Effects comp window. It is very reminiscent to the “Extended Bicubics” feature, long existing in software such as Autodesk Flame. This tool is an excellent way to create paper folding, flags, curtains, leaves and fluids in a very reliable and convincing way. The effect supports the 3D environment of the software and automatically responds to lights and cameras, so the final result is in high quality with realistic shading. This extension is so useful in saving the transition to external software that I simply wish these capabilities were built into After Effects. Watch the related tutorial.
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10. RE: Vision ReelSmart Motion Blur – $90
    The filter which closes the list has a basic equivalent in a program called: CC Force Motion Blur, but the later works slowly and does not allow the following options: Automatic tracking of every pixel from one frame to the next, Variable amount of blur, and more. Most important is the ability to remove motion blur from a video – a matter which often can save the day. Because Motion Blur is a function so important to create a compelling animation using this effect soon becomes second nature in all those situations that effects can not support it on their own. There’s also a Pro version which lets you define the areas you want to blur, using a specified matte, add more track points and work with vectors to improve the final quality. The Pro version sells for $150. I haven’t found a useful Tutorial for this plug-in, maybe I’ll make one myself.

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In conclusion, the question remains: Do I need to buy everything in this list?
The answer: Absolutely not.

I always recommend downloading a trial version of what you think you’ll need for your type of work.

There was an old saying in the After Community: “Who has got the most plug-ins before he dies – wins”. This isn’t the case anymore and for most cases you don’t need this heavy arsenal of extra filters. So my advice will be: Test, learn and then decide whether it suits you. At the end of the day, as much as we want all the toys in the store we can probably live without a few and still be creative and happy. If you decide to buy, make sure to monitor the various offers and bundles, for example, you may justify owning the Designer’s Bundle from Zaxwerks which includes 6 plug-ins, some of them are covered in this list. Also make sure to visit Toolfarm and check what they can offer you in terms of best value bundles. One point which I want to emphasize is that this list shows my personal preference and thus may not include other wonderful plug-ins that allows adding even more excellent effects to your toolbox. With that in mind, I can tell that from my own experience, the plug-ins on the list added to your personal talent, will safely let you answer: “Yes! It’s possible!” for most of your clients requests. Do keep in mind that like any other software (or hardware for that matter), it is not enough just to buy and install it – you’ll need to invest time and passion in order to master the tools you’ll use – But hey, this is also what makes this so great – infinite possibilities! – Here lies the magic of software like After Effects and Photoshop which allow so many combinations and variations along with the ability to keep making changes until you hear a shout from the Kitchen – “This is the last time I’m calling you, dinner is getting cold. Stop now and come”.
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