The 5 best photo animator templates for After Effects that can transform your static and boring images into 3D animations.
Photo Animator Templates for After Effects breathe life into your still images, turning them into immersive 3D experiences. While there are hundreds of such templates available on the internet, finding the perfect one isn’t an easy task.
In this listicle, we’ve handpicked the 5 best photo animator templates for After Effects that can turn your boring static images into 3D animations.
The best part is that you don’t need to be an After Effects professional to use them. They are easy to use with detailed tutorial videos, making the workflow as straightforward as possible.
These photo animator After Effects templates have been selected based on their quality and ease of use. This ensures that you can find the perfect match for your project’s needs.
1. Photomotion
PhotoMotion transforms your cherished images into photorealistic 3D animations in minutes, directly within Adobe After Effects. Behind the scenes, It utilizes hundreds of intelligent features, including autofocus, depth of field, reflections, and more, all of which are available out of the box.
The best part is that you don’t have to deal with the tedious code and expressions. Everything operates in the background, and a smart user interface grants you complete control.
Purchasing this After Effects project not only provides you with this incredible tool but also includes over 100 assets such as Lower Thirds, Instagram filters, Logo reveals, transitions, Light leaks, particles, digital glitches, and more to elevate your video.
There’s also a slideshow creator that enables you to transform multiple images from static to 3D animated and then combine them into a single, full-length video. Trusted by more than 5,400 customers, PhotoMotion for After Effects is regularly updated with new tools and features.
2. 3D Photo Tool Pro
3D Photo Tool Pro is the ultimate photo animator for After Effects for both beginner and professional users. With minimal effort, you can transform your static images into eye-catching 3D animations.
Just import a photograph, create masks to separate the foreground and background elements, and use the camera control options to animate.
The template is compatible with After Effects CS6 and above versions and does not require any third-party plugin. This ensures a seamless and smooth workflow experience. New After Effects users can also use this photo animator template with the help of the included video tutorial.
With 10 animated titles included in the template, your photos will come to life like never before.
3. The Original Photo Animator
The Original Photo Animator is by far the best photo animator template for After Effects. It’s clean, concise, and easy to convert your 2D photos into 3D animations. The template has many features that you won’t get in any other photo animator After Effects template:
- Light Rays – It’s a brand new feature that allows you to insert, adjust, and animate light rays.
- Wave Simulation – With this feature, you can simulate waves of water, grass, leaves, etc.
- 3D Objects – This tool lets you convert objects in a photo into 3D objects.
- Objects Library – There are more than 30 objects included in the template such as trees, branches, birds, and plants, to enhance the 3D effect in your photos.
- Particles – A particle generator is also included to generate random particles of different shapes, sizes, and colors.
The template comes with a variety of resolution presets for different screen sizes and aspect ratios. You’ll also get detailed PDF documentation and more than 120 hours of in-depth training videos.
4. Photo 3D Camera Animator
Photo 3D Camera Animator offers an innovative way to bring your static photos to life. This template allows you to create a 3D effect using a single photo by adding depth and movement, making your images more engaging and eye-catching.
Here’s how it works:
- Choose Your Photo: Begin by selecting a high-quality photo that you wish to transform. The choice of photo can significantly impact the outcome, so choose one with clear subjects and depth for the best results.
- Export Depth Map from Photoshop: Utilize Photoshop to create a depth map of your chosen photo. A depth map is a grayscale image that indicates the distance of the surfaces in the photo from the viewpoint, with white representing the closest areas and black the farthest. This step is crucial for achieving the 3D effect, as it allows After Effects to understand which parts of the photo should appear nearer or farther in the 3D space.
- Customize Photo 3D Camera Effects: After importing your photo and its corresponding depth map into After Effects, use the Photo 3D Camera Animator template to customize the 3D camera movements. This template provides various tools and settings to adjust the depth, perspective, and motion, enabling you to create a unique 3D animation that brings your photo to life.
It is perfect for photographers, graphic designers, and digital artists looking to add motion to their still images.
5. Volumax Pro
Volumax Pro is a widely used After Effects template for Animating static images into 3D space. This can be achieved by separating the background, mid, and foreground of an image, giving a sense of parallax effect.
With VoluMax Pro, you can skip all the time-consuming hard work of masking each layer with DEPTH MAPS.
Select a picture and paint a black-and-white depth map in After Effects or Photoshop. White for the foreground and black for the background. The depth map contains information related to the distance of the surfaces of scene objects from the viewpoint. Once a depth map is created, grab the controller and move your photograph in real time in any direction. It’s that simple.
Volumax Pro is compatible with Adobe After Effects CC 2019 and above versions.