Should After Effects be used in 2025?

I use After Effects mainly in a professional context, particularly for motion design projects and complex visual effects that require a high degree of creativity. One of the major strengths I appreciate is its enormous flexibility, thanks to the many plugins and scripts that enable the tool to be adapted to a wide variety of workflows, from the simple to the most ambitious projects.

After Effects particularly excels when it comes to creating detailed graphic animations or seamlessly integrating special effects into video projects. Its compatibility with other Adobe tools such as Premiere Pro considerably optimizes the audiovisual production chain.

However, its level of complexity sometimes represents a brake, especially for beginners. The learning curve is steep, and it can take time to master all its advanced features. What's more, its performance can be highly dependent on the power of the machine used, especially for heavy compositions.

After Effects is a tool that is generally not recommended for a total beginner in video editing or animation. Its rich functionality is accompanied by an interface and logic that can appear complex without training or appropriate tutorials. The software does, however, offer progressive functionalities, such as animation presets, facilitating the first steps in motion design.

For motivated beginners, this software offers tutorials and an active community enabling initiation and gradual upgrading of skills, which can represent an excellent long-term investment. The ability to work with layers, advanced effects and expressions expresses its full potential as you learn.

After Effects is available via a monthly or annual subscription as part of Adobe's Creative Cloud. The classic formula costs around €23.99 per month for an individual license. This offer includes regular updates, cloud storage and access to a vast catalog of resources and plugins.

This subscription model may represent a substantial budget for freelancers or small structures, but it guarantees constant evolution of the tool and seamless integration with other Adobe software such as Premiere Pro, Photoshop or Illustrator, which can significantly improve productivity.

The first key feature of After Effects is its layer-based animation engine, which enables sophisticated animations to be created thanks to fine management of keyframes, effects and expressions. This approach offers total control and creative freedom for customized projects from simple animated logos to complex sequences of visual effects.

Another essential feature is the ability for advanced compositing and integration. After Effects lets you merge multiple video sources, graphics, and 3D animations via layers and masks, offering rich, detailed postproduction suitable for making music videos, commercials and cinematic special effects.

Beyond the basics, After Effects incorporates advanced features such as the use of expressions, which are scripts that automate and create complex animations without a manual animation key. This automation amplifies creative possibilities while optimizing working time.

The software also supports 3D rendering thanks to the integration of external engines and plugins, paving the way for more immersive creations. Export in a variety of professional formats, compatible with the majority of editing software and platforms, adds to After Effects' versatility.