Creating a Lightsaber Beam Effect in After Effects and Saving it as a Preset for Later Use

NTSC DV Preset

Neil Mey
Neil Mey, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Jul 3, 2009 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
  1. Create a new comp NTSC DV Preset.
  2. Create a new solid apply y and make it the comp size, any color.
  3. With the solid layer selected place the beam effect on it. Effect>Generate>Beam.
  4. Change the following parameters for the beam effect in your effect controls panel.

    Length: 100%
    Time: 50%
    Starting Thickness: 8
    Ending Thickness: 8
    Softness: 50%
    Inside Color: light blue
    Outside color: Dark Blue
    3D Perspective should be checked

    To move your beam in a different direction you should click the crosshairs for starting point and place it where you want your beam to start in the comp.

    Then choose your crosshair for ending point and place it where you want your beam to end in the comp window

  5. Now select your solid layer and place the Glow effect on it. Effect>Stylize>Glow.
  6. Change the parameters for glow as follows.

    Glow Based on : Color Channels
    Glow Threshold: 46.3%
    Glow Radius: 44.5
    Glow Intensity: 0.7
    Composite Original : On Top
    Glow Operation: Add
    Glow Colors: Original Colors
    Color Looping: Triangle A>B>A
    Color Loops : 1.0
    A & B Midpoint: 50%

  7. Place another glow effect on the layer solid and leave at its default setting.
  8. Then place the Lens Flare effect on your solid Effect>Generate>Lens Flare.
  9. Change the following for lens flare.

    Flare center move with the cross hairs to somewhere on your beam. Place to your liking

    Flare Brightness: 178%
    Lens Type: 50-300mm Zoom setting
    Blend with Original: 54%

  10. Place another Glow effect on the solid. Effect> Stylize>Glow and leave the settings at there default. You should have 3 glows on your solid at this point.
  11. Now to save this effect to pull up later in your Effect & Preset control panel. Select all the effects in your effects control panel. Navigate to Animation located next to Effect and select Save Animation Preset and save it as lightsaber or something that you will remember. Now when you search for what you named it in your presets it will show up and you can place it on a new solid.

Published by Neil Mey

My name is Neil Mey. I am from Saint Louis Missouri and have a Master of Arts degree in Communications from Lindenwood University. I am currently an Instructor at Lindenwood University as well.  View profile

Saving an effect you have created to your effects and presets panel,can save time and constantly give that perfect effect you spent long nights tweaking

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