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After Effects tutorial | Make Pictures Talk

Education

Introduction

In this tutorial, I will show you how to make a picture talk using Adobe After Effects. This technique is straightforward and requires just a picture and recorded audio. For this demonstration, I will use a picture of Leonardo and a pre-recorded audio file.

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Setting Up the Composition:

    • Open After Effects and go to Composition > New Composition.
    • Adjust the duration to match the length of your audio file, in this case, 3 seconds.
    • Set the background color or leave it as is, then press OK.
    • Drag your picture into the composition and scale it to fit the composition.

  2. Applying Effects:

    • Navigate to the Effects and Presets panel. If you don't see this panel, go to Window and ensure Effects and Presets is checked.
    • In the Effects and Presets panel, type CC Split. You will see two options: CC Split and CC Split 2.
    • First, apply CC Split. Set the points to the edges of the lips. You'll notice that both lips move equally, but in a human face, the upper lip moves less than the lower lip. Therefore, we will not use this split option.
    • Delete CC Split and apply CC Split 2 instead.
    • Set the points again to the edges of the lips. Adjusting the Split 2 value moves the upper lip, while adjusting the Split 1 value moves the lower lip.

  3. Syncing Audio:

    • Drag your audio file into the composition. Right-click on it and select Keyframe Assistant > Convert Audio to Keyframes. This will create a new layer named Audio Amplitude.
    • Select the Audio Amplitude layer and go to Effects > Both Channels to reveal its slider.
    • Go back to CC Split 2, hold Alt and click the Split 1 stopwatch. Link this to the Audio Amplitude slider using the pick whip tool.
    • Repeat this process for Split 2.

  4. Fine-Tuning:

    • Go to the Split 2 expression and add a negative sign and 15 at the end (e.g., -(expression) - 15). This will reduce the keyframe values for the upper lip.
    • Preview your results. Adjust the value if needed to achieve a more natural-looking lip movement.

Your animated picture should now be in sync with the audio, creating the illusion that the picture is talking.

Keywords

  • After Effects
  • Picture talk
  • CC Split
  • CC Split 2
  • Audio Amplitude
  • Keyframe Assistant
  • Animation

FAQ

1. What do I need to make a picture talk in After Effects?

  • You will need a picture and a pre-recorded audio file.

2. How do I set up a new composition in After Effects?

  • Go to Composition > New Composition, set the duration to match your audio file, adjust the background color, and press OK.

3. Why are there two CC Split options, and which one should I use?

  • There are CC Split and CC Split 2 options. Use CC Split 2 because it allows for individual movement of the upper and lower lips.

4. How do I sync the lip movement with the audio?

  • Convert your audio to keyframes by right-clicking the audio file and selecting Keyframe Assistant > Convert Audio to Keyframes. Then link the keyframes to the CC Split 2 parameters.

5. How can I make the lip movements look more natural?

  • Adjust the expression for Split 2 by adding a negative sign and a value to reduce the upper lip's movement. This tweak helps in making the animation look more realistic.

6. What is the final step to preview the result?

  • Click the play button in the preview panel to see the talking animation in action.