After Effects tutorial | Make Pictures Talk

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.