Make the Best Split Screen Edits in After Effects

Creating beautiful split screen edits can greatly enhance your video projects. Here, we'll guide you through the process using After Effects, rather than Premiere Pro, to give you more control and flexibility over your designs.

Step 1: Design Your Split Screen

First, open After Effects and select the Pen Tool from the toolbar. With the Pen Tool, you can draw a custom shape that will represent your split screen. Feel free to get creative; you can make your shape as complex or as simple as you like. If you prefer, you can also use the Rectangle Tool to draw standard rectangular splits.

Tip: Be sure to leave gaps between your splits if you want to give each section some breathing room. This can add a dynamic and professional look to your split screen design.

Step 2: Placing Your Footage

Next, you'll need to place your footage on top of the shape you've created. After this, set the Track Matte of the clip to the shape layer. This will mask your footage within the boundaries of the shape.

Tip: By using After Effects, you can manipulate and animate each section of your split screen more effectively than in Premiere Pro.

Step 3: Complete the Split Screen Design

Continue to import additional footage and set their track mattes to the remaining shape layers. Each clip will be masked by its respective shape layer, giving you a clean and organized split screen layout.

Congratulations! You've now created a custom split screen design. By following these steps, you have the power to create any split screen design you can imagine.

Bonus: Don't forget to check out our 100 free template pack and split screens via the link on our page. These templates can give you a head start on your projects.

Keywords

After Effects
Split Screen
Pen Tool
Rectangle Tool
Footage
Track Matte
Custom Shape
Template Pack

FAQ

Q: What tools do I need to create a split screen in After Effects? A: You will need the Pen Tool or the Rectangle Tool to create your split screen shapes. Additionally, you'll use the Track Matte feature to apply your footage to these shapes.

Q: Can I use Premiere Pro for split screen editing? A: While it is possible to create split screens in Premiere Pro, After Effects provides more control and flexibility, making it the preferred choice for custom split screen designs.

Q: How do I apply footage to the split screen shapes? A: Place your footage on top of the shape layer and set the Track Matte of the clip to the shape layer. This will mask the footage within the shape's boundaries.

Q: Are there ready-made templates available for split screen edits? A: Yes, we offer a pack of 100 free templates that you can download from our page to help you get started quickly on your projects.