If you want to create good-looking video content—whether that’s your own movies, YouTube shows, marketing videos for your company, or anything else—you’ll undoubtedly be thinking about how you can add exciting visual effects.
More and more people are searching for the best free VFX software, since the sphere of visual effect is rapidly developing. VFX stands for visual effects that are created in films and commercials by combining real footage and computer graphics.
In fact, VFX artists have several animation tools at their disposal and frequently switch between them to create a really nice-looking visualized composition. Today we want to introduce you 5 VFX softwares:
1. Adobe After Effects
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Adobe after Effects is a VFX software used for post-production. After generation programming application, the software is used to incorporate novel effects to PC, television projects, advertisements, etc. Various incidents of Adobe After Effects are seen in Hollywood movies. For example, the opening arrangement for a science fiction motion picture, or Harry Potter’s enchantment spells are examples for visual effects created using the software.
Perhaps the most popular VFX app on the market, After Effects is part of Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite of software. It’s a particularly good choice for those who edit videos in Premiere Pro, as it’s easy to send all or part of a Premiere Pro sequence to After Effects.
After Effects is the top-grade program, which you can use to spice up your footage with interesting effects. However, you need to devote some time to figure out how each separate function and tool works. Here you can find instruments to create awesome broadcast, film-ready animations and titles and the overall toolset deserves special praise.
2. DaVinci Resolve
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This is one of the best free VFX software with a very powerful toolkit. When it comes to color gradation, there is nothing like DaVinci Resolve. The program can correct colors like no other software.
Fusion is built into DaVinci Resolve, Blackmagic’s all-in-one post-production program, so you can edit your video, then switch to the Fusion tab to add effects. The real-time collaboration tools enable an editor and a VFX artist to work on the same project simultaneously.
DaVinci Resolve is oriented on professional users engaged in post-production, so its toolkit is so diverse, that you can easily find a suitable tool to work with image and sound. A free version has some limitations such as lower 4K definition, watermarks on several files, and impossibility to work cooperatively on the project, but they are of no importance for beginner users.
3. Autodesk Maya
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If you are on the lookout for the best VFX software for movies, Autodesk Maya comes with all the necessary features. It was used for producing such films as Ice Age, The Matrix, Avatar and many more. Of course, this testifies to its rich functionality and amazing capabilities. Frankly speaking, there is hardly a world-known VFX studio that has never resorted to this 3D modeling software. That’s why it is often referred to as the benchmark VFX editing program.
The most notable features of Autodesk Maya include polygon and symmetry modeling, interactive grooming workflow, and a hefty sculpting toolkit. This makes the program a go-to tool for pro-level 3D artists. You can use the software on Linux, Mac and Windows platforms.
This widely used application is known for bringing life into story by utilizing its exceptional 3D movement, displaying and rendering highlights.
Maya has really been the main reason behind the wonderful visuals found in some astonishing films like Harry Potter, Kung Fu Panda, Half-Blood, Prince, Transformers, etc. Autodesk Maya has also been extensively utilized in computer games like FIFA 09, and Prince of Persia.
4. 4D Cinema
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Once you open this visual effect software, you understand how powerful and universal it is. Here you can find tools for 3D modeling, animation, rendering and texturing all conveniently arranged on the toolbar. Besides, there is a huge collection of scenes, object presets and materials. 3D artists will absolutely like sculpting tools as well as Polygon and Parametric modeling features.
Many users praise the Splines tool, which allows creating sophisticated 3D models, and Deformers meant for compressing and twisting elements without worrying about their geometric proportions. 4D Cinema is wonderful VFX software for Mac and Windows users, but remember that it can lag on weak computers. To buy the program, you need to get in touch with an official distributor.
5. Hitfilm Pro
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The software has a rich collection of visual effects (more than 140 options) and allows performing compound video editing. The interface is straightforward, while the huge variety of video tutorials and guides help learn the program even quicker.
Hitfilm Pro allows you to edit both video and VFX within one app. This means that the effects are applied onto the non-linear editing timeline, rather than an After Effects-style layer-based system, making for a gentler learning curve if you’re not used to editing software.
From the impressive VFX toolset, you can see why Hitfilm Pro is used in big Hollywood movies. Besides all the essential tools that you’d expect, particularly remarkable features include an excellent chroma key, world-leading particle effects, advanced 2D- and 3D-motion tracking, and over 875 VFX presets.
Hitfilm Pro’s one-off fee of $349 is high, but if you’re going to use the program regularly, it can work out cheaper than subscription-based software. A free demo version is available, which has all the features and no time limit, but exports are given a watermark.
Conclusion
VFX can make your video hollywood-style. Using Adobe After Effects, DaVinci Resolve, Autodesk Maya, 4D Cinema and Hitfilm Pro will enable you to be a VFX Pro. At the same time, Filmage Screen is on the way to develop easy-to-use and professional VFX features. If you have another video effects software to be recommended, please contact us at [email protected].
