Introduction
If you’re a MacBook user looking for high-quality video editing and motion graphics software, Adobe After Effects is one of the top choices in the market. However, the price of its subscription plans can be quite expensive, especially for freelancers or beginners who are just starting their creative journey. Fortunately, there are ways to get After Effects for free on your MacBook.
This article aims to provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to download and install After Effects on your MacBook without paying a penny. We will cover various methods, including illegal ways, but we highly recommend only using legal methods and supporting the creators of the software.
Overview of the Various Methods to Get After Effects for Free on MacBook
Before diving into the step-by-step guide, let’s briefly look at the various methods available to get After Effects for free on MacBook.
Torrents
Torrents are one of the most common ways of getting paid software for free. However, using torrents to download After Effects is illegal and not recommended. Firstly, torrents are often infected with viruses, malware, and other malicious content. Secondly, using torrents to download After Effects violates copyright laws and can result in severe legal consequences. It’s always better to choose a legal alternative.
Cracked Software Websites
Similar to torrents, downloading After Effects from cracked software websites is illegal and unsafe. These websites offer free downloads of pirated software, which often include malware, viruses, and other damaging content. Additionally, they may install spyware or other software that can breach your privacy.
Illegal Activation Codes
Another illegal method of getting After Effects for free is using activation codes that are not valid or have been obtained illegally. Like the previous two methods, using illegal activation codes violates copyright laws and may result in serious legal issues. Moreover, activating the software with illegal codes may also lead to technical problems and unstable performance.
Other Alternative Methods
There are other alternative methods to get After Effects for free that are legal. We will discuss these methods in detail later in this article.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Downloading and Installing After Effects on MacBook
Now that we’ve covered the various methods, let’s dive into the step-by-step guide for downloading and installing After Effects on your MacBook for free.
How to Find After Effects Online
The first step in getting After Effects for free is finding a legitimate download source. Thankfully, Adobe offers a free trial version of After Effects, which is a great way to try the software before committing to a subscription. To download the free trial version of After Effects, visit Adobe’s official website.
Downloading After Effects on MacBook for Free
Once you’ve found a legitimate download source, the next step is to download After Effects onto your MacBook. Follow the instructions on the download page to ensure that you’re downloading the correct version for your MacBook’s operating system. After it’s downloaded, you will need to extract the files from the compressed folder.
Installing After Effects on the MacBook
After extracting the files, the next step is to install After Effects on your MacBook. Open the extracted folder and run the installer. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process. After the installation is complete, you should be able to open After Effects and start using the software.
Replicable Screenshots to Make the Process Easy-to-Follow
Here are some screenshots that show the steps involved in downloading and installing After Effects on your MacBook:
Tips for Installing a Free, Legal Version of After Effects on MacBook
If you want to use After Effects for an extended period, but don’t want to pay for a subscription, here are some tips for getting a free, legal version of the software.
Adobe’s Free Trial
Adobe offers a free trial version of After Effects that you can use for up to seven days. This is a great way to test-drive the software and decide whether you want to invest in a subscription. Note that after the trial period is over, you’ll need to pay for a subscription if you want to continue using After Effects.
Enroll in a Free Course
Another way to get a free version of After Effects is to enroll in an Adobe Creative Cloud course. Adobe offers several courses on its website that provide access to After Effects and other tools for free. These courses have been designed to help beginners learn how to use these tools and are a great way to test out After Effects before paying for a subscription.
Give Feedback on an Adobe Forum
If you’re a student or an educator, you can get a free version of After Effects by providing feedback on an Adobe forum. Adobe offers this program to students and educators to help improve its software. In exchange for providing feedback, you’ll get access to a free version of After Effects that you can use for up to six months. Note that this program is only available to students and educators.
Alternatives to After Effects for MacBook Users
If you can’t afford, or don’t want to use After Effects, there are several free and paid alternatives available to MacBook users. Here are a few we recommend:
Free Software Alternatives
Blender
Blender is a free, open-source 3D creation software. It’s been widely used for its VFX capabilities and is known for its robust features and fast workflow. If you’re looking for a free alternative to After Effects that still provides a lot of VFX capabilities, Blender is a great choice.
Hitfilm Express
Hitfilm Express is a free video editing software that combines professional-level VFX and editing tools in one package. It has a simple interface, making it ideal for beginners, but also provides advanced features for experienced users.
DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve is another free video editing software that offers VFX capabilities. It’s known for its color correction features, making it a good choice for those who want to edit and color grade their videos in one software.
Paid Software Alternatives
If you’re willing to invest in paid software, here are a few alternatives to After Effects that you might consider:
- Nuke: Nuke is a professional-level compositing software used in the film and TV industry. It provides advanced VFX capabilities and is ideal for those who need to work on high-end projects.
- Fusion: Fusion is a post-production software developed by Blackmagic Design. It’s a popular choice for film and TV editors and provides advanced VFX capabilities.
- Motion: Motion is a motion graphics software developed by Apple. It’s a good choice for those who want to create animations and graphics for videos without the steep learning curve of After Effects.
What are Some Useful Tips and Tutorials for Maximizing Your Learning of After Effects on MacBook?
After Effects can be overwhelming for beginners. Here are a few tips and tutorials you can use to get started with the software:
Expert Tips
If you’re new to After Effects, here are some tips to help you get started:
- Start with simple projects: Don’t try to tackle a complex project right away. Start with something simple, like an animation of a logo or a text title.
- Use templates: Use templates to help you get started. Adobe offers a range of After Effects templates that you can modify to fit your needs.
- Watch tutorials: There are plenty of After Effects tutorials available online. Find some that match your skill level and go from there.
Guides to Creating Popular VFX/Animation Effects
If you want to master specific effects in After Effects, here are a few guides you can follow:
- How to create a glitch effect: The glitch effect is a popular visual effect used in music videos and movies. Here’s a tutorial on how to create it in After Effects.
- How to create animated text: Animated text is a great way to spice up your videos. Here’s a tutorial on how to create it in After Effects.
- How to create motion graphics: Motion graphics are animated graphic designs used in videos. Here’s a tutorial on how to create them in After Effects.
The Best Free After Effects Templates for Initial Practice
After Effects templates can help beginners get started with the software or create professional-level projects without starting from scratch. Here are a few websites that offer free After Effects templates:
Envato website
Envato offers a wide range of free After Effects templates, including intro and outro templates, title templates, and promotional templates.
RocketStock website
RocketStock provides high-quality free After Effects templates that are easy to use and customize. It also offers video tutorials to help users learn how to use the templates.
Other websites to find free After Effects templates
There are many other websites that offer free After Effects templates. Some of them include Motion Array, VideoHive, and Adobe Stock.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced video editor, After Effects can help you level up your creativity. While the subscription plans can be pricy, there are several ways to get After Effects for free on your MacBook. In this article, we’ve covered various methods, step-by-step instructions, legal alternatives, expert tips and tutorials, and the best free templates for initial practice. We hope this article has been helpful in guiding you through the process of downloading and installing After Effects, as well as providing some useful tips and resources to help you master the software.
Remember, while it may be tempting to use illegal methods, we highly recommend only using legal alternatives to support the creators of the software and avoid any legal issues that may arise.
