Whether you do animations, motion graphics, or even video editing, changing background color is a useful technique that can be applied for particular purposes in a project. This helps during the modification of the scene, where the backdrop can either be altered to draw attention or made to blend with a predetermined theme.
This article lists some simple ways to change background color in After Effects to create videos for social media or promotional material.
Why should you change the background color
Knowing how to change video background color in After Effects can help you level up the consistency of the video with the branding elements of the company's color palette. Here are some reasons why you should use After Effects to change background colors:
- Match brand style
Changing the background color serves to synchronize the video with a company's color palette. Such uniformity strengthens a brand's image and makes its content easily recognizable, helping to build audience trust and long-term loyalty.
- Fix lighting issues
Inadequate lighting causes the background of your video to appear dull or uneven. Backgrounds that are unlit may impact your video's quality. You can almost always improve the situation by changing the background colour to After Effects.
- Create mood or tone
You can set a different mood for your video by using varying colors for the background. To achieve excitement, utilize warm tones, while subdued colors can soften the mood. The desired emotion you want the audience to feel can be easily manipulated by changing hues.
- Improve text visibility
If you're adding text to a video, it is important that it is captured clearly and is readable over the given background. Changing the color can enhance the contrast and make predicting the text easier, improving the overall viewer experience and message delivery.
- Prepare for the green screen
Green screen footage often requires background replacement to integrate seamlessly with the video. You can change the background color in After Effects to replace the green screen with a suitable backdrop. This helps create a smooth, realistic transition and better blends your subject with the scene.
How to change the background color in After Effects
Changing the background of a video in After Effects is quite simple because any user can do so for his/her video project. No matter what type of video you are making, whether it is a social media video, short film, or even a commercial, adding this functionality will help capture the attention of the audience. Here is how to change the background color in After Effects:
- STEP 1
- Import and add a video
Import your video by going to "File" > "Import" > "File", then drag it into the Timeline. This sets up your video for editing.
- STEP 2
- Open composition settings
Right-click the video and select "Composition settings" or press Ctrl + K (Windows) or Command + K (Mac). It opens the settings window where you can change the background color.
- STEP 3
- Set background color
In the "Composition settings" window, find the "Background Color" option and choose your desired color. Click "OK" to apply the background color to your video.
How to remove the green background in After Effects
Using Keylight to remove a green screen background in After Effects is effortless. It gives you the ability to get rid of the green color easily and replace it with a blank space or any background of your choice. Keylight makes it fast and easy to remove green screens regardless of whether it's a video for social media, a film, or a promotional project. Here is how to remove background color in After Effects:
- STEP 1
- Apply the keylight effect
First, go to the "Effects & Presets" panel and search for the "Keylight" effect. Drag it onto your video clip, and you'll be able to start working on the green screen removal process.
- STEP 2
- Use the color selector
In the "Keylight" panel, click the "Screen Color Selector", then employ the eye dropper tool to pick the green background color from the composition window. This will immediately remove the green screen.
- STEP 3
- Fine-tune the effect
After removing the green screen, you can fine-tune the background using the "Keylight" tool. Adjust settings like "Screen Gain" and "Screen Balance" to ensure a clean and smooth transition.
Pros and cons of changing background color in After Effects
- It provides full control over the background, enabling you to match specific themes or branding.
- Provides flexibility for quick adjustments without affecting other parts of the composition.
- Improves the visual appeal and helps focus the viewer's attention on the main content.
- Simple methods, like using solid layers, make it easy for beginners to change the background color.
- Changing the background color may not work well for dynamic scenes or moving elements.
- Bright or contrasting backgrounds might distract from the main content if not carefully chosen.
Changing the video background color more efficiently & easily: CapCut
Compared to After Effects, which often requires complex keying and layer adjustments, CapCut offers a more streamlined and beginner-friendly solution for background color changes.
The CapCut desktop video editor is a versatile tool that lets you change the background colors in your videos in a different, simple, and effective way. CapCut makes it possible for you to effortlessly perform background color alterations, even in fast-moving scenes. From quick edits for social media to more refined projects, CapCut helps you achieve professional results with ease
Key features
The CapCut desktop video editor has a range of features to boost your video editing experience. Here are some key features:
- One-click background removal
With CapCut's video background remover, you can easily eliminate backgrounds with a single click, making it perfect for quick green screen edits or creating transparent footage.
- Green screen effect
Easily replace green screen backgrounds with any image or video, perfect for creating professional-looking compositions.
- Background color customization
Customize your video's background color to match your branding or set the tone of your project, giving you full creative control.
- Apply motion blur to videos
Add motion blur to moving objects or scenes for a more realistic and cinematic look, enhancing the overall flow.
- Resize or upscale videos with AI
Use AI video resizer and upscaler to resize or upscale videos without losing quality, ideal for adapting videos to different platforms or resolutions.
How to replace or remove the background in videos with CapCut
To download and install CapCut, visit the official website by clicking the download button below. Follow the installation instructions to get it on your desktop. Once installed, you're ready to start editing and replacing backgrounds in your videos.
- STEP 1
- Import the video
To edit your video in CapCut, first import it by clicking "Import" or dragging it into the workspace. Next, move it to the timeline to start working on it.
- STEP 2
- Change the background color
Import the subject video along with the colored background and place them on two different layers. Select the subject video, go to "Remove BG," and choose either "Auto Removal" or "Chroma Key" to remove the background manually or automatically. This will make the colored background from the second layer visible. You can then apply filters to improve the appearance of your video.
- STEP 3
- Export and share
After finishing the edits, click "Export," set your preferred resolution and format, and press "Export" again to save. You can also instantly share it to TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube by using the "Share" button.
Conclusion
In summary, learning how to change background color in After Effects enhances the visual appeal of video projects. After Effects lets you change the background to fit your needs, a helpful feature for many tasks owing to the power of the software. However, for those looking for simpler and more convenient options, changing the background color is effortless on the CapCut desktop video editor.
FAQs
- 1
- How does the background color change in AE impact render times?
The change of background color in After Effects may have a slight impact on render times depending on the effect complexity and footage resolution. Higher resolutions generally require more processing power, which can lead to longer render times and may slightly affect the final output quality. However, for smooth rendering and effortless editing after background removal, use alternatives like CapCut.
- 2
- Can effects alter background color in After Effects non-destructively?
Changing the background color in After Effects is possible without destructive changes to the footage using non-destructive methods like effects and adjustment layers, preserving the original content's integrity. For straightforward and non-destructive changes involving the background, CapCut is simpler and more user friendly.
- 3
- What are some common issues with changing background color in AE?
Some of these matters are bad keying, visible color fringe or color difference in complicated arrangements. The extra work needed to resolve such issues may not be worth it due to the damage these issues can cause to enhance quality editing. If you want an easier alternative option, CapCut is perfect for a user friendly platform that lets you change the background color without hassle.
