Using Plugin Galaxy for AE

1. Preparing a project and applying a Plugin Galaxy plugin

Before using the plugins you have to start After Effects or Premiere, add your images, animations or videos to your project, create a new composition and drag at least one image or video object to the Time Layout / Timeline window. In After Effects select the appropriate object and select one of the 20 Plugin Galaxy items in the Plugin Galaxy sub menu of the Effect menu. In Adobe Premiere drag one of the Plugin Galaxy items from the Plugin Galaxy folder of the Video palette and drop it on a clip in the Timeline window.

2. Adjusting the settings of a Plugin Galaxy plugin in After Effects and Premiere

The Effect Controls palette in After Effects	The Effect Controls palette in Premiere

The controls and parameters of each plugin are displayed in the Effect Controls window. There are sliders whose value can be adjusted within a certain range, there are check boxes which can be activated. Some plugins have a Effect drop down menu for selecting an effect variation, a Center control for adding a coordinate in the preview window or a Color control for selecting a color or picking one from the preview window.

Here are detailed explanations of the different controls:

The left arrow of the top panel lets you hide or display the controls of this plugin. Clicking the Reset text will reset all control values to their initial state. The About button will display some information about this plugin.

If a drop down menu is present, you can use it for selecting different effects that each plugin contains.

Some plugins will allow you to set a coordinate for influencing the effect. Please notice that sometimes you have to activate one or two check boxes to take for control of the way the coordinate controls the effect. These check boxes can be named "Circular", "Angulate" or "Radiate".

Clicking the cross button will let you place a coordinate on the preview window. Clicking the right of the button will let you manually enter coordinates. In After Effects you can also change the coordinate by dragging the symbol in the preview window to your preferred position.

There are be up to eight sliders for adjusting the filter effect. You can move the slider knob with the mouse, or you can enter numerical values by clicking on the value displayed in the middle above the slider.

Some plugins have up to three check boxes to activate alternative effect variations or a preview coordinate effect or apply a color effect.

Some plugins will have such a color control, too. Clicking on the colored box will display a color selection dialog for selecting a color. Clicking on the color picker button will let you select a color from the preview window.

3a. Animating the effects by setting key frames in After Effects

Setting key frames with different effect values lets you create animations. Plugin Galaxy interpolates the value between the key frames to create smooth animated effects.

To create a key frame move the current-time marker in the Time Layout window to a point in time where you want to add a keyframe. Then hold down the Alt key and click in the Effect Controls palette on the name of the effect control you want to key frame. This will create a key frame in the Time Layout window. After that change the value of the control (you just clicked on) to create an animated effect.

Please consult the After Effects manual for more key framing possibilities.

3b. Animating the effects by setting key frames in Premiere

Setting key frames with different effect values lets you create animations. Plugin Galaxy interpolates the value between the key frames to create smooth animated effects.

To activate key framing for a plugin, you just need to click in the empty box left to the plugin name in the Effect Controls palette. A clock symbol will appear then.

To set the key frame position, click on the time ruler to position the edit line. This position will be the place for the new key frame. To produce a key frame, go back to the Effect Controls palette and adjust the controls of the plugin. After that a white handle will appear on the key frame line in the Timeline window. Dragging that handle lets you adjust the position of the key frame.