Unless you have been living under a rock, we all know that Adobe After Effects is the ultimate playground for motion graphics and visual effects, and if you're new to it, check out this complete guide to After Effects. This tool has literally anything you could ask for, whether you’re putting together title sequences, building smooth transitions, or animating logos, After Effects has got you covered. But let’s be real, it can also eat up your time like nobody’s business. 

Imagine spending hours tweaking keyframes or stacking layers, only to take a step back and realize you’ve barely made a dent in your project. This sounds painfully familiar, right? That’s where After Effects assets puts on its cape to save the day. These templates, plugins, and tools make your workflow easier and faster, so you can focus on the fun part, bringing your crazy and exciting ideas to life.

Some exciting things we will get into in the article are some of the best After Effects assets out there, covering everything from video templates to 3D models and visual effects. So if you’re what most people call a seasoned pro or just dipping your toes in, there’s something here to help you save time, work smarter, and create something you’re proud of, which is what all creatives are ultimately looking for.

Why Use After Effects Assets?

Assets are tools that help you work faster, and more efficiently, and create a much easier workflow in After Effects. Here’s why they’re so important :

1. Time-Saving Benefits

Why reinvent the wheel? After Effects assets let you skip the unnecessary work and dive straight into the fun stuff. Grab a pre-designed template for that slick intro or explore some of the top plugins for After Effects to create amazing effects in record time.

2. Level Up Your Creativity

Far from limiting you, assets unlock new creative possibilities. They help you brainstorm and spark fresh ideas, especially since all of us have those creative blockers now and again. Customize templates, tweak plugins, and mix assets to create something that’s uniquely yours.

3. Accessibility for All Levels

Whether you’re just getting started or are a motion graphics OG, assets make After Effects way more approachable. Beginners can use templates to jump in, while pros can cut out repetitive tasks and focus on the big picture.

Top Video Assets for After Effects

Let’s start with the bread and butter of After Effects, video assets. These tools can turn your good ideas into incredible visuals without breaking a sweat.

Templates: Your Creative Cheat Code

Why spend hours building animations from scratch when templates have already done the heavy lifting for you? Check out these top 10 After Effects templates for inspo.

#1: Motion Array’s Free Templates (Free Option)

Perfect for beginners, these templates are clean, simple, and completely customizable. From intros to title sequences, they’re great for getting started quickly.

#2: Envato Elements (Paid Option)

Envato is the all-in-one go-to for premium templates. So if you need cinematic trailers or glitch effects, this subscription service offers some crazy unlimited downloads to get your projects to a new level.

Pro Tip: Paid templates often include advanced customization features and professional support, which makes them worth the investment for those very complicated projects.

Stock Footage: The Cherry on Top

Sometimes, a well-placed clip is all you need to give your video that extra something and finish off your video.

#3: Pexels Video (Free Option)

A treasure trove of free HD stock footage, from drone shots to abstract textures, ideal for smaller projects or when you’re on a tight budget.

#4: Artgrid (Paid Option)

Artgrid has cinematic-quality clips with unlimited downloads for a subscription fee. It’s perfect for professionals looking for high-quality visuals.

Pro Tip: Use stock footage sparingly and blend it seamlessly with your project’s tone for a cohesive look, otherwise people will pick up it is all stock footage.

Best 3D Models for After Effects

3D assets add depth and dimension to your projects, taking them from average to magical.

3D Elements: Bring Your Projects to Life

#5: Turbosquid (Free Option)

Turbosquid’s free section offers a list of different 3D models. While can end up being a bit of a treasure hunt, the rewards are so worth it, from geometric shapes to detailed objects.

#6: Video Copilot’s Element 3D (Paid Option)

A must-have for serious After Effects users, this plugin lets you import and animate 3D models straight to your project. With its built-in library, creating professional 3D scenes is now so easy to do.

Pro Tip: Invest in high-quality 3D models for projects where detail and realism are so important.

Textures and Backgrounds: Add Depth and Style

#7: Poly Haven (Free Option)

Known for its 4K and 8K textures, Poly Haven’s collection is a goldmine for anyone looking to add realistic materials to their videos.

#8: Greyscalegorilla (Paid Option)

Their texture packs are legendary in the motion graphics world, giving you access to some really cool cinematic backdrops and materials that make your projects stand out from the rest.

Pro Tip: Mix textures with lighting effects to create visually striking compositions. Even basic shapes can look really cool with the right treatment.

Top Visual Effects Assets for After Effects

Visual effects bring your projects to life, adding energy, mood, and that "wow" factor. For inspo, take a look at these inspirational After Effects projects.

Particles and Effects: Add Magic to Your Motion Graphics

#9: Mister Horse’s Free Animation Composer Presets (Free Option)

From subtle sparks to fun little effects, these free presets are perfect for adding a bit of flair and character to your projects.

#10: Red Giant Trapcode Particular (Paid Option)

The king of particle effects, Trapcode Particular lets you create everything from realistic smoke to dazzling fairy dust. It’s a powerful tool for anyone serious about motion graphics.

Pro Tip: Use those particle effects sparingly for maximum impact, too much can overwhelm your composition, and always remember less is so much more nowadays.

Practical Benefits of Using After Effects Assets

Using After Effects assets really helps your efficiency by cutting out all of those unnecessarily repetitive tasks, like animating from scratch or layering effects manually. Templates and plugins save you a lot of time, helping you to focus on the creative aspects of your project and meet all those deadlines that we all so often don't think will happen.

Assets also make sure that there is consistency throughout your work, helping you keep up a cohesive style. By using similar effects, transitions, or templates, your projects look more so much polished and professional, even if they’re created under tight time constraints.

Last but definitely not least, assets help you get the professional results we all look for, no matter your experience level. High-quality tools and templates make it possible for beginners to produce polished work that looks like it came from a professional with years of experience, while still giving experts the flexibility to add their personal touch.

Tips for Choosing and Integrating After Effects Assets

Where to Find Assets

Search on your web browser:Free Resources: Motion Array, Pexels, Poly Haven. If you're exploring other tools, here are some of the best alternatives to Adobe After Effects.

Paid Platforms: Envato Elements, Video Copilot, Red Giant.

How to Import & Use Assets

1. Download and Organize: Create folders for easy access.

2. Import: Drag and drop files into After Effects or use “File > Import.”

3. Customize: Adjust colors, fonts, and effects to fit your project’s style.

Vagon Cloud Computer: A Solution for Complex Projects

When your local machine starts giving up on you, Vagon Cloud Computer steps in as the superhero you didn’t know you needed.

What is Vagon Cloud Computer?

It’s a cloud-based computing solution that provides high-performance resources for handling asset-heavy After Effects projects. Access it from any device and let it power through complex renders easier than you could have imagined.

Why Use Vagon?

• Handles resource-intensive assets without the dreadful lag that we all hate so much.

• Scalable performance for those high-end effects that you think you cannot achieve on your average machine.

• Accessible from any device, no matter what kind of specs your machine has.

Conclusion

After Effects assets are the heroes of motion graphics. From templates and plugins to 3D models and visual effects, they save time, simplify workflows, and let your creativity come through in the best ways. Whether you’re a beginner exploring free tools or a professional investing in the best premium options, these assets make your projects faster, easier, and more professional-looking.

And when your local machine struggles with asset-heavy projects, Vagon Cloud Computer is there to carry the load. So go ahead, explore these tools, level up your workflow, and create visuals that leave your audience in awe, the world of editing is yours to explore. Your masterpiece is just an asset away! 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are After Effects assets, and why should I use them?

   After Effects assets are pre-designed tools like templates, plugins, and 3D models that simplify and speed up your motion graphics workflow. They help you save time, enhance creativity, and make After Effects accessible to all skill levels.

2. Are there any free After Effects assets available?

   Yes! You can explore platforms like Motion Array for free templates, Pexels for HD stock footage, and Poly Haven for 4K and 8K textures. These resources are great for beginners and smaller projects.

3. How do I import and customize After Effects assets?

   Importing is simple—drag and drop files into After Effects or use the “File > Import” option. Customize colors, fonts, and effects to align with your project’s style, ensuring a unique and polished look.

4. What’s the difference between free and paid After Effects assets?

   Free assets are great for basic projects, offering essential features and tools. Paid assets, like those from Envato Elements or Video Copilot, provide advanced customization, professional support, and higher-quality visuals, making them ideal for complex or professional projects.