What you'll learn

In this series of After Effects tutorials, we learn how to add depth to a 2D image using masking, camera, and compositing tricks. We will start by discussing what kinds of images are best to use for shots like this and then we discuss how to decide where we are going to break our image apart. After masking our layers to split them up, we give them some Z-depth and animate a camera to bring our scene to life. From there, we add elements like birds and particles that add to our depth and help sell realism in our scene. By the end of the training, we will have gone from a completely still image to a scene that feels alive. Software required: After Effects CS6.