Paper Rip Transition in After Effects - Free Video Tutorial and Guide

Looking to create your own ripping paper screen wipe? This tutorial offers step-by-step instructions, including how to properly use tools like the Pen and the Mask settings.

Key Insights

The tutorial starts with the proper placement of the paper texture in the layer stack and the use of the Pen tool to Mask half of the paper layer, creating a ripped look.
Next, it guides the user through the process of duplicating the paper layer and inverting its Mask setting. These layers are then renamed as 'Paper Top' and 'Paper Bottom'.
The animation process involves selecting the 'Paper Bottom', setting keyframes using Position and Rotation, and adjusting these settings at specific playhead points. The same process is repeated for the 'Paper Top' layer.
To apply the transition, both paper layers are pre-comped and trimmed so that only the animation shows. The user then places this precomp over a jump cut in the footage.
The tutorial explains how to split and duplicate the footage layer, and how to set the second half of the footage to Track Matte.
Finally, the tutorial details how to duplicate the paper rip precomp, rename it to 'Paper Rip Edge', and apply a Mesh Warp effect to make it look slightly different from the original precomp. The 'Paper Rip Edge' is then positioned underneath the second half of the footage layer.

Want to make your own ripping paper screen wipe? Learn how in this tutorial from Noble Desktop!

Masks

Place the paper texture into the layer stack.
Use the Pen tool to Mask half of the paper layer, giving the border a ragged, ripped look.
Duplicate the paper layer.
In Mask settings, change the duplicate’s Mask to Inverse.
Rename the two paper layers to “Paper Top” and “Paper Bottom.”

Animation

Select Paper Bottom.
Hit P and Shift-R to open up Position and Rotation.
At the origin, hit the stopwatch on both to set a keyframe.
Now, move the Playhead over to 0:00:00:10.
Change Rotation to +9.
Slide the Playhead to 0:00:01:00.
Set Position to 560, 970.
Select Paper Top.
Like before, open up Position and Rotation on Paper Top.
With the Playhead back at the origin, click the stopwatch on both properties to set a keyframe.
Move the Playhead over to 0:00:00:12.
Set Rotation to -6.
Finally, move the Playhead over to 0:00:01:02.
Change Position to 560, -410.
Select all of the keyframes.
Right-click on any keyframe, and head to Keyframe Assistant > Easy Ease.

Applying the Transition

Precomp both Paper layers.
Name the Precomp “Paper Rip Precomp.”
Back in the Main Comp, trim the Paper Rip Precomp layer so just the animation is showing.
Place the Paper Rip Precomp right over where the jump cut in the footage occurs.
Select the first footage layer, Screen A.
Hit Cmnd-Shift-D (Mac) / Ctrl-Shift-D (PC) to split and duplicate the footage layer.
Select the second half of the footage layer.
Set the second half of the footage to Track Matte. If the option isn’t visible, hit Toggle Switches/ Modes at the bottom of the layer stack.

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Final Details

Select the Paper Rip Precomp.
Hit Cmnd-D (Mac) / Ctrl-D (PC) to duplicate it.
Rename the duplicate to Paper Rip Edge.
In Effects and Presets, type in Mesh Warp.
Apply Mesh Warp to Paper Rip Edge.
Manipulate the mesh to make Paper Rip Edge look slightly different from Paper Rip Precomp.
Position Paper Rip Edge underneath the second half of the footage layer.
Line up Paper Rip Edge, so it starts one frame after Paper Rip Precomp does.

Tziporah Zions

Tziporah Zions is a motion graphics artist, educator, illustrator, and bird enthusiast hailing from NYC. A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology with an AAS in Communication Design and a BFA in Computer Animation and Interactive Design, with over a decade of teaching experience. Her works specialize in education and scientific outreach, with a love for narrative storytelling and a talent for making difficult concepts accessible. Tziporah is a believer in finding the fun in your work, daily practice no matter how small, and that a clean desk space is a relaxed head space.

Animation

Applying the Transition

Final Details

Tziporah Zions

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