• Joined: March 28, 2014

Topic: Free Video Compositor?

So, I'm looking for a free alternative to After Effects. It doesn't have to be full featured with 3D and stuff, but I am looking for something that I can make set extensions, good green screen, masking, motion tracking, etc. I haven't had any luck finding anything at all. Either it hasn't been updated since 2005, can't find a download link or doesn't have a website, or it costs a huge amount of money. Does anyone know a free (or even a fairly priced) video compositor?

Thanks!

-rioforce

EDIT: It might also be useful to say that I use Windows.

Last edited by rioforce (September 30, 2014 (02:07pm))

YouTube • Website
https://bricksafe.com/files/rioforce/internet-images/RioforceBiMSig.png
"Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31b

rioforce's Website

  • Joined: October 29, 2012

Re: Free Video Compositor?

How about Virtual Dub?

  • Joined: March 28, 2014

Re: Free Video Compositor?

VirtualDub isn't a compositor. It's a video editor. I'm looking for a compositor similar to After Effects. Thanks anyway. mini/wink

YouTube • Website
https://bricksafe.com/files/rioforce/internet-images/RioforceBiMSig.png
"Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31b

rioforce's Website

  • AnW
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Joined: July 17, 2011

Re: Free Video Compositor?

Well, it has a learning curve and isn't really that similar to AE in form, but Blender can do everything you want (and much more). Blender is primarily known as a 3d program, but honestly, it can edit, composite, track, etc just about as well without ever having to touch the 3d part of it. From what I have seen, it isn't quite as slick as AE for many things (not to say it can't do them), but you can't beat the price.

Just as a reference (and as a shameless plug mini/wink ), you can check out my brother's and mine channel to see what we have done with it: Legendary Brick Studio. Every movie we have made has been done completely in Blender (Editing, sound, VFX, final render, etc).

If you are curious to know more, have questions, etc, don't hesitate to ask me. There is a 99% chance I'll be able to answer without even having to think very hard mini/lol .  I've been using Blender for awhile...

  • Joined: March 28, 2014

Re: Free Video Compositor?

Thanks for the tip, AnW. I actually used Blender extensively in 2013 (almost to the point I was addicted to it! mini/tongue ). However, I have always had trouble with the 2D effects aspect of it. So that's why I was looking for other programs. I did a lot of searching today, and tried a few programs, but nothing really works well. Maybe I'll go back to Blender and do some more learning with it. By the way, I really like the effects you do in your brother's films. I'll have to check out your films tomorrow, I'm sure they're great too. mini/smile

YouTube • Website
https://bricksafe.com/files/rioforce/internet-images/RioforceBiMSig.png
"Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31b

rioforce's Website

  • Location: Cali
  • Joined: January 8, 2013

Re: Free Video Compositor?

Have you tried using sony vegas movie studio 11 or 12. They have greenscreen and some other useful effects. You can edit,and key frame effects. Plus you can upload straight to youtube from sony vegas. I have sony vegas 11 and its very useful.

Real Love is Sacrifice, a choice to Love others more then yourself and to put their needs before yours.
  • Location: watching brickfilms
  • Joined: May 7, 2012

Re: Free Video Compositor?

rafael9522 wrote:

Have you tried using sony vegas movie studio 11 or 12. They have greenscreen and some other useful effects. You can edit,and key frame effects. Plus you can upload straight to youtube from sony vegas. I have sony vegas 11 and its very useful.

That's noet free. It is also an editor not an effects compositor.

YouTube | flickr | Light Flicker Removal
BiM Celebration 9th Place | Archival Project

END films's Website

  • Joined: March 28, 2014

Re: Free Video Compositor?

rafael9522 wrote:

Have you tried using sony vegas movie studio 11 or 12. They have greenscreen and some other useful effects. You can edit,and key frame effects. Plus you can upload straight to youtube from sony vegas. I have sony vegas 11 and its very useful.

Yes, I use Sony Movie Studio 12 Platnum for all of my video editing, and the green screen is very useful, but like END Films said, it's not a compositor, it's a non-linear editor. Thanks for the help anyway. mini/wink

YouTube • Website
https://bricksafe.com/files/rioforce/internet-images/RioforceBiMSig.png
"Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31b

rioforce's Website

  • Location: New Jersey
  • Joined: March 22, 2012

Re: Free Video Compositor?

This may be better in the "Hardware & Software" section.

https://vimeo.com/channels/holdingourown      http://holding-our-own.tumblr.com

"None practice tolerance less frequently than those who most loudly preach it."

HoldingOurOwn's Website

  • Joined: December 26, 2008

Re: Free Video Compositor?

Blender should be able to do whatever you need to have done. You shouldn't face too many problems once you take the time to really get familiar with the program and all its features.

"[It] was the theme song for the movie 2010 first contact." ~ A YouTuber on Also Sprach Zarathustra
CGI LEGO! Updated occasionally...

Littlebrick's Website

  • Joined: March 28, 2014

Re: Free Video Compositor?

Thanks for all the help guys! I have decided to stick with Blender. But if you have any more suggestions, just throw them out there. mini/wink

YouTube • Website
https://bricksafe.com/files/rioforce/internet-images/RioforceBiMSig.png
"Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31b

rioforce's Website

  • Joined: August 14, 2010

Re: Free Video Compositor?

HoldingOurOwn wrote:

This may be better in the "Hardware & Software" section.

Done and done. mini/smile

rioforce wrote:

I'm looking for a compositor similar to After Effects...

Personally, I've gotten fed up with video compositors, and, usually opt to just do the majority of my effects in GIMP the old fashioned way - frame by frame. It's how the lightsabers were originally created in Star Wars (not in GIMP, but, still frame by frame), and, it allows for so much more intricate and complex editing. For example, chroma keying can be done so much more precisely and accurately if you zoom in and edit every frame. Makes me feel like a traditional 2d animator a bit. mini/smile

However, I can understand that not many have the time to do this sort of thing - it really does make editing, especially in a large batch of frames back to back, more time consuming than it took in originally taking the pictures in the first place!

I guess it's just a question of time over quality. If your films aren't 4k, and won't be projected or watched on a large screen (even like a television), then, sure, a compositor is a perfect way to get a great end product in little time. But, if you are a bit (or a lot) of a perfectionist, then, frame by frame is the way to go - whether you're editing in GIMP, Photoshop, After Effects, Windows Movie Maker, or Microsoft Paint...

If there's a will, there's a way! mini/smile

https://i.imgur.com/Z8VtGae.png