Cinematic Space Shots in After Effects – Bloom, Shake and Lens Tricks

In this video, I dive into how to create cinematic, documentary-style spacecraft shots in After Effects, inspired by Apollo 13, Europa Report, and For All Mankind.

We’ll explore camera movement, light bloom, starfield backgrounds, and lens defects. My goal is to combing lots of small tricks into make the 3D render feel real. Along the way, I’ll also share tips, failed experiments, and resources like Jarle’s handheld presets.

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Download the project file (including model) here. (Pay What You Want, including free.)

Bonus: Free step-by-step PDF:

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