Realistic 3D Spinning Earth in Adobe After Effects

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Realistic 3D Spinning Earth:

Step 1: Setting Up the Composition

1. Open Adobe After Effects.
2. Create a new composition named “3D Earth Animation.”
3. Set the resolution to 1920×1080 Pixels, frame rate to 30 frames per second, and duration to 10 seconds.

Step 2: Adding Earth Texture and Stars Background

1. Go to File Menu > Import > Import the Earth Texture and Stars Background.
2. Drag the Star’s background to the “3D Earth” composition.
3. Drag the Earth texture above the background layer.
4. Search for “CC Sphere” in Effects & Presets and apply it to the Earth texture layer.

Step 3: Rotating the Earth

1. Ensure you’re at the first frame.
2. Go to CC Sphere Rotation and add a keyframe on Rotation Y.
3. Go to the last frame and change the Rotation Y value for a full rotation.

Step 4: Creating Animated Stars Background

1. Select the star’s background layer.
2. Search for “Motion Tile” in Effects & Presets and apply it to the stars layer.
3. Add a keyframe on Tile Center.
4. Go to the last frame and change the Tile Center value to negative numbers.

Step 5: Adding Outer Glow to Earth

1. Select the Earth texture layer.
2. Right-click and go to Layer Styles > Outer Glow.
3. Adjust Outer Glow settings: Opacity: 50%, Glow color: Light blue (#00B4FF), Size: 100.

Step 6: Adding Inner Glow to Earth

1. Right-click the Earth layer.
2. Go to Layer Styles > Inner Glow.
3. Adjust Inner Glow settings: Glow color: Light blue, Size: 80.

Step 7: Adding Realistic Clouds

1. Go to File Menu > Import > Import the Earth Clouds Image.
2. Drag and drop the clouds’ image above the Earth layer.

Step 8: Creating Clouds with 3D Effect

1. Select the Earth texture layer.
2. Go to Effect Controls, select the CC Sphere effect, and copy it (Control+C).
3. Select the Earth clouds layer and paste the effect (Control+V).
4. Click the Toggle Switches button and change Layer Blending Mode to “Add.”
5. Press T to open opacity properties and reduce the opacity to 50%.

Final Step: Completing the Animation

Congratulations! You’ve successfully created a professional 3D spinning Earth animation in Adobe After Effects.