How We Made Orbital Abstract Title Sequence

The goal was to create an atmospheric title sequence using only the built-in Adobe After Effects tools and without using any external images or footage.

Screen shot of a frame of the title sequence.
Screen shot of a frame of the title sequence.
Screen shot of a frame of the title sequence.

After some initial layout sketches were done, several scene compositions were created using just circular Shape layers.

Using Layer Styles, adding a combination of Inner Glow and Outer Glow it was possible to create a realistic, spherical look. This was then applied to all the circle shapes.

Screen shot of glow layer styles added to shape layers inside After Effects.
Layer Styles were used to add depth and glow to the ‘spheres’.

The ‘spheres’ were attached to Nulls and rotated to achieve the appearance of planets orbiting a sun.

Lens Flare, Glow and CC Lens effects were added to provide additional brightness and distortion to the sun elements.

Screen shot of an aura effect created using Lens Flare and CC Flo Motion in After Effects.
Combining Lens Flare with CC Flo Motion created a cool aura effect.

Text was added over the top. Good Headline Pro Light was chosen as an elegant, timeless typeface that sits well within the concept of a vast solar system.

CC Star Burst was used in the background of each scene to add faint stars, and an animated film grain was applied over the final sequence using Noise HLS Auto with 7% Lightness along with a flickering Exposure (wiggle (15,0.3).

End title of Orbital movie credits sequence.

The final result is an abstract, atmospheric sequence featuring planetary alignments.

Now an editable After Effects template

If you want the project file for this sequence we’ve saved it as an After Effects template on Adobe Stock.

See the template on Adobe Stock