Learn how to create dramatic broken glass effects in After Effects using AEJuice tools for cinematic and impactful visuals.

Applying Broken Glass Effects in Adobe After Effects

Introduction to Broken Glass Effects for Cinematic Impact

Creating a broken glass effect can instantly add drama and realism to your motion graphics or video edit. With AEJuice Broken Glass Pack, you don’t need to animate fragments manually — everything comes ready to use. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to apply and customize broken glass overlays in After Effects with just a few simple steps.

Step 1: Create a New Composition

Start by creating a new composition in After Effects. This will serve as your main timeline where you’ll build and preview the broken glass effect. Set the resolution, duration, and frame rate to match your project settings. Step 2: Open AEJuice Pack Manager

Go to Window > AEJuice Pack Manager 4 to open the AEJuice plugin panel. This is your main hub to access and apply all AEJuice packs, including Broken Glass.

Step 3: Download the Broken Glass Pack

Inside the Pack Manager, locate the Broken Glass pack. If you haven’t downloaded it yet, click on it and wait for the installation to complete. Once it’s ready, you’ll be able to preview all included glass effect options.Step 4: Choose and Import an Effect

Browse through the available effects in the pack. Choose one that fits your scene — for example, Glass Parallax 11 and press Import to add it to your composition.Step 5: Customize the Effect

Select the pre-comp layer (such as Glass Parallax 11) in the timeline. In the AEJuice Pack Manager, click the Edit button (three sliders icon). This opens a customization panel where you can:

Click Choose File to replace the placeholder footage with your own.
Adjust position, opacity, and chromatic aberration strength.

These settings help you blend the effect naturally with your footage.

Step 6 (Optional): Add Text

If you want to overlay text without distortion, simply place your text layer above the broken glass pre-comp in the main timeline.

If you want the text to be affected by the glass effect, double-click the pre-comp to open it, then find and double-click the placeholder comp inside. Create your text layer above the footage layer within the placeholder. This way, the glass effect will distort and refract your text as well.

Step 7: Preview and Final Touches

Hit the Spacebar to preview your animation. Tweak layer opacity, blending mode, or timing if needed. Consider adding sound effects or blur to make the broken glass feel more cinematic.

Conclusion

Broken glass effects are a powerful way to create visual tension or dramatic transitions. With AEJuice’s Broken Glass pack, you can achieve this look quickly and customize it to fit your creative vision. Whether you’re making a trailer, intro, or title reveal — these overlays add instant impact.