You’ve probably heard of Photoshop, the program that allows users to edit photos in a variety of ways. Well, the “After Effect” for video editing is a similar program, and it, too, can be used to edit and improve videos and film projects.
Both programs allow users to adjust lighting, color, and overall image quality in a variety of ways, but what is the difference between them? Let’s take a quick look.
Features
Photoshop is a 32-bit application, which means users can have 4GB of their own memory storage added to the computer on which the software runs. 32-bit applications also have a faster performance rate since they can address more memory.
The After Effect, however, is a much smaller application – only about 1.44MB – which means fewer users can have the software on their computers. Despite this, After Effect offers a variety of features that Photoshop doesn’t, including the ability to create animated GIFs and perform screen captures.
Also, although Photoshop is free, you will need to pay for the After Effect program once you register your copy with Adobe (the company that created the program).
Cost
Photoshop is a bit more expensive than After Effect since it comes with a lot more features. However, given that only a small portion of the software’s users are actually graphic designers who need the extra features, it’s not difficult to justify the cost. On the other hand, any video editor will find After Effect’s price very affordable.
Interface
The default interface of After Effect is very similar to Photoshop’s since they are both built by the same company. Still, there are a few noticeable differences. First, you will find the “Luminance” and “Chroma” meters at the top of the screen, which show the current levels of brightness and color in the image, respectively. These meters can be easily accessed by clicking on the small box in the top right corner of the screen.
The main difference, however, is in the undo button. While in Photoshop, you can either press the Ctrl key or click the “Undo” button to go back one step in the editing process, in After Effect you will only be able to go back a few steps before you reach the limit of the program’s memory. The good thing is you will always be able to use the “Undo” button to go back to a previous state, which is not the case with Photoshop.
Usability
Photoshop is easy to use and has a very intuitive interface. Even someone with no previous knowledge of Photoshop can learn how to use it in just a few minutes and start editing photos immediately. This is in stark contrast to After Effect, which, as we mentioned, is a bit more expensive and, therefore, probably more difficult to use without any training, especially for those who are not used to working with video editing programs.
Where Do I Start?
It’s a good idea to start with Photoshop since it will allow you to edit photos and can be easily accessed via the Internet. Once you have some basic knowledge about editing photos in Photoshop, you can take your skills to the next level and try out After Effect, which can be a great tool for those who already have some experience in video editing.
Final Words
Both Photoshop and After Effect are great software for editing photos and videos. Each one has its perks and quirks, so if you’re looking for a program that can handle both tasks with ease, it’s definitely worth checking out.