Adobe After Effects is a complicated program that has a wide variety of motion graphics and animations.

In this tutorial, we will show you how to use the CC Pixel Polly effect. This effect takes a source image or video and shatters it into little polygons through the magic of Adobe After Effects.

This effect makes for a very visually interesting visual effect and can be implemented on almost any source layer very easily. At the end of this After Effects Tutorial, you will learn the effect and see me use it in a truly stunning motion graphic. Which is perfect for doing a logo reveal for your brand.

If you want support with making motion graphics, video production, or anything else in your digital marketing campaign, Contact Us at Bean Media Productions so we can get your brand’s strategy in place.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CC Pixel Polly

With Adobe After Effects, CC Pixel Polly is a simulation effect that divides your source image or video into several smaller polygon shapes over the duration of the effect. These shapes can be programmed with gravity, velocity, size, and other motion graphics controls. This effect can appear to shatter the source layer, creating interesting shapes based on the original image.

How to use CC Pixel Polly

In the effects panel in Adobe After Effects, the effects and presets are divided into subcategories. In the Simulation folder, you can find many interesting effects, including CC Pixel Polly. Once you find the effect, drag it onto your source layer to apply the effect to your layer. Then select the layer with CC Pixel Polly on it in your composition. Open up the effects control panel or manipulate the controls directly in the composition

How do I make CC Pixel Polly Break into Smaller or Larger pieces?

To change the size of the polygon shapes created by CC Pixel Polly in Adobe After Effects change the Grid Spacing value if you increase the grid spacing value (to a maxiumum of 250) you will have larger shapes. If you decrease the grid spacing value to a minimum of 1 your shapes will be as small as possible.

If at this point you still want to have larger or smaller shapes, consider making a seperate compostion with larger dimensions. In that composition have your CC Pixel Polly effect happen on your source layer. Then back in your main compostion you can control the scale of the pre-comp to adjust the size as needed.

How do I control the direction of the Pixel Polly shatter?

The direction of the effect is controled by using the Force Center position control. Place this position at the center of where you want your explosion to come from. then adjust the Force and Dirrection Randomness value sliders to adjust the dirrection of the shatter

Does CC Pixel Polly Work on Shape Layers?

Yes absolutley, using CC Pixel Polly on shape layers in Adobe After Effects is a very common practice and it allows you to combine animations and effects in new spectacular ways.

Does CC Pixel Polly Work on Text Layers?

Yes it does. Some text layers with specific fonts or other effects can cause CC Pixel Polly to not work. In which case, pre-compose the text layer and then apply CC Pixel Polly to the pre-comp

Does CC Pixel Polly Work on 3D Layers?

No it does not. The effect is a simulation of 3d space applied to a 2 dimensional layer. Even if you go ahead and make the 2d layer 3d you will not be able to place layers in between the effect as you would for other 3d assets.

Can you use CC Pixel Polly with Motion Blur?

Yes you can. Ensure motion blur is enabled in your Composition Settings, then enable the motion blur switch on your layer. Enabling motion blur on CC Pixel Polly can make the animation appear smoother in many cases.

What are the Best Uses for CC Pixel Polly?

In After Effects CC Pixel Polly can be used on its own or in combination with other elements to get rather impressive motion graphics. You can use the effect for title sequences or logo reveals. You can make explosions, or objects appearing to be shattered. You can have them shatter in a specific dirrection so the force looks as if it is coming from a source. CC Pixel Polly is a very powerfull effect and can be used creatively to fufill many differnt needs.