The opening sequence of a video is one of the most important parts of the production. It’s the first thing viewers see and can set the tone for the video content. A well-designed introduction or opener can capture the viewer’s attention and keep them engaged throughout the rest of the video.
Creating an opener from scratch can be difficult and time-consuming, especially if you’re unfamiliar with After Effects or on a tight deadline. Thankfully, many free, pre-designed templates and presets are available to help you create a professional intro or opener in a snap.
This collection includes some of the best free After Effects opener templates. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, these free AE templates are an excellent resource for creating engaging openers for your videos.
The free video templates come in various styles, themes, and designs, ranging from simple and minimalistic to complex and intricate, so choose the one that best suits your project’s aesthetic.
If you would like to learn some new skills in After Effects, you might like to take a look at our collection of tutorials.
How to Import After Effects Templates
With these eight simple steps, you can easily import and use templates in After Effects to create stunning visual effects for your videos.
- Open After Effects and create a new project.
- Go to
Fileand thenImportand navigate to the template file that you want to use. - After selecting the file, click
Opento import the template into your project. - Once the template has been imported, it will appear in the Project panel on the left side of the screen.
- Double-click on the template in the Project panel to open it in the Composition panel.
- Customize the template using the various layers and controls available.
- When you’re finished customizing the template, go to
Composition>Add to Render Queueto prepare it for rendering. - In the Render Queue panel, select your desired output settings and click
Renderto export your video with the template applied.
The Multiscreen Spotlight template displays multiple video or photo panels arranged in a grid layout with animated transitions and glowing spotlight effects. You can edit the text, change the media placeholders, and adjust the colors. It is compatible with After Effects CC and above.
Free to Download
This free After Effects template uses rapid animation and bright motion graphics to create a dynamic opener for any video. The template includes 12 media and 12 editable text placeholders. It’s perfect for music videos or urban-themed projects.
This creative and colorful opener template is perfect for travel, fashion, or kid’s brand. This opener is a great way to create simple video or photo slideshows, showreels, corporate presentations, or a family album.
Free to Download
This classic YouTube opener can be used in business and corporate projects. It comes with full-color control, and you can easily change the text and other elements to make it your own.
Check out this Glitch Media opener template for any grunge or retro-style video project you may be working on. The template includes a detailed help file, animated fonts, and complete color control, making it easy to customize the color schemes.
This versatile mosaic opener template can be used in various projects and industries. It features a unique mosaic design, and you can easily add your own text and adjust the colors.
This After Effects opener has a playful hand-drawn look with doodle textures and comic-style speech bubbles. It includes six editable text placeholders, one logo slot, and an editable photo cut-out. It is ideal for social media clips, creative presentations, or even talk-show intros.
Free to Download
This After Effects opener uses bold text, smooth animation, and bright transitions to create a fresh news-style intro. The template is easy to edit with text and media placeholders. Replace the footage, update the titles, and render, and your intro will be ready.
Free to Download
This slideshow-style opener template uses clean transitions, a simple layout, and subtle motion to present your photos or video clips. Just swap the placeholders with your media, edit the text and colors, then render. It is compatible with After Effects 2022 and above.
Free to Download
The Boiled Down opener template makes things bold and fast. It has six media placeholders, one logo slot at the end, and 17 text-replaceable comps. The resolution is 4K, and it is compatible with After Effects 2020 and above.
Free to Download
This free 4K opener template provides a rapid editing setup for Adobe After Effects. It supports multiple aspect ratios (horizontal, vertical, and square). Use the horizontal format for YouTube, the vertical format for social media, and the square format for posts.
Free to Download
This modern intro template features bold typography and a bright neon color scheme as a starting point and then produces a stunning 3D text effect that’s smothered in smoke. This template would be perfect for a business that caters to a younger audience.
This is another opener template that would work well for a company that advertises to a young crowd. It features a dynamic and fast animation style. It comes with 16 image or video placeholders and six text placeholders.
Free to Download
This free After Effects template includes eight scenes and a logo reveal, making it ideal for promoting digital products or online services. It includes 45 text placeholders, 12 media placeholders, and a logo placeholder, along with color controllers for quick customization.
Free to Download
If you’re looking for a stylish and elegant opener, look no further than this parallax opener. The template includes a stunning parallax animation with eight editable text layers, eight photo or video placeholders, and one logo placeholder.
Try this template if you’re looking for a modern opener. It features a fast-paced animation in a slideshow style. You can easily change the colors and fonts, add your own elements, and render the project.
This free opener template, as the name suggests, offers overly large bold text, with some lovely clip transitions. It would be perfect as the opener or intro of any travel or vacation-related video.
Free to Download
This free Retro Wave Intro template is perfect for any vintage or retro project. The template has a colorful design, two editable text layers, one logo placeholder, and a full-color controller.
This elegant intro template can be used in corporate-style videos, weddings, or fashion projects. It includes eight text and image placeholders.
Free to Download
If you need something simple to quickly create a video opener, this is the free After Effects intro template you need. The template is as simple as possible, and you can easily customize colors and add your chosen text.
If you’re a fan of the cyberpunk style, don’t miss this Cyberpunk Intro. This is an excellent choice if you want to have a cinematic look in your videos, and it would also be an ideal fit for a tech company.
Free to Download
Looking for a sleek and edgy way to introduce your video? Check out this glitch template for After Effects. The best part is that no plugins are required – simply edit and render. Even if you’re new to After Effects, you’ll find this glitch intro template easy to customize to your needs.
The Modern Intro template features a bold and modern design. The template includes several styles, and you can easily customize the text, colors, and other elements used in the introduction.
Free to Download
Use this dynamic opener to engage your Instagram or YouTube following and stand out in their feed. The template comes with 27 image and video placeholders, 20 editable text layers, and one logo placeholder.
Free to Download
This free intro template features bold titles and duotone colors. You will get five image or video placeholders, four text placeholders, one logo placeholder, and a custom color controller.
This cute intro is an excellent choice if you’re a photographer working on a video presentation of your work or trying to create a personal video presentation. Drop in your photos, change the colors, and you’re good to go.
If you need a creative and unique way to present your design client work or portfolio, try this modern website presentation template. You can also use it to showcase your website templates or CMS themes.
Free to Download
This free After Effects intro template comes with 15 different image placeholders and can be used for corporate videos or any video that promotes a fashion or a jewelry brand.
Free to Download
This free After Effects template displays your logo with a touch of elegance. The animation starts by drawing the outline of your logo and gradually revealing the full design, creating a captivating effect. The simplicity of the animation adds to its beauty, making it a perfect choice for anyone looking for a refined and polished way to showcase their brand.
Free to Download
This bright and clean After Effects intro template has seven media and seven text placeholders. It features an elegant animation perfect for corporate or business video projects.
Intro & Opener After Effects Template FAQs
- What are Intro & Opener Templates?They’re pre-made animations used to create engaging opening sequences for videos in After Effects.
- Can Beginners Use These Intro and Opener Templates?Yes, beginners can use these templates. They are user-friendly and designed for easy customization, even for those with basic After Effects skills.
- How Do I Customize an Intro or Opener Template in After Effects?Customization typically involves replacing placeholder text and images with your own and adjusting colors or other elements as needed.
- Can I Add My Music to an Intro or Opener Template?You can add your music or sound effects to personalize the intro or opener to match the tone of your video.
- What’s the Ideal Length for an Intro or Opener?The ideal length varies, but it’s generally best to keep intros and openers short, typically between 5 to 15 seconds.
- Can I Use These Templates for Both Personal and Commercial Projects?Many free templates are available for both personal and commercial use, but always check the specific licensing terms provided with the template.
- What File Formats Can I Export My Intros and Openers In?You can export your intros and openers in various formats, including MP4, MOV, and AVI, depending on where your video will be displayed or hosted.
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