Alternative to MAXON Red Giant - because who wants to pay $600/yr for it?
Use the Preset pop-up to quickly cycle through different styles (e.g., Soft Glow , Star Prism ).
Import your footage or text layer into After Effects and select Effect > Trapcode > Starglow .
Trapcode Starglow is frequently used in high-end production environments, including Discovery Channel programming and commercials for brands like Toyota. Typical applications include:
If no glow is visible initially, go to the Pre-Process group and lower the Threshold until the highlights begin to bleed.
is a specialized visual effects plugin developed by Trapcode (now part of Maxon’s Red Giant ) used to generate stylized, star-shaped glow effects for motion graphics and video footage. It is primarily integrated into Adobe After Effects , though it also supports Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve . Key Features and Capabilities
Enhancing 3D objects by giving their specular highlights a more cinematic, stylized appearance. How to Use Trapcode Starglow (Quick Start)
Simulating reflections on water, the glint off a diamond, or the flares of streetlights.