If you have browsed through our videos, then you may have seen videos with black and white part appended at the end of the video. Those black and white videos can be used to create alpha matte so you can composite the animated element in your background of choice.

Here is a brief tutorial on how to do it in after effects. I will use the free video as an example.

1. Import the video into after effects, then drag and drop the video in the work area.

2. Select the video. Then place the current time indicator cursor to the middle of the timeline or the middle of the imported video.

3. Press CTRL+SHIFT+D to split the video into two separate layers. Place the black and white part in the top layer and the real animation at bottom layer.

4. Select the bottom layer and choose “Luma matte 3dtubeswirl.mov” from the TrkMat option.

Now you can composite the 3d tube swirl animation in any background.