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liberty_7405
liberty_7405
Participating Frequently
September 12, 2026
Answered

Trying to create this inner glow/concentric copies in after effects

  • September 12, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 70 views

Hi, really hoping someone can help me. Spent the last 4 hours trying every tutorial I can find on this and absolutely zero progress, pretty much given up.

Essentially I want to create just the shape in the middle and ‘ripple’ out concentric copies so I end up with the full set of offsets. 

Ideally I want the shapes to be no fill/stroke but with a darker inner glow/shadow. The original shape is in Illustrator (although the image is created in Photoshop. Am assuming the best way is to create the glow/shadow effect in After Effects around the shape of the path?

Everytime I try I can’t get a glow without a fill or stroke which ruins the effect.

Has anyone got any suggestions?  I’m pretty new with AE although used Illustrator/Photoshop/InDesign for decades.

Start frame – still struggling to create this in AE (this is a PSD file just to show what I’m trying to achieve)
Ideal End Frame

 

    Correct answer Towerguy

    Hi. Couple of methods which might help. This Tut creates a series of strokes which have similar morphing shapes to the ones you show: VIDEO COPILOT | After Effects Tutorials, Plug-ins and Stock Footage for Post Production Professionals

    Create your shape as a shape then either -

    Layer/ Layer Styles/ Inner Glow

    or

    Layer/ Layer Styles/ Bevel and Emboss/ Style - Pillow Emboss/ Highlight and Shadow Colors the same/ Highlight Mode - Normal

    Trust that might give you a direction to move in or at least some ideas.

    4 replies

    TowerguyCorrect answer
    Participating Frequently
    September 13, 2026

    Hi. Couple of methods which might help. This Tut creates a series of strokes which have similar morphing shapes to the ones you show: VIDEO COPILOT | After Effects Tutorials, Plug-ins and Stock Footage for Post Production Professionals

    Create your shape as a shape then either -

    Layer/ Layer Styles/ Inner Glow

    or

    Layer/ Layer Styles/ Bevel and Emboss/ Style - Pillow Emboss/ Highlight and Shadow Colors the same/ Highlight Mode - Normal

    Trust that might give you a direction to move in or at least some ideas.

      liberty_7405
      liberty_7405Author
      Participating Frequently
      September 14, 2026

      Thanks really appreciate it. Will definitely check that out. Found a new tutorial and got that to work on a solid shape to get the offset paths part down. Assume with your link/ideas I can get the effect and combine.

      Problem seem to be if the shape has no fill/stroke that the inner glows don’t show. Am wondering if I make the fill white and use multiply it might work.

      Will let you know how I get on, again thanks for the help/

        ShiveringCactus
        Community Expert
        ShiveringCactusCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        September 13, 2026

        Take a look at the radio waves effect.  I think that might get you what you’re after.

          liberty_7405
          liberty_7405Author
          Participating Frequently
          September 13, 2026

          Thanks for the reply, appreciate it.  I tried that and it didn’t work from a few tutorials. I have a feeling it’s because of how I created the original graphic.

          I think the first problem is actually getting to create the top image in AE using a path. I can’t get the shape to have a fill/stroke of ‘none’ but still have that inner shadow effect. 

          Do yiou have any suggestions on how I might create that please?

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