The Wiggle Expression in After Effects is one that gets used a lot, and why not. It is really simple to use, and offers a great and inexpensive way to add natural motion, or to ad visual interest to an element. I find that when people learn to wiggle, it gets tried out everywhere — type, transformations, color…. Wait a minute though… wiggle color doesn’t work too well.
A utility plugin to bring the fun back to wiggling colors in After Effects
Wiggle Color?
Well, actually, it does work well. The problem is that wiggle is usually expressed as two numbers. A frequency (how often) and an amplitude (how much). Those two numbers don’t really transpose too well to color. Adding the expression to wiggle color does actually work, but what are you altering with the expression? Are you randomizing hue? Saturation? Brightness? RGB Values? What exactly? Wiggle color doesn’t work too well in After Effects, because it is difficult to imagine and control what you would like to do. Sure it is possible, but not without a slide-rule and and egghead, which can’t easily be found at all hours.
Color Wiggle Plugin
That is why Rowbyte Software, creators of Plexus for After Effects, has recently launched a new tool for specifically assisting in the wiggle color task. Aptly named Color Wiggle, the utility plugin for After Effects brings the fun back to wiggling colors. Really it couldn’t be easier. The plugin allows you to easily control the color that you want, with a simple and artist friendly user interface.
You can easily set colors on a gradient and get real time feedback on what the heck is happening. Also, under the premise of workflow, you can also easily link the output to other effects. If you want to wiggle color in After Effects easily, it comes at a premium. The plugin will set you back $24.99 at aescripts + aeplugins.
