How to Animate a Sphere in After Effects

Introduction

Creating a rotating 3D sphere in After Effects is simple using the built-in CC Sphere effect. By combining gradients, rotation animation, and glow effects, you can achieve a dynamic and visually rich result. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to build and animate a glowing sphere step by step.

Step 1: Create a New Composition

Click New Composition, choose your preferred resolution and frame rate, and press OK to create your working timeline. Step 2: Create a Solid Layer

Go to Layer → New → Solid, choose any color (the color does not matter because we will apply effects), and click OK to add it to the timeline.