Motion Blur
Add realistic motion blur to fast-moving layers. Enable per-layer or globally in Composition Settings.
Animation
Shortcut: F5 (Toggle Layer Motion Blur)Intermediate7 min readQuick Reference
Motion Blur
Adobe After EffectsKeyboard Shortcut
F5key
Where to Find
Enable Motion Blur per layer by clicking the Motion Blur checkbox (looks like three overlapping circles) in the Timeline
Best Used For
- ▸Adding realism to fast-moving animations
- ▸Creating cinematic motion effects
- ▸Smoothing out keyframe animations
- ▸Simulating camera-like motion trails
Intermediate⏱ 1-2 hours to master
Key Settings
Shutter Angle: 180° (default)Samples: Quality vs. speedGlobal Toggle: Master switch
Motion Blur adds cinematic realism to your animations. Without it, fast-moving objects appear stroboscopic and unnatural. With Motion Blur enabled, movement becomes smooth and film-like, dramatically improving the professional quality of your motion graphics.
Where to Find
Enable Motion Blur per layer by clicking the Motion Blur checkbox (looks like three overlapping circles) in the Timeline. Enable it globally by clicking the master Motion Blur switch at the top of the Timeline panel.
How to Use
- Per Layer: Click the Motion Blur checkbox for each layer you want blurred
- Global Switch: Toggle the master Motion Blur button to enable/disable for all layers
- Samples: Adjust sample count in Composition Settings for quality vs. performance
- Shutter Angle: Higher angles (360) = more blur, lower (180) = less blur
Pro Tips
- Use a shutter angle of 180 degrees for natural-looking motion blur
- Increase sample count for smoother blur at the cost of render time
- Disable Motion Blur during editing for better performance, enable for final renders
- Use pixel motion blur for frame blending on time-remapped layers