I came up with this effect using Trapcode’s Particular with a simple custom particle used in a slightly unconventional way. Simple effect and one of the start of the Particular season i’m running here at rhys-works.com, so check it out. Join discussion...

according to trapcode website: "Horizon is a camera-aware color gradient and image mapping tool. It is a fairly straightforward utility plug-in. It is meant to be used on the bottom (backmost) layer in a 3D comp. It generates a background that corresponds to the camera's viewing direction. Trapcode Horizon is useful for creating the stuff that is really far away (at infinate distance) in a 3D comp. It can be used for example when a 3D camera move leaves the viewer confused; Horizon can help generating a background that corresponds to the camera move and thus help the viewer understand what is actually going on. Or it can be used just for fun! Trapcode Horizon is a great companion to the other 3D plugs from Trapcode, such as Particular and Form etc. Hosts Adobe After Effects 7.0 and higher (Mac OSX/Windows)" Thanks Hosein for mentioning it here http://aftereffects.corank.com/tech/story/how-to-create-a-flock-of-Birds-with-Af Join discussion...

This tutorial utilizes Trapcodes Particular, which is one of After Effects more popular 3rd party plugins. Creating an animation like a flock of birds is very versatile and is a great filler animation which can add a lot of style to a piece. You can also adapt this technique to create other flying creatures…. perhaps a flying skull with flapping wings? Join discussion...