This tutorial shows two simple ways to create a countdown timer in After Effects, depending on how much control or flexibility you need. Countdown timers come up a lot in promos, social content, presentations, and event screens, and they don’t need to be complicated.
Rather than relying on heavy expressions or templates, this focuses on clear, easy-to-understand methods that you can quickly adapt for different projects.
You’ll learn how to:
Create a countdown timer using basic keyframes
Build a more flexible timer using expressions
Control timing, formatting, and duration
Choose the right method for your project
Both approaches are straightforward and practical, giving you options without locking you into a single setup.
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