1. Set Up the Project

1. Open Adobe After Effects and create a new project.
2. Import the video you want to work on: go to File > Import > File and select your video.
3. Drag the video onto the timeline to create a new composition. The composition should automatically match the dimensions and duration of your video.

2. Track the Movement of the Eyes

1. Select the video layer in the timeline.
2. Go to Window > Tracker to open the tracking panel.
3. In the Tracker panel, select Track Motion. This allows you to track the movement of a specific part of the video.
4. In the preview window, you’ll see a rectangle with a tracking point. Place this point over one of the subject’s eyes.
5. Make sure to adjust the larger rectangle to include a good portion of the eye and that it’s well-centered for accurate tracking.
6. Start tracking by clicking Play (or the button to step forward frame by frame). After Effects will analyze the video and follow the eye’s movement.

Note: If the subject moves a lot, you may need to manually adjust the tracking in some frames. To do this, click on the tracking point and move it to the correct position.

7. Repeat the tracking for the second eye by creating a second tracking point. To do this, you can duplicate the layer and repeat the process for the other eye, or create a new tracking point on the same layer.

3. Create the Artificial Eyes

1. Create a new shape layer to simulate the effect of artificial eyes.
   • Go to Layer > New > Shape Layer.
   • Using the Ellipse Tool, draw a circle over the tracked eye.
   • Change the color of the circle to red (or any color you want for the effect).
2. Add a blur effect to the circle for soft edges.
   • Select the circle, then go to Effect > Blur & Sharpen > Gaussian Blur.
   • Increase the blur until the edge appears soft.
3. Duplicate the shape layer and position it over the other eye, adjusting the size and position as needed.
   

4. Apply Tracking to the Artificial Eyes

1. Select the first shape layer (the artificial eye for the first eye).
2. Go to Edit > Copy to copy the tracking data from the first eye tracking point.
3. Apply the tracking data to the shape layer: select the artificial eye layer and go to Edit > Paste to paste the motion data. The artificial eye should now follow the movement of the first eye.
4. Repeat the process for the second eye, copying and pasting the tracking data to the second shape layer.

5. Add a Glow Effect

1. With the shape layer (artificial eye) selected, go to Effect > Stylize > Glow to add a glow effect.
2. Adjust the Glow settings to get the desired effect:effetto desiderato:
   • Glow Radius: increase the value for a wider effect.
   • Glow Intensity: adjust the intensity to make the color stand out.
   • Glow Colors: choose the colors of the glow for the desired visual effect.

Tip: If the effect doesn’t look realistic, try duplicating the glow layer and experimenting with different intensities and sizes to add depth to the effect.

6. Synchronize Movement for Greater Realism

1. If the subject moves closer or further from the camera, you may want to adjust the scale of the artificial eyes over time.
2. Go to Transform > Scale for each shape layer and add keyframes to adjust the eye size according to the subject’s distance from the camera.

7. Refine the Animation with Masks

1. If necessary, you can apply a mask to refine the edges of the effect.
   • Select the shape layer and use the Pen Tool to draw a mask around the eyes.
   • Adjust the Feather of the mask for a smoother transition.

8. Final Check and Export

1. Play the composition from the beginning to ensure the artificial eyes effect is well-synchronized with the subject’s movement.
2. When you’re happy with the result, export the video.
   • Go to File > Export > Add to Render Queue.
   • Choose your export settings and click Render to export the final video.

Additional Tips for Advanced Effects

• Add Colored Contact Lenses: If you want to change the eye color completely (e.g., to bright green or blue eyes), you can create colored shapes without a glow and apply them over the eyes.
• Particle Effects: Add small particle or glow effects to make the eye effect even more “magical.”
• Blend Modes: Try different blend modes to see which integrates best with the subject’s face. Screen or Add are often good choices for light effects.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can create an impressive and realistic artificial eyes effect in After Effects. This kind of effect is perfect for music videos, short films, or Halloween-themed videos where you want to add a mysterious and fantasy touch. With a little practice, you can adapt the effect to various creative needs and come up with new looks.

Happy editing and enjoy creating with After Effects!

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