What is the effect that smooths out shaky handheld video in After Effects?

The Warp Stabilizer effect in After Effects is specifically designed to smooth out shaky handheld video footage. This tool analyzes the movement within the video and stabilizes the frames accordingly, effectively reducing unwanted camera motion and creating a smoother viewing experience. The algorithm compensates for shakes and jitters, often transforming the original footage into a steady image, which makes it particularly useful for enhancing the professional quality of video content.

This effect works by automatically adjusting the position, scale, and rotation of the footage to create a natural look, making it ideal for scenarios where the camera movements were unintentional or too abrupt. By using Warp Stabilizer, editors can salvage otherwise unusable footage, making it a crucial feature in post-production workflows when dealing with handheld shots.