Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 7.0 - Placing a Layer in Time; To Align or Distribute Layers in 2 D Space; To Change the in and out Points of a Layer Numerically

ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS 7.0
User Guide
154
Note: Asyoudragalayernameupordown,ahorizontallineappearsbetweenotherlayernames,indicatingtheposition
to which the layer will move if you release the mouse.
See also
“About 3D layers” on page 173
“Default rendering order” on page 593
To align or distribute layers in 2D space
Use the Align panel to line up or evenly space selected layers across a composition. You can align or distribute layers
along the vertical or horizontal axes of selected objects.
1 Select the layers you want to align or distribute.
2 Choose Window > Align & Distribute.
3 In the Align panel, click the icon representing the type of alignment or distribution you want.
Note: To align, you must select two or more layers; to distribute, you must select three or more layers.
When you align and distribute selected layers, keep the following in mind:
• An alignment option aligns selected layers to the object that most closely represents the new alignment. For
example, for right-edge alignment, all selected layers align to the selected object that is farthest to the right.
• A distribution option evenly spaces selected layers between the two most extreme layers. For example, for a
vertical distribution option, the selected layers are distributed between the topmost and bottommost selected
objects.
• When you distribute layers of different sizes, the spaces between layers may not be uniform. For example, distrib-
uting layers by their centers will create equal space between the centers—but different-sized layers will extend by
different amounts into the space between layers.
• Locked layers cannot be moved by alignment or distribution options.
• Text alignment is not affected by the Align panel.
See also
“To align and justify text” on page 291
Placing a layer in time
Place a layer in time by changing its In or Out point in the Timeline panel. The In and Out columns represent the
layer duration numerically. The duration bar represents the layer duration visually.
To change the In and Out points of a layer numerically
1
Make the In and Out columns visible in the Timeline panel.
2 Click the number in the In or Out column of the layer you want to change.
3 In the Layer In Time or Layer Out Time dialog box, type a new time and click OK.
Note: Do not use this method to adjust the In and Out points in the Timeline panel if your aim is to trim, speed up, slow
down, or distort time within layer footage.