Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 7.0

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ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS 7.0

User Guide

Previewing methods

A. RAM preview in Time Controls panel B. Cache indicator in Timeline panel C. Fast Previews

Export

Add one or more compositions to the render queue to render them at the quality settings you choose, and create

movies in the formats that you specify. For more information, see “About rendering” on page 590.

BCA

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Main Page

Default Chapter3
- Table of Contents3
Chapter 1: Getting Started7
- Installation and Registration7
- Adobe Help Center8
- Using Help9
- Tips, Training, and Other Resources11
- New Features14
Chapter 2: Workflow and Workspace15
- Create Compositions and Arrange Layers15
- Import and Organize Footage15
- Workflow and Workspace Basics15
- Customizing the Workspace22
- Predefined Workspaces25
- Working with Panels26
Chapter 3: Adobe Bridge and Stock Photos30
- The Basics of Bridge30
- Files and Folders in Bridge35
- Running Automated Tasks with Bridge40
- Metadata in Bridge41
- Adobe Stock Photos46
- Buying Stock Photos49
- Comp Images49
- Stock Photos Accounts51
Chapter 4: Planning and Managing Projects55
- Footage Considerations55
- Project Planning Considerations55
- Composition Considerations56
- Rendering and Exporting Considerations56
- Film or Videotape57
- Output Type Considerations57
- Animated GIF58
- CD-ROM or DVD58
- Streaming or Downloaded Video58
- Cross-Platform Project Considerations59
- File Systems59
- File-Naming Conventions59
- Project Path Names59
- About Timecode and Duration60
- Project Basics60
- Saving Projects63
- Color67
- Plug-Ins and Scripts72
Chapter 5: Preparing and Importing Footage74
- Importing Basics74
- Importing Still Images79
- Importing Camera Raw Files83
- Transforming Images in Camera Raw87
- Camera Raw Settings92
- Importing Photoshop, Illustrator, PDF, and EPS Files95
- Importing after Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro Projects99
- Preparing and Importing Video and Film101
- Importing Cineon Files110
- To Import a Cineon Sequence110
- Importing OMF and AAF Files111
- Importing 3D Image Files113
  - To Import RLA or RPF Data into a Camera Layer (Pro Only)113
  - Importing Maya Data (Pro Only)114
Chapter 6 About Compositions115
- Creating a New Composition and Changing Settings115
- Creating Compositions115
  - To Create a Composition115
  - To Create a Composition from Project Panel Footage116
- Composition Settings117
- Timeline Panel124
- Working with Footage128
- Replacing and Substituting Footage134
Chapter 7: Previewing140
- Methods for Previewing Compositions140
- Previewing Compositions140
- Modifying Views147
- Settings and Tools for Previewing151
Chapter 8: Layers155
- Creating and Adding Layers155
- Selecting and Arranging Layers159
- Managing Layers164
- Trimming168
  - To Move a Trimmed Layer in Time169
  - To Remove a Section of a Layer169
- Markers170
- Switches173
- Creating Adobe Encore DVD Buttons178
  - To Create an Adobe Encore DVD Button178
  - To Export a Button for Use in Adobe Encore DVD178
- 3D Layers Overview179
- About 3D Layers179
Chapter 9: 3D Layers179
- Using Third-Party 3D Files179
- About 3D Layer Order180
- About Z Scale180
- Using Effects with 3D Layers180
- To Designate a Layer as 3D181
- Using Masks with 3D Layers181
- Working with 3D Layers181
- Working with 3D Views183
- About Cameras186
- Cameras, Lights, and Points of Interest186
- About Lights and Points of Interest189
- Animation and Layer Properties194
Chapter 10: Animation194
- To Select Graph Options in the Graph Editor195
- To Select Which Properties Are Shown in the Graph Editor195
- Working with the Graph Editor195
- Auto Zoom Height and Fit196
- To Pan and Zoom in the Graph Editor196
- Using the Snap Button196
- To Set a Layer Property Value in the Layer Outline197
- To View Layer Properties197
- To View Modified Properties in the Layer Outline197
- About Keyframes198
- Setting, Selecting, and Deleting Keyframes198
- Editing, Moving, and Copying Keyframes203
- Animation Presets208
- Animating Layers210
- Creating and Modifying Motion Paths216
- About Motion Blur220
- Assorted Animation Tools220
  - To Create a Motion Path from a Mask220
  - Smoothing Motion and Velocity221
- To Apply Motion Blur to a Layer221
- To Set the Shutter Angle and Phase for Motion Blur221
Chapter 11: Advanced Animation224
- Controlling Change with Interpolation224
- Interpolation224
- Speed230
- Time237
- Time-Stretching237
- About Time-Remapping239
See also241
- Working with the Time Remap Graph241
- To Freeze the Last Frame Without Changing the Speed242
- To Remap Time by Dragging Keyframes in the Graph Editor242
- Time-Remapping Audio Pitch243
- To Remap Time in a Layer Panel243
- Frame Blending244
- To Change the Pitch of an Audio Layer244
- To Remove Clicks from New in and out Points244
- To Apply Frame Blending to a Layer245
- To Apply the Timewarp Effect (Pro Only)245
- To Enable or Disable Frame Blending for Previewing and Rendering245
Using Motion Blur245
See also245
- About Alpha Channels and Mattes248
- About Transparency248
Chapter 12: Masks, Transparency, and Keying248
- Transparency Overview248
  - About Keying249
  - About Masks249
- Creating and Importing Masks250
- Working with Masks256
- Modifying Masks260
- Blending Modes and Mask Modes265
- Animating Masks272
- Keying276
- Mattes285
Chapter 13: Text289
- Creating Text289
- Formatting Characters291
- Animating Text301
- Working with Masks in Text Layers309
  - To Change or Animate Text Path Properties310
  - To Position Text Along a Mask’s Path310
- Examples of Text Animations311
Chapter 14: Paint Tools319
- To Specify Paint Tool Options319
- Using Paint Tools319
- Brushes325
- Paint Strokes328
- Selecting Colors333
  - To Animate a Paint Stroke by Stroke Targeting333
  - To Select a Color with the Eyedropper Tool333
Chapter 15 Uses of Motion Tracking (Pro Only)335
- Motion Tracking Workflow (Pro Only)336
- Setting up the Shot336
- Adjusting the Search Region337
- Searching Your Footage337
- Selecting a Good Feature Region337
- Positioning the Attach Point338
- Using Rotation Track Points338
- Types of Tracking (Pro Only)339
- Motion Tracking Properties in the Timeline Panel (Pro Only)340
- Source, Current Track, and Target Controls (Pro Only)341
- Tracker Controls Panel (Pro Only)341
- Tracking Motion (Pro Only)343
- Motion Tracking Overview (Pro Only)335
Chapter 16: Applying Effects354
- Working with Effects354
- Modifying Effects358
- Using Noise & Grain Effects360
Chapter 17 : Effects: Reference374
- Effect Categories374
- Effects: Reference374
- Galleries of Effects374
  - 3D Channel Effects Gallery375
  - Blur & Sharpen Effects Gallery375
  - Channel Effects Gallery376
  - Color Correction Effects Gallery377
  - Distort Effects Gallery379
  - Generate Effects Gallery380
  - Keying Effects Gallery381
  - Matte Effects Gallery382
  - Noise & Grain Effects Gallery382
  - Paint Effects Gallery383
  - Perspective Effects Gallery383
  - Simulation Effects Gallery384
  - Stylize Effects Gallery384
  - Text Effects Gallery385
  - Time Effects Gallery385
  - Transition Effects Gallery386
  - Utility Effects Gallery386
  - 3D Channel Effects (Pro Only)387
  - 3D Channel Extract Effect (Pro Only)387
  - About 3D Channel Effects (Pro Only)387
  - Depth Matte Effect (Pro Only)388
  - Depth of Field Effect (Pro Only)388
  - Fog 3D Effect (Pro Only)389
- Audio Effects390
  - ID Matte Effect (Pro Only)390
  - Backwards Effect391
  - Bass & Treble Effect391
  - Delay Effect391
  - Flange & Chorus Effect (Pro Only)391
  - High-Low Pass Effect (Pro Only)392
  - To Use Chorus Without Flange (Pro Only)392
  - Modulator Effect (Pro Only)393
  - To Remove Frequencies Using the High-Low Pass Effect (Pro Only)393
  - Parametric EQ Effect (Pro Only)394
  - Reverb Effect (Pro Only)394
  - Stereo Mixer Effect395
  - Tone Effect (Pro Only)395
- Blur & Sharpen Effects396
  - Box Blur Effect396
  - Channel Blur Effect396
  - Compound Blur Effect397
  - Directional Blur Effect397
  - Fast Blur Effect397
  - Gaussian Blur Effect398
  - Lens Blur Effect398
  - To Use the Lens Blur Effect398
  - Radial Blur Effect399
  - Reduce Interlace Flicker Effect399
  - Sharpen Effect399
  - Smart Blur Effect400
  - Unsharp Mask Effect400
  - Alpha Levels Effect (Pro Only)401
  - Arithmetic Effect401
- Channel Effects401
  - To Convert Grays in a Matte to Pure Black or White (Pro Only)401
  - Blend Effect402
  - Calculations Effect403
  - Input Channel403
  - To Use the Blend Effect403
  - Channel Combiner Effect404
  - Compound Arithmetic Effect404
  - Invert Effect405
  - Minimax Effect406
  - Remove Color Matting Effect406
  - Set Channels Effect407
  - Set Matte Effect407
  - Auto Color Effect408
- Color Correction Effects408
  - Shift Channels Effect408
  - Solid Composite Effect408
  - Auto Contrast Effect409
  - Auto Levels Effect409
  - Brightness & Contrast Effect410
  - Broadcast Colors Effect410
  - Change Color Effect411
  - Change to Color Effect412
  - Channel Mixer Effect413
  - Color Balance Effect413
  - Color Balance (HLS) Effect414
  - Color Link Effect414
  - Color Stabilizer Effect (Pro Only)415
  - Colorama Effect416
  - To Customize a Palette with the Colorama Effect416
  - Input Phase Controls for the Colorama Effect417
  - Output Cycle Controls for the Colorama Effect417
  - To Adjust Hue Levels with the Colorama Effect417
  - To Adjust Lightness Levels with the Colorama Effect417
  - Modify Controls for the Colorama Effect418
  - Pixel Selection, Masking, and Other Controls for the Colorama Effect418
  - Curves Effect419
  - To Use the Curves Effect419
  - Equalize Effect420
  - Exposure Effect420
  - To Use Arbitrary Map in the Curves Effect420
  - To Use the Exposure Effect420
  - Gamma/Pedestal/Gain Effect421
  - Hue/Saturation Effect421
  - To Adjust Colors with the Hue/Saturation Effect422
  - To Colorize an Image or Create a Monotone Result422
  - Leave Color Effect423
  - Levels Effect423
  - To Modify the Range of Hue/Saturation Effect Adjustments423
  - Levels (Individual Controls) Effect424
  - Photo Filter Effect425
  - Photo Filter Effect Color Preset Categories425
  - PS Arbitrary Map Effect425
  - Shadow/Highlight Effect426
  - Color Correction427
  - Midtone Contrast427
  - Shadow Tonal Width, Highlight Tonal Width427
  - Bezier Warp Effect (Pro Only)428
- Distort Effects428
  - Tint Effect428
  - Bulge Effect (Pro Only)429
  - Corner Pin Effect (Pro Only)429
  - Displacement Map Effect (Pro Only)430
  - To Distort an Image with Displacement Map (Pro Only)430
  - Liquify Effect431
  - Liquify Tools431
  - Mask Properties for the Liquify Effect431
  - To Distort an Image with the Liquify Effect431
  - Magnify Effect432
  - To Undo Distortions with the Liquify Effect432
  - Mesh Warp Effect (Pro Only)433
  - Mirror Effect434
  - Offset Effect434
  - Optics Compensation Effect (Pro Only)435
  - To Add and Match Lens Distortion with Optics Compensation (Pro Only)435
  - Polar Coordinates Effect436
  - Reshape Effect (Pro Only)436
  - Controls for the Reshape Effect (Pro Only)437
  - Correspondence Points437
  - Ripple Effect438
  - To Use the Reshape Effect (Pro Only)438
  - Smear Effect439
  - To Use the Smear Effect440
  - Spherize Effect441
  - Transform Effect441
  - Turbulent Displace Effect442
  - To Create a Seamless Loop Using Turbulent Displace443
  - Twirl Effect444
  - Warp Effect444
  - Wave Warp Effect445
  - 4-Color Gradient Effect446
  - Advanced Lightning Effect (Pro Only)446
- Generate Effects446
  - Audio Spectrum Effect448
  - Audio Waveform Effect449
  - Beam Effect450
  - Cell Pattern Effect450
  - Checkerboard Effect452
  - Circle Effect453
  - Ellipse Effect454
  - Eyedropper Fill Effect454
  - Fill Effect455
  - Fractal Effect455
  - Grid Effect457
  - Using Tools with the Fractal Effect457
  - Lens Flare Effect458
  - Lightning Effect458
  - Paint Bucket Effect460
  - Radio Waves Effect461
  - Stroke Controls for the Radio Wave Effect463
  - Wave Motion Controls for the Radio Waves Effect463
  - Controls for the Scribble Effect464
  - Ramp Effect464
  - Scribble Effect464
  - Stroke Effect466
  - Vegas Effect466
  - MID-Point Opacity468
  - MID-Point Position468
  - Write-On Effect468
  - Color Difference Key Effect (Pro Only)469
  - Color Key Effect469
- Keying Effects469
  - Color Range Effect470
  - Difference Matte Effect (Pro Only)470
  - Extract Effect (Pro Only)470
  - Inner/Outer Key Effect (Pro Only)471
  - Linear Color Key Effect471
  - Luma Key Effect472
  - Matte Choker Effect (Pro Only)472
- Matte Effects (Pro Only)472
  - Spill Suppressor Effect (Pro Only)472
  - Add Grain Effect473
- Noise & Grain Effects473
  - Simple Choker Effect (Pro Only)473
  - Dust & Scratches Effect474
  - Fractal Noise Effect474
  - To Use the Dust & Scratches Effect474
  - Controls for the Fractal Noise Effect475
  - Match Grain Effect477
  - Median Effect477
  - To Create a Seamless Loop Using Fractal Noise477
  - Noise Alpha Effect478
  - Noise Effect478
  - Noise HLS Effect and Noise HLS Auto Effect479
  - Paint Effect480
- Paint Effects480
  - Remove Grain Effect480
  - To Paint with the Vector Paint Effect (Pro Only)481
  - Vector Paint Effect (Pro Only)481
  - To Change Vector Paint Brush Types (Pro Only)482
  - Vector Paint Tools (Pro Only)482
  - Brush Settings Controls for the Vector Paint Effect (Pro Only)483
  - Selecting and Editing Vector Paint Strokes (Pro Only)483
  - Smoothing a Vector Paint Stroke (Pro Only)484
  - Tools for Editing Paint Work with Vector Paint (Pro Only)484
  - Configuring a Stylus for Vector Paint in Windows (Pro Only)485
  - Playing Back Your Painting with Vector Paint (Pro Only)485
  - To Adjust the Playback Speed for the Vector Paint Effect (Pro Only)486
  - To Change Playback Time with the Vector Paint Re-Timer (Pro Only)487
  - To Paint Using Quickpaint Mode in Vector Paint (Pro Only)488
  - Wiggle Controls for the Vector Paint Effect (Pro Only)488
  - Displacement Detail489
  - Pressure Detail489
  - Pressure Variation489
  - Individual Stroke Seeds490
  - Selecting Composite Paint Options for Vector Paint (Pro Only)490
  - Composite Paint Options491
  - 3D Glasses492
- Perspective Effects492
  - To Select Vector Paint Preference Options (Pro Only)492
  - Controls for the 3D Glasses Effect493
  - About Red, Blue, and Green Lenses494
  - Basic 3D Effect494
  - Bevel Alpha Effect495
  - Bevel Edges Effect495
  - Drop Shadow Effect495
  - Radial Shadow Effect496
  - Card Dance Effect497
- Simulation Effects497
  - Position, Rotation, and Scale Controls for the Card Dance Effect498
  - Rows, Columns, Layer, and Order Controls for the Card Dance Effect498
  - Camera System and Camera Position Controls for the Card Dance Effect499
  - Corner Pins Controls for the Card Dance Effect499
  - Lighting Controls for the Card Dance Effect499
  - Bottom Controls for the Caustics Effect500
  - Caustics Effect500
  - Material Controls for the Card Dance Effect500
  - Sky Controls for the Caustics Effect501
  - Water Controls for the Caustics Effect501
  - Foam Effect502
  - Lighting Controls for the Caustics Effect502
  - Material Controls for the Caustics Effect502
  - Bubbles Controls for the Foam Effect503
  - Producer Controls for the Foam Effect503
  - View Controls for the Foam Effect503
  - Physics Controls for the Foam Effect504
  - Rendering Controls for the Foam Effect505
  - Zoom and Universe Size Controls for the Foam Effect505
  - Flow Map Controls for the Foam Effect506
  - Particle Playground Effect (Pro Only)506
  - Random Seed Control for the Foam Effect506
  - To Use Particle Playground (Pro Only)507
  - Cannon Controls for Particle Playground (Pro Only)508
  - Particle Content and Particle Generators (Pro Only)508
  - Grid Controls for Particle Playground (Pro Only)509
  - Using the Layer Exploder and Particle Exploder (Pro Only)509
  - Layer Exploder and Particle Exploder Controls (Pro Only)510
  - Layer Map Controls for Particle Playground (Pro Only)510
  - Replacing Default Particles with Layers Using Layer Map (Pro Only)510
  - Absolute Random511
  - Relative Random511
  - To Replace Default Cannon Particles with Text (Pro Only)511
  - To Replace Default Grid Particles with Text (Pro Only)511
  - Appearance512
  - Changing a Particle over Its Lifespan (Pro Only)512
  - Direction512
  - Gravity Controls for Particle Playground (Pro Only)513
  - Repel Controls for Particle Playground (Pro Only)513
  - About Property Mappers and Particle Playground (Pro Only)514
  - Affects Controls for Particle Playground (Pro Only)514
  - Wall Controls for Particle Playground (Pro Only)514
  - Particle Playground Property Mapper Controls (Pro Only)515
  - To Use Particle Playground Property Mapper Controls (Pro Only)515
  - Operator Controls for the Ephemeral Property Mapper (Pro Only)517
  - Using Min and Max Controls for Property Mappers (Pro Only)517
  - About Layer Maps and Particle Playground (Pro Only)518
  - Creating a Layer Map for Particle Playground (Pro Only)518
  - Creating an RGB Layer Map for Particle Playground (Pro Only)519
  - Improving Performance with Particle Playground (Pro Only)520
  - Shatter Effect520
  - View Control for the Shatter Effect520
  - Force 1 and Force 2 Controls for the Shatter Effect521
  - Render Control for the Shatter Effect521
  - Shape Controls for the Shatter Effect521
  - Gradient Controls for the Shatter Effect522
  - Physics Controls for the Shatter Effect523
  - Textures Controls for the Shatter Effect523
  - Camera System and Camera Position Controls for the Shatter Effect524
  - Corner Pins Controls for the Shatter Effect524
  - Creating a Custom Shatter Map525
  - Lighting Controls for the Shatter Effect525
  - Material Controls for the Shatter Effect525
  - Height Map526
  - View Controls for the Wave World Effect526
  - Wave World Effect526
  - Wireframe Preview526
  - Height Map Controls for the Wave World Effect527
  - Simulation Controls for the Wave World Effect527
  - Wireframe Controls for the Wave World Effect527
  - Ground Controls for the Wave World Effect528
  - Producer 1 and Producer 2 Controls for the Wave World Effect528
  - Brush Strokes Effect529
- Stylize Effects529
  - Color Emboss Effect530
  - Emboss Effect530
  - Find Edges Effect530
  - Glow Effect (Pro Only)531
  - Mosaic Effect532
  - To Apply a Basic Glow Based on the Alpha Channel (Pro Only)532
  - To Apply a Basic Glow Using Original Colors (Pro Only)532
  - Motion Tile Effect533
  - Posterize Effect533
  - Roughen Edges Effect534
  - Evolution Controls for the Roughen Edges Effect535
  - Scatter Effect (Pro Only)535
  - Strobe Light Effect536
  - Texturize Effect536
  - Basic Text Effect537
- Text Effects537
  - Texture Placement537
  - Threshold Effect537
  - Format Controls for the Numbers Effect538
  - Numbers Effect538
  - Fill and Stroke Controls for the Numbers Effect539
  - Size and Tracking Controls for the Numbers Effect539
  - Animating Text with Text Effects540
  - Path Text Effect540
  - Character Controls for the Path Text Effect541
  - Fill and Stroke Controls for the Path Text Effect541
  - Path Options Controls for the Path Text Effect541
  - Paragraph Controls for the Path Text Effect542
  - Advanced Controls for the Path Text Effect543
  - Timecode Effect544
  - To Animate Path Text with the Path Text Effect544
  - To Move Vertices, Circle Centers, and Tangents544
  - To Specify the Location of Vertices and Tangents544
  - Echo Effect545
- Time Effects545
  - To Create an Image Trail Using the Echo Effect546
  - To Incorporate Layer Motion into the Echo Effect546
  - Posterize Time Effect547
  - Time Difference Effect547
  - Time Displacement Effect (Pro Only)548
  - Time Displacement Controls (Pro Only)549
  - To Use the Time Displacement Effect (Pro Only)549
  - Block Dissolve Effect550
  - Timewarp Effect (Pro Only)550
  - To Apply a Mask and Time Displacement to a Layer (Pro Only)550
- Transition Effects550
  - Card Wipe Effect551
  - Transition Completion551
  - Transition Width551
  - Camera Position Controls for the Card Wipe Effect552
  - Corner Pins Controls for the Card Wipe Effect552
  - Jitter Controls for the Card Wipe Effect553
  - Lighting Controls for the Card Wipe Effect553
  - Material Controls for the Card Wipe Effect553
  - Gradient Wipe Effect554
  - Iris Wipe Effect554
  - Linear Wipe Effect555
  - Radial Wipe Effect555
  - Venetian Blinds Effect555
  - Cineon Converter Effect556
- Utility Effects556
  - Color Profile Converter Effect557
  - To Control the Tonal Balance of a Cineon File557
  - To Convert the Color Profile of a Layer557
  - Grow Bounds Effect558
  - Rendering Intents558
  - HDR Compander Effect559
  - To Use the HDR Compander Effect559
  - HDR Highlight Compression Effect560
Chapter 18: Expressions561
- Creating and Modifying Expressions561
- Working with Expressions567
- The Expression Language570
- Commonly Used Attributes and Methods574
- After Effects Expression Elements Reference576
- Pick-Whip Expression Examples593
  - Example: to Increase Blur with Depth594
  - Example: to Position One Layer between Two Others594
- Manually Entered Expression Examples594
  - Example: to Create a Bulge between Two Layers595
  - Example: to Create a Circular Movement in One Layer595
Chapter 19: Rendering and Exporting596
- Rendering a Movie596
- Using Post-Render Action Options606
- Using the Render Queue Panel608
- Exporting to Macromedia Flash (SWF) Format615
- Rendering to OMF (Pro Only)624
- Compression Options625
- Exporting Footage Using Quicktime Components628
- Exporting and Rendering Single Frames, Filmstrip Files, and Still Sequences629
- 3D Rendering631
- Rendering over a Network633
- Exporting Project Information to Other Adobe Applications637
Chapter 20: Performance and Memory642
- Memory Usage642
- Performance and Memory642
- Caches643
- Maximum Memory Usage643
- Maximum RAM Cache Size643
- To Set Caching Preferences643
- Improving Performance before Starting after Effects644
- Improving Performance When Using Effects644
- Simple Ways to Improve Performance644
Chapter 21: Keyboard Shortcuts648
- Default Keyboard Shortcuts648
- Keys for Selecting Tools648
- Keys for Using Footage Items649
- Keys for Working with Settings649
- Keys for Viewing Panels650
- Keys for Moving Around the Timeline Panel651
- Keys for Nudging Layers652
- Keys for Previewing652
- Keys for Using Layers653
- Keys for Viewing Layer Properties654
- Keys for Working with the Composition Panel655
- Keys for Modifying Keyframes656
- Keys for Setting the Work Area657
- Keys for Working with the Graph Editor657
- Keys for 3D Animation658
- Keys for Using Masks658
- Keys for Using the Effect Controls Panel658
- Keys for Painting659
- Keys for Using Markers659
- Keys for Using Text660
- Keys for Working with Adobe Bridge661
Index664

Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 7.0 - Export

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