Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 7.0

To Next Page

To Previous Page

ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS 7.0

User Guide

312

See also

“To create a composition” on page 109

“To enter point text” on page 283

“About the Expression selector” on page 302

“Methods for previewing compositions” on page 134

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 - Page 318

Table of Contents

Related product manuals