1. Use composition settings to trim the video duration.

In Photoshop, the video plays as long as the longest purple bar in the timeline panel. So Photoshop will automatically adjust the video duration. However, the sequelae are not. Designers can better control the duration of the video. However, it may be difficult to adjust the settings at first.

To trim the video duration in AfterEffects, go to the top bar >; Composition settings > duration and enter a value. Format is very important. AfterEffects applies a specific format to accurately measure time. For example, the value "0: 00: 28: 00" is converted to 0 hour 00 minutes and 28 seconds 00 milliseconds.

2. Use Cmd+ click to edit multiple purple bars at once.

AfterEffects allows you to easily change the duration of multiple purple bars at once. Select them by clicking and pressing Cmd, and then drag the edge of the purple bar to adjust.

3. Pressing Alt key on multiple key frames can prolong or shorten its duration on the time axis.

This keyboard shortcut can save a lot of time. You can slow down or speed up the animation only by stretching or shrinking the keyframe once. AfterEffects automatically maintains the relative speed between frames. Just hold down the Alt key and click and drag the selected keyframe to change the time.

4. Use several methods to replace the old file with the updated file.

These AfterEffects introductory tips make it easy for you to update your composition!

Edit an existing layer:

Find the layer in the AfterEffects timeline panel and right-click >; Open > edit original file. The original work will be launched in the program in which you created it. Edit and save. Later, the AfterEffects artwork will be updated to reflect these changes.

Edit an existing layer:

Edit the original illustration, save and close it. Then, if it hasn't been opened, start the aftereffect. The imported illustration will now reflect the editing.

Replace existing layer:

Right-click the layer in AfterEffects project panel >; Replace material > file ... choose whether to merge a single layer or all layers into one layer.

Add a new layer and/or replace an existing layer:

Adding a new layer requires re-importing. Go to file > import file and locate the file. Then set the Import Method to Composite or Composite _ Reserved layer size. The second combination and the second set of charts appear in the Project panel.

Add a new layer by expanding the new layer group, find the new layer, and then click and drag it to the timeline panel.

Update the existing layer by clicking +Alt+ and dragging it from the new layer group to the layer with the same name under the Timeline panel.

Troubleshooting: AfterEffects wants to import multiple layers, but it does not support multiple artboards. If the file is imported in the format of 1× 1, or it looks blank, please make sure that all the artwork is on one drawing board.

5. Click the shape tool+press Q to create a quick preset shape.

For easy access, AfterEffects remembers the last shape used. You can switch between rectangle, rounded rectangle, ellipse, polygon and star tools by clicking the arrow of the shape tool, and then pressing the Q key on the keyboard to expand the options menu.

Like Illustrator, press Shift to scale the shape proportionally. Similarly, pressing Alt can scale the shape from the center.

6. Use the centering and alignment tools to quickly arrange layers in the composition.

Automatic centering and alignment is a lifesaver for any user (especially beginners).

When you move a layer, click+drag +Cmd to automatically align it with the horizontal center, vertical center or edge of the composition. The snap that centers the layer occurs at the transition point of the layer.

Similar to Photoshop and Illustrator, AfterEffects also provides quick alignment tools. Simply select the layer, and then select an option from the Align panel on the right to align the layer with the composite or selection.

Troubleshooting Center and Calibration for Beginners with Sequela;

Solve the problem of why the "center" of the layer is eccentric;

I found this problem when I was writing the AfterEffects3D flip course: my card failed in all the compositions!

Solve the Y rotation problem: Make sure that the anchor point is in the center of the empty object of the flip control. If not, press the Y key of the Pan Back (Anchor Point) tool and drag the anchor point back to the center.

If the layer doesn't seem to be centered, check the position of its deformation point. Press the Y key in the Pan Back (Anchor Point) tool to manually drag the anchor point to the center.

Alternatively, press the Cmd key and double-click the anchor point to center it automatically. If there are multiple shapes on the layer, first try to move the anchor point to a blank area to ensure that the anchor point is not aligned with the center of any particular shape.

Solve the reason why the alignment is gray: AfterEffects alignment panel can align layers instead of objects like Illustrator. If the alignment tool is grayed out, check the selected layer in the Timeline panel again. Note that copying a shape in a group by clicking +Alt+ dragging does not automatically place the new shape on the new layer. Leave the shape on a separate layer to use the alignment panel. You can combine them at any time in the future. To copy the shape to a separate layer, use Cmd's +d instead.

Troubleshooting why the distribution is gray: When the selected layer has multiple shapes, AfterEffects gray distribution option-it doesn't know how to handle all the clips! To distribute layers with multiple shapes, try using Cmd+G to group the shapes. It seems that "Distribution" cannot be selected until at least three (3) layers are selected.

7. Consider zooming and/or panning to activate the still image.

Import images into a new AfterEffects project. Set the brush to 0:00, and then expand the transform menu on the layer of the still image.

Enlarge or reduce the still image:

Add the first zoom keyframe at 0:00. Then, move the slider to the end, increase the scale value or enlarge the image to the right in the composition, and finally add a second scale key frame. Used in combination with position transformation to enlarge a specific part of an image.

Pan still image:

The simplest way to convert a still image is to use position transformation. Add the first position keyframe at 0:00. Then, move the slider to the end, and then drag the image into the composition to automatically add a second position keyframe.

8. The object of "whipping" has the same effect on children under their parents.

If multiple objects need the same setting, try setting the parent element. Objects nested under the parent object will inherit the settings of the parent object. Click the Parental Whip vortex icon in the Timeline, and then drag it to another layer to link the two.

9. Use the Keyframe Assistant to reverse the animation.

To switch directions on an animation, select multiple keyframes of an object and right-click >; "Keyframe Assistant" >; Time reversal key frame. This is a super useful tip to create seamless loop animation for AfterEffects beginners!

10. Save the aftereffect video as. mov，。 Gif and .mp4 use the correct rendering queue.

Beginners of Photoshop's AfterEffects may not know all the rendering options or how to save the video in the required format. Fortunately, each video format matches the rendering queue.

. Mov[ default]

By default, AfterEffects exports the rendered video as a. mov file. To export the AfterEffects video as a. mov file, go to File >；; "export" > to the render queue. Adjust the settings, and then click Render.

Animation. Exchangeable image format

To convert a. mov file into an animated GIF, start Photoshop >；; File > import > convert video frames into layers, and then go to file >; Export > save as Web (old version) and select. Gif format.

To convert an .mp4 file into an animated GIF, start Photoshop & gt to open and locate the file. MP4 is imported into Photoshop video timeline. Then go to file > export > save as Web (old version) and select. Gif format. Alternatively, you can go to Photoshop & gt file > import > convert video frames into layers, for example. The mov file on it.

. mp4

To export the AfterEffects video as.mp4, go to file >；; Export > add to AdobeMediaEncoderQueue. Next, AdobeMediaEncoder starts and the video is listed in its queue. (This may take some time, depending on the file size. ) Adjust the settings, and then press the green play key to start queue rendering.