Importing and Previewing Media - Beginner's After Effects & YTPMV (Part 2)

Introduction

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to import and preview media in Adobe After Effects. This guide is perfect for beginners who want to get started with video editing and manipulation using After Effects. By the end of this tutorial, you'll be able to import your footage, create compositions, and preview your work effectively.

Step 1: Importing Media

There are multiple ways to import media into After Effects:

1. Using the Menu:

   • Go to the top menu and select File.
   • Click on Import and then choose File….
   • Select the desired media file from your computer.

2. Using the Project Panel:

   • Double-click in an empty area of the Project panel. This will open the import window.

3. Dragging Files:

   • Open the folder containing your media files.
   • Drag and drop the files directly into the Project panel.

Organizing Imported Files

• You can create folders within the Project panel to organize your media.
• To rename files, right-click on the imported file in the Project panel and select Rename. This renames the file within After Effects, not on your system.

Step 2: Creating a Composition

A composition in After Effects is similar to the main project timeline in other editing software. Here’s how to create one:

1. Long Way:

   • In the Project panel, click on the Create New Composition button (located in the bottom left).
   • Set your desired settings:
     • Resolution: 1280 x 720 (720p)
     • Frame Rate: 30 fps
     • Duration: 15 seconds
   • Click OK.

2. Short Way:

   • Drag and drop a media file (video, image, or audio) onto the Create Composition button.
   • This automatically creates a composition that matches the dimensions and frame rate of the media file.

Adjusting Composition Settings

• To check or adjust settings, go to Composition in the top menu and select Composition Settings.
• Ensure the frame rate and duration are appropriate for your project.

Step 3: Previewing Your Video

To preview your composition, use the following steps:

1. Basic Preview:

   • Hit the Spacebar to start playing the video. You can pause it anytime.

2. Setting Work Area:

   • Adjust the work area by dragging the highlighted area in the timeline to define what part of the composition you want to preview.
   • Use the B and N keys to quickly set the beginning and end of the work area.

3. Trimming Composition:

   • To trim your composition to the work area:
     • Right-click in the timeline and select Trim Comp to Work Area.

Clearing Cache

If you encounter issues while previewing, it might be due to cached frames. To clear the cache:

• Go to Edit, then Purge, and click on All Memory.

Step 4: Working with Layers

In the timeline, you will see various options for your video layer. Make sure to check the following:

• Visibility Toggle: Controls if the layer is visible.
• Audio Toggle: Mutes the audio during preview.
• Solo Layer: Only previews the selected layer.
• Lock Layer: Prevents selection of the layer in the viewport.

You can rename layers by selecting the layer name and pressing Enter.

Conclusion

You have now learned how to import media, create compositions, preview your work, and manage layers in Adobe After Effects. These foundational skills will prepare you for more advanced manipulation and effects in your video projects. As a next step, consider exploring basic footage manipulation techniques in the upcoming tutorial. Happy editing!