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  • After Effects User Guide
    1. Beta Program Overview
    2. After Effects Beta Home
  • Getting started
    1. Get started with After Effects
    2. What's new in After Effects
    3. Release Notes | After Effects
    4. After Effects system requirements
    5. Keyboard shortcuts in After Effects
    6. Supported File formats | After Effects
    7. Hardware recommendations
    8. After Effects for Apple silicon
    9. Planning and setup
    1. General user interface items
    2. Get to know After Effects interface
    3. Workflows
    4. Workspaces, panels, and viewers
    1. Projects
    2. Composition basics
    3. Precomposing, nesting, and pre-rendering
    4. View detailed performance information with the Composition Profiler
    5. CINEMA 4D Composition Renderer
    1. Preparing and importing still images
    2. Importing from After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro
    3. Importing and interpreting video and audio
    4. Preparing and importing 3D image files
    5. Importing and interpreting footage items
    6. Working with footage items
    7. Detect edit points using Scene Edit Detection
    8. XMP metadata
      1. Formatting characters and the Character panel
      2. Text effects
      3. Creating and editing text layers
      4. Formatting paragraphs and the Paragraph panel
      5. Extruding text and shape layers
      6. Animating text
      7. Examples and resources for text animation
      8. Live Text Templates
      1. Work with Motion Graphics templates in After Effects
      2. Use expressions to create drop-down lists in Motion Graphics templates
      3. Work with Essential Properties to create Motion Graphics templates
      4. Replace images and videos in Motion Graphics templates and Essential Properties
      5. Animate faster and easier using the Properties panel
    1. Overview of shape layers, paths, and vector graphics
    2. Paint tools: Brush, Clone Stamp, and Eraser
    3. Taper shape strokes
    4. Shape attributes, paint operations, and path operations for shape layers
    5. Use Offset Paths shape effect to alter shapes
    6. Creating shapes
    7. Create masks
    8. Remove objects from your videos with the Content-Aware Fill panel
    9. Roto Brush and Refine Matte
    10. Create Nulls for Positional Properties and Paths
    1. Selecting and arranging layers
    2. Blending modes and layer styles
    3. 3D layers
    4. Layer properties
    5. Creating layers
    6. Managing layers
    7. Layer markers and composition markers
    8. Cameras, lights, and points of interest
      1. Animation basics
      2. Animating with Puppet tools
      3. Managing and animating shape paths and masks
      4. Animating Sketch and Capture shapes using After Effects
      5. Assorted animation tools
      6. Work with Data-driven animation
      1. Keyframe interpolation
      2. Setting, selecting, and deleting keyframes
      3. Editing, moving, and copying keyframes
      1. Tracking and stabilizing motion
      2. Face Tracking
      3. Mask Tracking
      4. Mask Reference
      5. Speed
      6. Time-stretching and time-remapping
      7. Timecode and time display units
      1. Keying
      2. Keying effects
    1. Compositing and transparency overview and resources
    2. Alpha channels and masks
    3. Track Mattes and Traveling Mattes
    1. Color basics
    2. Color management
    3. Color Correction effects
    4. OpenColorIO and ACES color management
    5. Enhanced HDR support
    6. HDR import and export 
    1. Effects and animation presets overview
    2. Effect list
    3. Effect Manager
    4. Simulation effects
    5. Stylize effects
    6. Audio effects
    7. Distort effects
    8. Perspective effects
    9. Channel effects
    10. Generate effects
    11. Time effects
    12. Transition effects
    13. The Rolling Shutter Repair effect
    14. Blur and Sharpen effects
    15. 3D Channel effects
    16. Utility effects
    17. Matte effects
    18. Noise and Grain effects
    19. Detail-preserving Upscale effect
    20. Obsolete effects
      1. Expression basics
      2. Understanding the expression language
      3. Using expression controls
      4. Syntax differences between the JavaScript and Legacy ExtendScript expression engines
      5. Editing expressions
      6. Expression errors
      7. Using the Expressions editor
      8. Use expressions to edit and access text properties
      9. Expression language reference
      10. Expression examples
      1. Automation
      2. Scripts
    1. Construct VR environments in After Effects
    2. Apply immersive video effects
    3. Compositing tools for VR/360 videos
    4. Advanced 3D Renderer
    5. Import and add 3D models to your composition
    6. Import 3D models from Creative Cloud Libraries
    7. Image-Based Lighting
    8. Animated Environment Lights
    9. Extract and animate lights and cameras from 3D models
    10. Tracking 3D camera movement
    11. Cast and accept shadows
    12. Embedded 3D model animations
    13. Shadow Catcher
    14. 3D depth data extraction
    15. Modify materials properties of a 3D layer
    16. Work in 3D Design Space
    17. 3D Transform Gizmos
    18. Do more with 3D animation
    19. Preview changes to 3D designs real time with the Mercury 3D engine
    20. Add responsive design to your graphics 
    1. Previewing
    2. Video preview with Mercury Transmit
    3. Modifying and using views
    1. Basics of rendering and exporting
    2. H.264 Encoding in After Effects
    3. Export an After Effects project as an Adobe Premiere Pro project
    4. Converting movies
    5. Multi-frame rendering
    6. Automated rendering and network rendering
    7. Rendering and exporting still images and still-image sequences
    8. Using the GoPro CineForm codec in After Effects
    1. Dynamic Link and After Effects
      1. Export After Effects project as Premiere Pro project
    3. Sync Settings in After Effects
    4. Creative Cloud Libraries in After Effects
    5. Plug-ins
    6. Cinema 4D and Cineware
    1. Collaboration in Premiere Pro and After Effects
      1. Install and activate Frame.io
      2. Use Frame.io with Premiere Pro and After Effects
      3. Frequently asked questions
      1. Get Started with Team Projects
      2. Create a Team Project
      3. Collaborate with Team Projects
    1. Memory and storage
    2. How After Effects handles low memory issues while previewing
    3. Improve performance
    4. Preferences
    5. GPU and GPU driver requirements for After Effects
    1. Known issues
    2. Fixed issues
    3. Frequently asked questions
    4. After Effects and macOS Ventura
    5. How After Effects handles low memory issues while previewing
    1. After Effects User Guide
      1. Beta Program Overview
      2. After Effects Beta Home
    3. Getting started
      1. Get started with After Effects
      2. What's new in After Effects
      3. Release Notes | After Effects
      4. After Effects system requirements
      5. Keyboard shortcuts in After Effects
      6. Supported File formats | After Effects
      7. Hardware recommendations
      8. After Effects for Apple silicon
      9. Planning and setup
      1. General user interface items
      2. Get to know After Effects interface
      3. Workflows
      4. Workspaces, panels, and viewers
      1. Projects
      2. Composition basics
      3. Precomposing, nesting, and pre-rendering
      4. View detailed performance information with the Composition Profiler
      5. CINEMA 4D Composition Renderer
      1. Preparing and importing still images
      2. Importing from After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro
      3. Importing and interpreting video and audio
      4. Preparing and importing 3D image files
      5. Importing and interpreting footage items
      6. Working with footage items
      7. Detect edit points using Scene Edit Detection
      8. XMP metadata
        1. Formatting characters and the Character panel
        2. Text effects
        3. Creating and editing text layers
        4. Formatting paragraphs and the Paragraph panel
        5. Extruding text and shape layers
        6. Animating text
        7. Examples and resources for text animation
        8. Live Text Templates
        1. Work with Motion Graphics templates in After Effects
        2. Use expressions to create drop-down lists in Motion Graphics templates
        3. Work with Essential Properties to create Motion Graphics templates
        4. Replace images and videos in Motion Graphics templates and Essential Properties
        5. Animate faster and easier using the Properties panel
      1. Overview of shape layers, paths, and vector graphics
      2. Paint tools: Brush, Clone Stamp, and Eraser
      3. Taper shape strokes
      4. Shape attributes, paint operations, and path operations for shape layers
      5. Use Offset Paths shape effect to alter shapes
      6. Creating shapes
      7. Create masks
      8. Remove objects from your videos with the Content-Aware Fill panel
      9. Roto Brush and Refine Matte
      10. Create Nulls for Positional Properties and Paths
      1. Selecting and arranging layers
      2. Blending modes and layer styles
      3. 3D layers
      4. Layer properties
      5. Creating layers
      6. Managing layers
      7. Layer markers and composition markers
      8. Cameras, lights, and points of interest
        1. Animation basics
        2. Animating with Puppet tools
        3. Managing and animating shape paths and masks
        4. Animating Sketch and Capture shapes using After Effects
        5. Assorted animation tools
        6. Work with Data-driven animation
        1. Keyframe interpolation
        2. Setting, selecting, and deleting keyframes
        3. Editing, moving, and copying keyframes
        1. Tracking and stabilizing motion
        2. Face Tracking
        3. Mask Tracking
        4. Mask Reference
        5. Speed
        6. Time-stretching and time-remapping
        7. Timecode and time display units
        1. Keying
        2. Keying effects
      1. Compositing and transparency overview and resources
      2. Alpha channels and masks
      3. Track Mattes and Traveling Mattes
      1. Color basics
      2. Color management
      3. Color Correction effects
      4. OpenColorIO and ACES color management
      5. Enhanced HDR support
      6. HDR import and export 
      1. Effects and animation presets overview
      2. Effect list
      3. Effect Manager
      4. Simulation effects
      5. Stylize effects
      6. Audio effects
      7. Distort effects
      8. Perspective effects
      9. Channel effects
      10. Generate effects
      11. Time effects
      12. Transition effects
      13. The Rolling Shutter Repair effect
      14. Blur and Sharpen effects
      15. 3D Channel effects
      16. Utility effects
      17. Matte effects
      18. Noise and Grain effects
      19. Detail-preserving Upscale effect
      20. Obsolete effects
        1. Expression basics
        2. Understanding the expression language
        3. Using expression controls
        4. Syntax differences between the JavaScript and Legacy ExtendScript expression engines
        5. Editing expressions
        6. Expression errors
        7. Using the Expressions editor
        8. Use expressions to edit and access text properties
        9. Expression language reference
        10. Expression examples
        1. Automation
        2. Scripts
      1. Construct VR environments in After Effects
      2. Apply immersive video effects
      3. Compositing tools for VR/360 videos
      4. Advanced 3D Renderer
      5. Import and add 3D models to your composition
      6. Import 3D models from Creative Cloud Libraries
      7. Image-Based Lighting
      8. Animated Environment Lights
      9. Extract and animate lights and cameras from 3D models
      10. Tracking 3D camera movement
      11. Cast and accept shadows
      12. Embedded 3D model animations
      13. Shadow Catcher
      14. 3D depth data extraction
      15. Modify materials properties of a 3D layer
      16. Work in 3D Design Space
      17. 3D Transform Gizmos
      18. Do more with 3D animation
      19. Preview changes to 3D designs real time with the Mercury 3D engine
      20. Add responsive design to your graphics 
      1. Previewing
      2. Video preview with Mercury Transmit
      3. Modifying and using views
      1. Basics of rendering and exporting
      2. H.264 Encoding in After Effects
      3. Export an After Effects project as an Adobe Premiere Pro project
      4. Converting movies
      5. Multi-frame rendering
      6. Automated rendering and network rendering
      7. Rendering and exporting still images and still-image sequences
      8. Using the GoPro CineForm codec in After Effects
      1. Dynamic Link and After Effects
        1. Export After Effects project as Premiere Pro project
      3. Sync Settings in After Effects
      4. Creative Cloud Libraries in After Effects
      5. Plug-ins
      6. Cinema 4D and Cineware
      1. Collaboration in Premiere Pro and After Effects
        1. Install and activate Frame.io
        2. Use Frame.io with Premiere Pro and After Effects
        3. Frequently asked questions
        1. Get Started with Team Projects
        2. Create a Team Project
        3. Collaborate with Team Projects
      1. Memory and storage
      2. How After Effects handles low memory issues while previewing
      3. Improve performance
      4. Preferences
      5. GPU and GPU driver requirements for After Effects
      1. Known issues
      2. Fixed issues
      3. Frequently asked questions
      4. After Effects and macOS Ventura
      5. How After Effects handles low memory issues while previewing

    Learn about new features and enhancements in this latest release.

    April 2025 release (version 25.2)

    The April 2025 (25.2) release includes new features, workflow improvements, and important fixes in After Effects.

    Update After Effects

    High Performance Preview Playback

    Experience smoother and significantly longer preview durations without any limitation of RAM size allocated to After Effects.

    HDR preview support

    Preview and monitor your work in HDR for high dynamic range motion design and visual effects.

    3D model animation controls in the Properties panel

    Easily modify the lighting and shadow effects on a 3D model layer and select embedded animations through the Properties panel.

    Animated Environment Lights 

    Illuminate your Advanced 3D compositions by choosing a composition, video, or image layer as an Environment light source.

    Helper commands for common 3D workflows

    Use new commands to simplify common 3D workflows with single-click actions, such as linking a camera to a light, applying 2D effects to 3D objects, and visualizing the Environment Light's source.

    Customize Transparency Grids

    Use a new set of options in Grids & Guides preferences to change the size and colors of the transparency grids displayed behind the composition contents.

    Customize panel background colors

    Personalize the empty fallow area around your composition by selecting a background color from five grey brightness levels or choosing a custom color.

    Maintain your workspace when opening projects

    Keep your current workspace layout consistent when opening projects saved with different workspaces in After Effects.

    New and improved Null creation commands

    Effortlessly create Null controllers for positional properties such as the gradient points of Shapes, Puppet Pins, and effect points, simplifying your workflow and enhancing efficiency.

    Detailed summary of new features

    Previous releases of After Effects

    Related resources

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