Create a proxy, Create placeholders for output – Adobe After Effects CS4 User Manual
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USING AFTER EFFECTS CS4
Importing and managing footage items
Last updated 12/21/2009
For best results, set a proxy so that it has the same frame aspect ratio as the actual footage item. For example, if the
actual footage item is a 640x480-pixel movie, create and use a 160x120-pixel proxy. When a proxy item is imported,
After Effects scales the item to the same size and duration as the actual footage. If you create a proxy with a frame aspect
ratio that is different from the frame aspect ratio of the actual footage item, scaling takes longer.
❖
In the Project panel, do any of the following:
•
To locate and use a proxy, select a footage item, choose File
> Set Proxy
> File, locate and select the file you want to
use as a proxy, and click Open.
•
To toggle between using the original footage and its proxy, click the proxy indicator to the left of the footage name.
•
To stop using a proxy, select the original footage item, and choose File
> Set Proxy
> None.
Create a proxy
Use the Create Proxy command to create a proxy from footage or compositions selected in the Project panel or the
Timeline panel. This command adds the selected footage to the Render Queue panel and sets the Post-Render Action
option to Set Proxy.
1
Select a footage item or composition in the Project or Timeline panel.
2
Choose one of the following commands:
•
File
> Create Proxy
> Still to create a still image proxy.
•
File
> Create Proxy
> Movie to create a moving image proxy.
3
Specify a name and output destination for the proxy.
4
In the Render Queue panel, specify render settings, and click Render.
Note: To create a still image proxy from a movie or sequence footage item, open the footage item in the Footage panel and
set as the poster frame the frame that you want to use as the proxy.
Create placeholders for output
You can create placeholder files that can be used in different compositions. For example, you can create a placeholder
for an item in the render queue that will create a 24-fps movie and then drag that placeholder into a 30-fps
composition. Then, when you render the 30-fps composition, After Effects first renders the placeholder at 24 fps and
uses this rendered version as it renders the 30-fps composition.
❖
Drag the Output Module heading for a queued item from the Render Queue panel to the Project panel. After Effects
creates a placeholder for output in the Project panel and sets the Post-Render Action option for the item to Import
& Replace Usage.
Additional resources for working with placeholders and proxies
Andrew Kramer provides a video tutorial with tips for working with proxies, output modules, and output module
Jeff Almasol provides a script on his
with which you can create proxies for
multiple selected items.