ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS 7.0
User Guide
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4
If you selected the Overlap option in step 3, select a Transition option to specify which layers’ opacity After Effects
adjusts to create cross-dissolves:
•
If none of the selected layers uses an alpha channel or mask, select Dissolve Front Layer.
•
If any of the selected layers uses an alpha channel or a mask, select Cross Dissolve Front And Back Layers.
Note:
If you plan to sequence still-image footage that you haven’t imported yet, choose Edit > Preferences > Import
(Windows), or After Effects > Preferences > Import (Mac OS) before you import, and specify a short Still Footage
duration.
Copying and pasting layers and attributes
Through the copy and paste commands, you can manipulate and place layers and layer attributes. When copying and
pasting a layer in the Timeline panel, you can paste a layer’s In point to a specific time in the Timeline panel.
You can also copy keyframe attributes from one layer to multiple layers, or from one property to other properties on
a single layer—all in one operation.
See also
“Copying and pasting keyframes” on page 198
To copy a layer to the current time
1
In the Timeline panel, copy the layer or source footage.
2
Drag the current-time indicator to the time at which you want the layer to begin.
3
Press Ctrl+Alt+V (Windows) or V (Mac OS).
To duplicate a layer
When you
duplicate
a layer, After Effects copies all property keyframes, expressions, masks, and effects to the
duplicate. The duplicate is added above the original layer and automatically selected. If you want to duplicate a layer
without duplicating its keyframes, expressions, masks, and effects, add the original source footage file to the compo-
sition again.
❖
In the Project, Composition, or Timeline panel, select the layer and choose Edit > Duplicate.
Note:
Track mattes retain their order, on top of the layer when you duplicate or split the layer.
Splitting layers
In the Timeline panel, you can split a layer at any point in time, creating two independent layers. This is a time-saving
alternative to duplicating and trimming the layer—something you might do when you want to change the stacking-
order position of the layer in the middle of the composition, such as an object revolving in front of and then behind
another object.
To split a layer
1
In the Timeline or Composition panel, select a layer.
2
In the Timeline panel, move the current-time indicator to the time where you want to split the layer.
3
Choose Edit > Split Layer.
When you split a layer, both resulting layers contain all the keyframes that were in the original layer in their original
positions. Any applied track mattes retain their order, on top of the layer.
Summary of Contents for AFTER EFFECTS 7.0
Page 1: ...Chapter 1 User Guide...
