User Guide

275
ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS 5.0
User Guide
To set an effect point:
Select the effect and then do one of the following:
• Click the effect point icon ( ) in the Composition window and drag. The coordinates
in the Effect Controls window change as you drag.
• Click the effect point icon ( ) in the Effect Controls window; then, in the Composition
or Layer window, position the cursor where you want the effect point, and click.
• In the Effect Controls palette, drag the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis (if available) position
coordinates (located to the right of the effect point icon) or type over the highlighted
coordinates.
To view the effect point or path in the Layer or Composition window:
Select the effect name in the Layer window menu.
Changing effects over time
By default, when you apply an effect to a layer, the controls you specify do not change for
the duration of a layer. However, you can change an effect over time by assigning a
keyframe to one of the effect’s properties at the time you want a change to happen, and
then changing the effect controls at that keyframe. For more information about setting
keyframes and creating changes over time, see “Setting keyframes” on page 163.
To set a keyframe for an effect:
In the Effect Controls window or the Timeline, click the stopwatch next to the effect
property for which you want to set a keyframe.
Positioning effects on layers
After Effects renders all effects using subpixel positioning, a highly accurate interpolation
that calculates a layer’s position to thousandths of a pixel. Effects are calculated to a level
of precision higher than the resolution displayed on-screen, which results in smooth,
high-quality effects and animations. Positioning with subpixel accuracy may soften pixels
when used with blending or smoothing effects.
UG.book Page 275 Wednesday, February 21, 2001 12:05 PM