User Guide

27
What’s New in After Effects 5.0
After Effects is a powerful upgrade to the award-winning motion graphics and visual
effects software. Its versatile and powerful new features enable a flexible workflow tailored
to your needs.
Precise control
New features such as 3D compositing, layer parenting, vector paint tools, and expressions
open creative possibilities. Masking enhancements and dozens of new effects offer creative
control.
3D compositing
Built-in support for 3D compositing means you can add new depth to your creative ideas.
Mix 2D and 3D layers in a single composition, create and animate lights and cameras,
define shadow characteristics, control how 3D layers interact with light sources, and much
more.
Parenting
Animate layers hierarchically by defining a parent-child relationship between any two
layers. The child layer automatically inherits all of the transformations applied to the
parent.
Vector paint tools (Production Bundle only)
Use nondestructive vector paint tools to reveal an image over time, draw animated
cartoons, and much more. Select brush options; choose whether strokes are recorded to
the current frame, to sequential frames, in real time, or continuously; and specify how
strokes are played back. Wiggle controls make it easy to create a hand-animated look or a
variety of special effects.
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