User Guide

CHAPTER 12
362
Rendering a Movie
You can specify the following settings in the Output Module Settings dialog box:
Format Specifies the format for the output file or sequence of files. File formats include
QuickTime, Video for Windows, and file types available from plug-in file format modules.
Embed Specifies whether to include information in the output file that links to the source
project in After Effects. When you open the output file in another application such as
Adobe Premiere, you can use the Edit Original command to edit the source project in After
Effects. Selecting Project Link creates a link between the output file and the source project.
Selecting Project Link and Copy creates a link and adds an embedded copy of the linked
project to the output file; if the project is missing or updated when you choose Edit
Original in another application, you can choose whether to open the source project or the
saved copy of the project.
Import into Project When Done When selected, imports the rendered movie into the
project. Use this option to import prerendered compositions back into a project.
Format Options Opens a dialog box with format-specific information. For example, if
QuickTime is your format, Format Options opens a QuickTime Compression dialog box.
For information on compression settings, see “Choosing compression options” on
page 370.
Channels Specifies the output channels contained in the rendered movie. After Effects
creates a movie with an alpha channel if you choose RGB+Alpha, implying a depth of
Millions of Colors+.
Note: All files created with a color depth of Millions of Colors+ or Trillions of Colors+ have
labeled alpha channels; information describing the alpha channel is stored in the file.
Therefore, you do not have to specify an alpha interpretation each time you import an item
created in After Effects.
Depth Specifies the color depth of the rendered movie. Choose from color or grayscale
options, and note that certain formats may limit depth and color settings.
Color Specifies how colors are created with the alpha channel. Choose from either
Premultiplied (Matted) or Straight (Unmatted). For information on alpha channels, see
“Importing footage containing an alpha channel” on page 72.
Stretch Specifies the size of your rendered movie. Select Lock Aspect To if you want to
retain the existing frame aspect ratio when stretching the frame size. Select Low Stretch
Quality when rendering tests, and select High Stretch Quality when rendering a final
movie.
UG.book Page 362 Wednesday, February 21, 2001 12:05 PM