User Guide

47
ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS 5.0
User Guide
You can choose whether to work in 8-bit-per-channel or 16-bit-per-channel color mode
for each project. Directly import 16-bit images, including those from Photoshop, and
composite and color-correct footage in 16-bit mode. Take advantage of 16-bit color when
performing most After Effects tasks, including layer adjustment, frame blending, 3D, and
Cineon file import. The Info palette displays 16-bit color values with exact precision.
Many effects support 16 bits per channel. If an effect supports only 8 bits, and your project
is set to 16 bits, After Effects displays a warning icon ( ) next to the effect name in the
Effect Controls palette. Using an 8-bit effect in a 16-bit project will result in a loss of detail
for the effect’s layer.
When rendering to output module depths of Trillions of Colors, set the project to 16-bit
color depth to take advantage of the output file’s extra color precision. To optimize perfor-
mance, rough out a composition in 8-bit color mode, and then finalize and output 16-bit
files for maximum quality.
To specify color depth:
1 Open the project and choose File > Project Settings.
2 For Depth, choose 8 bits per channel or 16 bits per channel, and then click OK.
Hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) and click the color depth indicator at the
bottom of the project window to toggle between 8- and 16-bits per channel color.
Setting preferences
When you start After Effects for the first time, the default settings are used. You may want
to change some of these default settings so that each time After Effects is opened, it uses
your selections instead of the standard defaults. After changing settings, you can easily
restore the default settings at any time. All After Effects default settings are stored in a
single file.
After Effects saves the location and type of each open window with the project. Palette
positions are saved in the After Effects Preferences file, which applies to all projects. You
can also save custom workspaces; see “Customizing the workspace” on page 48.
To open a preferences dialog box:
1 Choose the preferences command you want from the Edit > Preferences submenu.
UG.book Page 47 Wednesday, February 21, 2001 12:05 PM