After Effects is a powerful video editing program, especially for those who want to make their videos look cinematic and professional. It provides editors with the tools to create top-notch visuals directly from their home computers, especially when using pre-made After Effects templates to speed up the creative process. With the right knowledge, your video projects can look incredible and wow your audience. In this article, we'll cover After Effects tips and After Effects tricks that can help improve your editing workflow.

After Effects has a multitude of powerful features that make editing and enhancement a breeze. If you know the Adobe After Effects tips and tricks, you can work more quickly, more easily, and make spectacular video edits. Here are ten After Effects tips every user needs to know:

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1. Take Command of Text Kerning

It seems like every video editing package has a tough time providing the perfect text kerning. Adobe After Effects tips like adjusting text kerning settings can help you enhance the look of your titles. After Effects has built-in text kerning options. The program defaults to kern by ‘metrics,’ but you can change it to ‘optical’ in the text settings, providing a better look. For even more control, simply click within your text, hold down the ALT key, and adjust the kerning with the left and right arrows.

2. Save a Single Frame of Your Video

Looking to share a quick view of your project with someone? No need to render out a video when you can render a high-quality still frame. Scrub to the frame you want to render and go to Composition → Save Frame As → File to create a still frame of your work. This is one of the most practical After Effects best practices for sharing a visual snapshot of your project.

3. View All Keyframes at Once

Keyframes are an essential part of video editing. You can change nearly anything over a period of time using a set of keyframes. It can be tough to ensure you’re looking at every keyframe you’ve placed in your edit. If you just click U, every layer with a keyframe will open, showing you the placement of every keyframe for easy reference and simple editing. Mastering keyboard shortcuts is one of the most effective Adobe After Effects tricks to speed up your workflow.

4. Change Render Quality

While editing, you may need to render out a sample of your work to show to a boss or a friend. It can take a long time to render a full video at top quality. Luckily, you can adjust the quality by changing the render settings before you start. Just select “full” on the timeline and change it to a lower setting. For even more faster rendering tips, check out our guide on how to render faster in After Effects. If you still encounter problems, check out these common issues and fixes to troubleshoot.

5. Transform Multiple Objects at Once

Oftentimes, you may find yourself needing to change many objects in a similar way, but this can take a while to do. Fortunately, After Effects makes it easy to edit multiple objects at once. All you have to do is create a Null Object in the timeline and use that Null Object as the ‘parent & link’ option for all the objects you want to edit. This After Effect tip helps you save time when working with complex layers.

6. Scale Your Keyframes

It can be irritating to change your keyframe placement in regard to other keyframes. If you move one keyframe the wrong distance, it can mess up your entire visual. Fortunately, it’s easy to maneuver a set of keyframes together. Just SHIFT SELECT all the keyframes you want to scale and drag one of them forward or backward. All the selected keyframes will move in unison. This technique is one of the most useful After Effects tips and tricks for working with keyframe animation.

7. Duplicate a Layer in an Instant

Sometimes your workflow can speed up by copying and pasting the effects and filters of one layer onto another. Simply select a layer and hit CTRL (or CMD) + D. Your new layer will be identical to the old one, making it easy to utilize all the effects of the original layer. How to use After Effects for edits like this one is key to streamlining your video creation process.

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8. Sequence Your Layers

Many videos require multiple shot changes and individual images appearing at different times. Adjusting each layer manually is inefficient. If you select all the layers and go to Animation → Keyframe Assistant → Sequence Layers, your layers will evenly space out so each is perfectly timed. This is another After Effects best practice that can speed up your timeline management.

9. Take Control of Your Colors

Color correction is hard to do properly, even for the pros. After Effects makes it easier to manipulate your colors with a rotatable master hue. Go to Add The Effect → Color Correction → Hue/Saturation to find the master hue and rotate it accordingly. If you experience any stability issues during heavy color edits, learn how to stop After Effects from crashing to maintain your workflow.

10. Crop Your Video to a Region of Interest

Cropping your video can add a great level of focus to your work. Instead of adjusting the crop size manually, go to Composition → Composition Setting and select “region of interest.” Now you can drag a box around the exact space you want to use as your crop. This Adobe After Effects trick makes it easy to focus on a specific area of your video.

You can also check out our GPU Guide for tips to use GPU, along with speed up and acceleration tips for Adobe After Effects.

There are so many incredible tools already built into After Effects and they can help make your videos pop like never before. Whether you need to up your colors, manipulate your audio, or anything in between, After Effects has tons of options that can make your work look and sound professional. You can also explore the best After Effects tutorials to enhance your skills further.

Try out any of these tips the next time you edit a video, whether you're working on your local machine or using After Effects on a cloud computer for even more flexibility.

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FAQs:

1. What are some must-know After Effects tips for beginners?

   • After Effects offers several essential tips for beginners, like learning to use keyframes, duplicating layers quickly with CTRL (CMD) + D, and transforming multiple objects using a Null Object. Mastering these basic After Effects tips will help you get more efficient and creative in your projects.

2. How do I speed up my workflow in After Effects?

   • To improve your workflow, learn and utilize After Effects best practices like using keyboard shortcuts, scaling keyframes, and adjusting render quality for faster previews. Additionally, using pre-made templates can help reduce editing time.

3. What’s the easiest way to render faster in After Effects?

   • You can render faster by lowering the render quality setting in the timeline. Opting for a lower quality during preview can speed up the process without stressing your computer. For more details, check out our faster rendering tips.

4. How do I fix common issues in After Effects?

   • Common issues like crashing or slow performance can often be resolved by managing your system resources, clearing cache, or adjusting project settings. Refer to our guide on After Effects common issues and fixes for more troubleshooting help.

5. What is the best way to learn After Effects?

   • Start by mastering the basics like keyframes, layers, and effects. Follow tutorials or a complete guide to After Effects, and practice regularly. You can also explore the best After Effects tutorials to further improve your skills.

6. Can I use After Effects on a cloud computer?

   • Yes, you can easily use After Effects on a cloud computer to access high-performance resources without needing to invest in expensive hardware. Learn more about using After Effects on a cloud computer to maximize flexibility and speed.