Adobe After Effects is one of the leading motion graphics and SFX software used by professional video editors, animators, and designers. One thing that many users agree on is that they wish rendering in After Effects didn’t take so long. If you’ve ever wondered, ‘Why is After Effects rendering so slow?’, this guide will help you explore how to make After Effects render faster.

Rendering is the process of combining all your edited video, audio, and effects from the composition timeline into a finalized product for export. It’s essential to optimize your setup if you want to render faster in After Effects, especially when dealing with complex projects.

Whether you’re new to After Effects or a professional VFX designer, waiting for motion graphics and SFX to render in After Effects can be frustrating, especially if you’re working on a deadline.

There are a few ways to optimize your settings and hardware to reduce Adobe After Effects rendering times. Here is a list of proven tips for faster rendering in After Effects from professional video editors.

Photo by KAL VISUALS on Unsplash

Intermediate and beginner After Effects editors may be shocked to discover how long it takes to render a final video. Rendering can take 30 minutes to an hour for each minute of video; without the right computer and settings, it could take much longer.

In some cases, the render might fail multiple times, or the application may crash. For more on resolving these problems, check out our guide on common issues and fixes in After Effects. If the rendered project comes out with errors, the editor may have to spend time rendering the whole project over again. This can add up to many post-production hours wasted on rendering.

Intensive editing projects with large file sizes, 3D animation, and SFX will take more time to render. Depending on your computer’s capabilities and settings, rendering could take longer than the editing process. Speeding up rendering will produce faster post-production turnarounds for professional video editors.

Tip #1: Choose the Right Rendering Platform

Many people believe that their After Effects projects will render faster if they outsource the process to Adobe Media Encoder, but this may not be the case. Some editors report that Media Encoder runs into more glitches and failed exports than rendering directly in After Effects.

Thanks to a new update from Adobe, the rendering times in After Effects are more than five times faster than they used to be. So why do so many editors still use Adobe Media Encoder to render and export?

Some editors prefer Media Encoder because it allows you to export in more codecs. To avoid rendering errors in Media Encoder, export in After Effects by following the industry standard project configurations and then use Media Encoder to transcode the file into another codec later.

Tip #2: Turn On Multi-Frame Rendering

Turning on multi-frame rendering is one of the top suggestions to speed up After Effects render times. Multi-frame rendering allows you to render multiple frames simultaneously, reducing the overall time spent rendering, even when After Effects frame render time is slow. The feature is initially disabled, so you have to go into your preferences to enable it.

Preferences > Memory & Performance > Enable Multi-Frame Rendering

Tip #3: Reserve More RAM

While you have the After Effects preferences open to enable multi-frame rendering, you can also go ahead and reserve more RAM for After Effects. Your RAM is how your computer stores and uses information quickly.

RAM is very important for your computer’s processing times, and allocating more of it to After Effects will help the program process files for faster renders. In the Memory & Performance preferences window, you can reduce the RAM reserved for other applications to the lowest percentage allowed (around 10%). This adjustment can significantly reduce render time in After Effects, allowing for a faster workflow.

Preferences > Memory & Performance > RAM Reserved for Other Applications

Tip #4: Update Your Software

If your After Effects render is slow, one reason could be that the software requires an update. If your After Effects files are taking longer than usual to render, check to see if there are new updates available. Updating to the latest version can increase render speed in After Effects and prevent issues where After Effects takes too long to render.

Also, make sure that your computer is running the latest version, and it is compatible with the version of After Effects you are using.

Tip #5: Use Vagon To Get Beyond Your Computer’s Limitations

If your computer has consistent problems with rendering After Effects files, such as running into frequent errors or crashes, your computer may not meet the system requirements. You can find detailed solutions in our blog on how to stop After Effects from crashing.

With Vagon, stepping into a high-performance rendering environment is as easy as a few clicks. Our in-browser remote desktops enable creatives to edit and render their AE projects faster and more smoothly. Learn more about using After Effects on a cloud computer to further enhance your workflow.

Tip #6: Cache Frames when Idle

Here is another setting you need to know if you want to speed up rendering time for After Effects projects. The “Cache Frames When Idle” feature enables After Effects to render your composition automatically when the program is left idle.

This means every time you leave your desk to grab a cup of coffee or take a break, After Effects will be working to render the project in the meantime. Enabling this feature is a smart way to reduce overall After Effects slow render times.

Composition > Preview > Cache Frames When Idle

Tip #7: Upgrade Graphics Card

Adobe After Effects is a graphics-intensive software, so it is no surprise that upgrading your graphics card can improve rendering times. Adobe recommends prioritizing the overall graphics processing unit (GPU) performance when choosing a GPU for your editing computer.

You need at least 2 GB or GPU VRAM to run After Effects, but Adobe recommends 4GB.

If you are using After Effects for PC, update your graphic drivers to the latest version recommended by Adobe. Mac graphics drivers typically update automatically. There are eGPUs (external GPUs) that you can use to improve graphics performance on your video editing laptop.

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

Photo by Joseph Greve on Unsplash

Tip #8: Upgrade External Storage

The reason why After Effects is rendering slow could be that your computer’s hardware cannot keep up. After Effects needs adequate processing power and memory space to work efficiently.

You should always use a dedicated external storage device, such as a hard drive disk or solid-state drive (SSD), for video editing rather than storing files directly on your computer. External storage devices allow your computer to dedicate maximum memory and processing power to running video editing programs like After Effects.

Some video editing experts believe a system of multiple SSDs is the best way to help Adobe After Effects render faster. For example, you could use one SSD for audio and video files, one SSD for media cache files, and another for the operating system.

Tip #9: Enable GPU Acceleration

You can turn on GPU Acceleration in the AE Project Settings window to help your files render faster. GPU Acceleration combines the power of the computer’s GPU and CPU to speed up graphics processing.

Many features in After Effects and Premiere Pro use GPU Acceleration; you might not be able to apply some effects without it. Turning it on will improve rendering times and allow for higher-quality playback. This setting helps make After Effects render faster by utilizing both the GPU and CPU.

File > Project Settings > Video Rendering and Effects > Mercury GPU Acceleration (CUDA)

Tip #10: Optimize Your Project

Slow rendering times can be a consistent hassle, especially if you’re dealing with After Effects slow render issues due to your computer’s limitations. You can optimize your project before rendering to make it easier for your computer to handle rendering playback and exports.

• Clean up unneeded files in the workspace by deleting any turned-off layers.

• Remove any unnecessary effects or graphics that do not add much to the composition.

• Turn off Depth of Field, Motion Blurring, and 3D.

Another one of our suggestions for optimizing your project for rendering in After Effects is to apply effects to adjustment layers. Adjustment layers allow you to apply an effect to multiple video clips at once.

If your raw video files are larger than your composition size (like editing 4k footage in a 1080 composition) adjustment layers can reduce the processing power needed to apply effects because it adjusts to the size of the composition rather than the source file.

Also, the plugins in the project can cause performance issues. In addition to the project file optimizations, we highly recommend checking the plugins you are using as well.

Enhance Your After Effects Workflow with Vagon

Tired of waiting around for slow renders in After Effects? With Vagon’s high-performance cloud PCs, you can significantly speed up your rendering times and get more done in less time. Vagon provides powerful, in-browser remote desktops that let you edit and render your projects faster, without being held back by your computer’s limitations. Whether you’re working on a complex VFX sequence or a large motion graphics project, Vagon’s cutting-edge technology can help you overcome slow render times and boost your productivity. Try Vagon today and experience the difference it can make in your After Effects workflow.

FAQs:

1. Why is my After Effects render so slow?

   • There could be several reasons why your After Effects render is slow, including outdated software, insufficient RAM, or suboptimal project settings. This blog post offers tips on how to speed up rendering in After Effects by adjusting these factors.

2. What are the system requirements for faster rendering in After Effects?

   • While the system requirements for After Effects can be found on the official Adobe website, the blog post offers several tips to optimize rendering times on various systems. Additionally, upgrading your hardware or building a professional workstation can significantly improve rendering performance in After Effects.

3. Can cloud computing enhance rendering times in After Effects on a low-end device?

   • Absolutely! Utilizing cloud computing platforms like Vagon can provide a powerful workstation to run After Effects smoothly on a low-end device. The blog post covers various tips on optimizing rendering settings, but for more substantial performance improvements, leveraging cloud computing resources is a smart choice.

4. What are the best practices to speed up rendering in After Effects?

   • Best practices to speed up rendering in After Effects include using GPU Acceleration, caching frames when idle, upgrading your hardware, and utilizing a high-performance cloud computer like Vagon for more demanding projects.

5. How can I speed up my computer when running After Effects?

   • Several strategies can help in speeding up your computer while running After Effects. Upgrading your existing hardware or investing in a more powerful machine can provide notable improvements. Moreover, tweaking the internal settings of After Effects, as discussed in the blog post, or checking out must-know After Effects tips can also contribute to better performance. If you’re encountering stability issues, the blog on how to stop After Effects from crashing may offer useful solutions.

6. What are some other software alternatives for video effects and rendering?

   • While After Effects is a powerful tool for video effects and rendering, there are other software alternatives in the market. For instance, Adobe’s own Premiere Pro is a robust video editing solution, and tools like Blender or Final Cut Pro also offer video editing and effects capabilities. If your project has more VFX components, sticking with After Effects or exploring other specialized VFX software might be a better choice.

7. Can I reduce frame render time in After Effects?

   • Yes, reducing frame render time in After Effects is possible by enabling multi-frame rendering, optimizing your project, and ensuring that your computer meets or exceeds the system requirements. Detailed steps are provided in the blog.

8. How do I enable GPU Acceleration to render faster in After Effects?

   • You can enable GPU Acceleration in After Effects by going to the Project Settings window and selecting "Mercury GPU Acceleration (CUDA)" under the Video Rendering and Effects section. This setting helps make After Effects render faster by utilizing both the GPU and CPU.