Adobe AFTER EFFECTS CS3 PROFESSIONAL User Manual page 95

Import a still-image sequence as a single footage item
1 Choose File > Import > File.
Select any file in the sequence. To import a subset of files in a sequence, select the first file, hold down Shift, and
2
then select the last file to import.
Choose Footage from the Import Kind menu.
3
Click Open (Windows) or Import (Mac OS).
4
In the [filename] dialog box, choose one of the following from the Choose Layer menu:
5
Imports the sequence as a sequence footage item in which the layers in the file, if any, are merged
Merged Layers
into one layer.
Imports the sequence as a sequence footage item in which the same layer from each source file—for
Choose Layer
example, layer 3—is imported and used in the sequence. If you choose this option for a PSD sequence, then you can
also choose whether to ignore layer styles or merge them into the layer. You must also choose a Footage Dimensions
option: Layer Size matches the dimensions of the layer to the layer's content; Document Size matches the dimensions
of the layer to the original document's size.
Click OK.
6
If at any time you decide that you want access to the individual components of the footage item, you can convert it
to a composition. See "Convert a merged footage item into a composition" on page 90.
Import a still-image sequence as a composition
When you import a Photoshop or Illustrator file as a composition, you have access to the individual layers, blending
modes, adjustment layers, layer styles, masks, guides, and other features created in Photoshop or Illustrator. The
imported composition and a folder containing each of its layers as footage items appears in the Project panel.
Choose File > Import > File.
1
Select any file in the sequence. To import a subset of files in a sequence, select the first file, hold down Shift, and
2
then select the last file to import.
Choose one of the following from the Import Kind menu:
3
Composition - Cropped Layers
manipulate layers and speeds their rendering time.
Import layers and have them match the dimensions of the composition. This option is helpful when
Composition
you need to align layers manually.
Click Open (Windows) or Import (Mac OS).
4
Change the frame rate of a sequence
When you import a sequence of still images, they assume the frame rate specified by the Sequence Footage
preference in the Import category. The default rate is 30 frames per second (fps). You can change the frame rate after
importing by reinterpreting the footage item:
❖
Select the sequence in the Project panel, choose File > Interpret Footage > Main, and then enter a new value for
Assume This Frame Rate.
For more information, see "Change frame rate" on page 63.
Import the layers with their original dimensions. This option makes it easier to
AFTER EFFECTS CS3 89
User Guide