Adobe 65008009 - After Effects CS4 Using Manual page 148

Last updated 12/21/2009
Note: A more accurate description is that the adjustment layer applies the effect to the composite created from all layers
below the adjustment layer in the layer stacking order. For this reason, applying an effect to an adjustment layer improves
rendering performance compared with applying the same effect separately to each of the underlying layers.
If you want to apply an effect or transformation to a collection of layers, you can precompose the layers and then apply
the effect or transformation to the precomposition layer. (See
Use masks on an adjustment layer to apply an effect to only parts of the underlying layers. You can animate masks to
follow moving subjects in the underlying layers.
• To create an adjustment layer, choose Layer > New > Adjustment Layer, or press Ctrl+Alt+Y (Windows) or
Command+Option+Y (Mac OS).
• To convert selected layers to adjustment layers, select the Adjustment Layer switch
panel or choose Layer > Switches > Adjustment Layer.
Note: You can deselect the Adjustment Layer switch for a layer to convert it to a normal layer.
Andrew Kramer provides a video tutorial on his
layer to apply an effect to only a short duration and to only specific portions of a movie.
Eran Stern provides a video tutorial on the
layers, to precisely control which layers are affected by which lights.
Lloyd Alvarez provides a script on his
layer, with each new adjustment layer trimmed to the duration of the selected layer.
More Help topics
"Apply an effect or animation
"Creating masks" on page 312
Create a layer and new Photoshop footage item
When you create an Adobe Photoshop file from After Effects, Photoshop starts and creates a new PSD file. This PSD
file consists of a blank Photoshop layer that has the same dimensions as your composition, with the appropriate title-
safe and action-safe guides. The color bit depth of the PSD file is the same as the color bit depth of your After Effects
project.
The newly created PSD file is automatically imported into After Effects as a footage item. Any changes that you save
in Photoshop appear in the footage item in After Effects.
• To create a Photoshop footage item and use it as the source for a new layer in the current composition, choose
Layer > New > Adobe Photoshop File. The Photoshop layer is added as the top layer in your composition.
• To create a Photoshop footage item with the settings of the most recently open composition, without adding it to a
composition, choose File > New > Adobe Photoshop File.
More Help topics
"Working with footage items" on page 80
"Preparing and importing Photoshop
"Working with Photoshop and After
Video Copilot website
Creative COW website
After Effects Scripts website
preset" on page 393
files" on page 105
Effects" on page 38
"Precompose layers" on page 61.)
for the layers in the Timeline
in which he shows how to use an adjustment
that demonstrates the use of lights as adjustment
that creates an adjustment layer above each selected
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USING AFTER EFFECTS CS4
Layers and properties