Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 5.5 Help Manual page 10

Adobe After Effects Help
Using Help | Contents
When working with footage digitized from NTSC video, you usually use the 30-fps, drop-
frame timecode base. This counts NTSC-created frames using standard drop-frame
timecode for maximum device compatibility. For frames (or feet and frames) timecode,
you can also change the starting frame number to match the time-counting method of
another editing system you may be using.
To change the time display:
1 Open the project and choose File > Project Settings.
2 Select a time setting:
To use timecode, click Timecode Base, and then select a frame rate from the Timecode
•
pop-up menu.
To use drop-frame time code for footage and compositions with a frame rate of 29.97
•
fps, click Timecode Base, and then select 30 fps from the Timecode Base pop-up menu
and Drop Frame from the NTSC menu.
To use non-drop-frame timecode for footage and compositions with a frame rate of
•
29.97 fps, click Timecode Base and then select 30 fps from the Timecode Base pop-up
menu and Non-Drop Frame from the NTSC menu.
To use frames for the display style, click Frames.
•
To use feet and frames for the display style, click Feet + Frames, and then choose a film
•
type from the Feet + Frames pop-up menu.
3 If desired, type a value in the Start Numbering Frames At option. This value applies only
when you have chosen Frames or Feet + Frames.
4 Click OK.
To instantly cycle through Timecode, Frames, and Feet + Frames, Ctrl+click (Windows)
or Command+click (Mac OS) the timecode display at the bottom of the Composition
window or at the top of the Timeline window.
Setting up a project
After you create a new project, you import footage into the project. You can also specify
project settings or application-wide preferences.
Creating a new project
By default, After Effects opens a new Project window when you start the application.
When you know the media for your final project, you are ready to create a project by
importing your footage items into a new Project window. You can also open a new Project
window at any time from the File menu. See "Working with the Project window" on
page 15.
To create a new project after closing the current project in After Effects:
Choose File > New > New Project.
Importing footage items
When you import a footage item, After Effects creates only a reference to the file and does
not copy or move the file itself. These references to your source files are displayed in the
Project window.
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Working with Projects, Windows, and Palettes
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