Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 5.5 Help Manual page 23

Adobe After Effects Help
Using Help | Contents
If the tool is visible, click its icon. To view a tool tip, hold the mouse pointer over a tool.
•
B C D E
A
I
F G H
A. Selection B. Pen C. Add Point D. Delete Point E. Convert Point
F. Orbit Camera G. Track XY Camera H. Track Z Camera I. Hand
J. Rotation K. Rectangle Mask L. Oval Mask M. Pan Behind N. Zoom
O. Local Axis Mode P. World Axis Mode Q. View Axis Mode
If the tool is not visible, position the pointer on the appropriate tool and drag to
•
highlight the tool you want.
To select a tool quickly, press its shortcut key on the keyboard. These keys are listed on
the After Effects Quick Reference Card.
Info palette
The Info palette describes the area under the mouse pointer as you drag across a footage
frame in the Composition, Layer, or Footage window. This palette displays values for the
pixel color (R,G,B), alpha channel (A), and coordinates of the current position. When you
modify a layer property graphically, the bottom portion of this palette displays precise
values that relate to the layer instead of the pointer. For example, when you drag a layer,
the Info palette displays the coordinates of the layer's center point and the offset from its
last position. This makes it easy to move a layer by a specific number of pixels in either axis.
During other operations, the Info palette provides context-sensitive information, such as
the progress of rendering a window preview.
The X coordinate represents position in the horizontal axis, and the Y coordinate repre-
sents position in the vertical axis. Values for these coordinates are in pixels. The X and Y
coordinates are relative to the origin (0,0), which is fixed at the upper left corner of the
image area. The upper right portion of the Info palette displays the X and Y coordinates of
the pointer. As you drag a layer, the lower portion of the Info palette displays the X and Y
coordinates of the layer's anchor point. The lower portion of the Info palette also displays
Z coordinates if the layer includes 3D animation.
If the zero point differs from the origin, X' and Y' coordinates appear in the Info palette
below the X and Y coordinates. These values measure the distance from the zero point or
the ruler.
Note: The origin of the image area is different than the origin, or zero point, of the rulers.
You can set the ruler's zero point to match the origin of the image area, but you cannot
change the origin of the image area.
Using Help | Contents
| Index
J
M
K L
N
O P Q
| Index
Working with Projects, Windows, and Palettes
Back 23
Back 23