Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 5.5 Help Manual page 272

Adobe After Effects Help
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If the selected composition includes elements that are turned off (that is, the Video or
•
Audio switch is deselected in the Timeline window), the Reduce Project command does
not remove that switched-off item.
If an expression in a selected composition refers to an element in a nonsubordinate
•
composition, Reduce Project removes the nonsubordinate composition and the
applied expression. The message that appears after you choose Reduce Project
reminds you of this possibility, so you can undo the command if needed.
To avoid removing the expressions from a nonsubordinate composition, drag the
nonsubordinate composition into the composition that refers to it. Then turn off the
Audio and Video switches for the composition you added.
To delete unused project elements:
1 In the Project window, select all the compositions you want to keep in the project.
2 Choose File > Reduce Project.
Note: The Reduce Project command is available only when the Project window is active.
Techniques for working efficiently
Projects you create using high resolution or many layers can take longer to work with
because of long previewing times or complex navigation. After Effects provides many
options and techniques for working faster and more efficiently.
In many cases you can work more quickly by displaying an appropriate level of detail for
the layers you are working on. For example, imagine you are animating a frame containing
a small moving layer in front of a larger layer. If you're adjusting the motion of the small
layer in relation to the large layer, you may need to see both layers. If you're adjusting only
the effect applied to the smaller layer, you can speed previewing by preventing a detailed
display of the larger layer, displaying the layer at a lower resolution or as a wireframe, or
turning off the display of the layer. As you work on other parts of the project, use the
following techniques to speed screen updates on the area in which you are currently
working.
Lower the composition's resolution Displaying a composition at a lower resolution
than is set in its Composition Settings dialog box speeds previewing, especially when you
adjust the window size accordingly. See "Setting resolution" on page 59.
Use folders in the Project window To make it easier to locate and move items, organize
items by creating and using folders in the Project window. See "Working with the Project
window" on page 15. Use the Find button (
locate files and compositions by name.
Close unneeded windows and tabs Keep open only those windows and tabs that you
need to see as you work. After Effects must spend time updating all Layer or Composition
windows that are open, which takes time from the one or two windows that are most
important. Tabs consume memory that could otherwise be used to speed up other opera-
tions.
Substitute a proxy for a source item When working at full resolution, substitute a low-
resolution or still-image proxy for a layer to speed previewing and working. See "Substi-
tuting a low-resolution proxy for footage" on page 54.
Using Help | Contents
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Managing Projects Effectively
) at the bottom of the Project window to
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