Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 5.5 Help Manual page 30

Adobe After Effects Help
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last file you want to include. In this case, only the two files you selected appear highlighted
in the Import File dialog box, but all files that fall between those two in the sequence will
also be imported.
To import a folder of still images as a sequence by dragging:
1 Drag the folder from the desktop to the After Effects Project window.
After Effects imports the first sequence that is listed in the folder, based on the filename.
You can also import an existing sequence as individual footage files. There are two ways to
accomplish this.
To import a sequence as individual footage files:
Do either of the following:
Choose File > Import > File to open the Import File dialog box, locate and select the
•
folder, and then click the Import Folder button.
On the desktop, hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) and drag the folder into
•
either the After Effects icon on the desktop or into the Project window.
When you import a sequence of still images, they assume the frame rate specified in the
Preferences. The default rate is 30 frames per second (fps). You can change the frame rate
for the sequence either before or after importing.
To change the default frame rate for a sequence before importing:
1 Choose Edit > Preferences > Import.
2 Under Sequence Footage, type a new default frame rate, and then click OK.
To assign a frame rate to a sequence you've already imported:
1 In the Project window, select the sequence of still images.
2 Choose File > Interpret Footage > Main.
3 Select Assume This Frame Rate and type the frame rate you want.
Importing footage containing an alpha channel
The color information in a typical footage item is contained in three channels: red, green,
and blue. In addition, a footage item can include a fourth channel, called an alpha channel,
that contains transparency information for the parts of the image that are partially or
completely transparent. An alpha channel is often used as a matte for creating effects.
When used in After Effects, a matte defines the transparent areas for its own or another
layer. White areas define what is opaque, and black areas define what is transparent. See
"Using a footage item with an alpha channel" on page 149.
Many file formats can include an alpha channel, including Adobe Photoshop,
ElectricImage IMAGE, TGA, TIFF, EPS, PDF, QuickTime (saved at a bit depth of Millions of
Colors+), and Adobe Illustrator. For Adobe Illustrator EPS and PDF files, After Effects
automatically converts empty areas to an alpha channel.
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Preparing and Importing Footage
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