Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 5.5 Help Manual page 82

Adobe After Effects Help
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When you use a footage item as a source for different layers, you can trim it differently in
each layer. Trimming does not alter the original source file.
Note: Trimming a still image layer changes the length of time the image appears in the
composition; it does not crop the image (affect what portion of the image appears).
Trimming layer footage
You can trim by changing the In and Out points in the Layer window or the Timeline
window, depending on what you want to change.
In the Layer window, In and Out points relate to time positions within source files, not the
time at which the layer appears in the composition. For example, if you want to show just
specific frames of a movie, trim the movie footage in the Layer window. However, if you
want to begin the movie at the first frame in the source file and then cut it at some point in
the play time, trim the Out point in either the Layer window or the Timeline window.
The numbers below the layer image indicate the In ( ) and Out ( ) times relative to running
the source file, and the duration ( ) (the difference between the In point and the Out
point).
In the Timeline window, the In and Out panels tell you at what points in the composition
the footage appears. For example, if you want a still image to appear at a specific point in
the composition and then disappear again, trim the image In and Out points in the
Timeline window.
Note: If the In and Out panels do not appear in the Timeline window, click Expand or
Collapse ( ) below the left edge of the timeline display bars panel.
To trim or restore layer footage:
Use one of the following techniques:
Drag either end of the layer duration bar in the Timeline window.
•
Move the current-time marker in the Timeline window to the time at which you want
•
the footage to begin or end, and press Alt+[ (Windows) or Option+[ (Mac OS) (to set the
In point) or press Alt+] (Windows) or Option+] (Mac OS) (to set the Out point).
Move the current-time marker in the Layer window to the time at which you want the
•
footage to begin or end, and then click the In ( ) or Out ( ) button to set the In or Out
point.
A pale rectangle behind the layer duration bar represents the footage you trimmed.
Move the current-time marker precisely in either the Layer or Timeline window by
choosing View > Go to Time.
Note: If the entire layer duration bar moves when you drag, you've accidentally grabbed
the layer itself; choose Edit > Undo Layer Time Change and try again.
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