Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 5.5 Help Manual page 87

Adobe After Effects Help
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The A/V Features panel includes the Video ( ), Audio ( ), Solo ( ), and Lock ( ) switches.
The Switches panel contains the Shy ( ), Collapse Transformations ( ), Quality ( ), Effects
( ), Frame Blending ( ), Motion Blur ( ), Adjustment Layer ( ), and 3D Layer ( ) switches.
Quickly change switches for multiple layers by clicking the switch for one layer and
dragging up or down that column for the adjacent layers.
By default, the layer Switches panel shares space in the Timeline window with the Transfer
Modes panel (see "Using layer modes" on page 166), so one or the other is visible—but
not both. You can toggle between the two panels or show both panels simultaneously.
To toggle between the layer Switches panel and the transfer Modes panel:
Click Switches/Modes at the bottom of the panel in the Timeline window.
Note: The Expand or Collapse button ( ) at the bottom of the layer names panel hides
and reshows the Switches/Modes panel. If you do not see the Switches/Modes button, click
the Expand or Collapse button.
To display both the Switches and Transfer Modes panels:
1 Click the right arrow above the Timeline window vertical scroll bar to open the Timeline
window menu.
2 Choose Panels > Modes (if Modes is not checked) or Panels > Switches (if Switches is
not checked).
When you set switches in a composition with other compositions nested within it, After
Effects also applies those switches to the subordinate compositions. These settings
include the Quality, Collapse Transformations, Motion Blur, and Frame Blending switches.
If you do not want the switch settings you add to parent compositions to apply to the
compositions nested within them, change that at the Preferences level.
To prevent switches from operating through nested compositions:
1 Choose Edit > Preferences > General.
2 Deselect the Switches Affect Nested Comps option, and click OK.
Altering appearances on the layer level
Use switches to make changes at the layer level that affect the appearance of your final
output. These switches include Collapse Transformations/Continuously Rasterize, Quality,
Motion Blur, hiding or showing effects, Frame Blending, and 3D. Using the switches, you
can specify the balance you want between the way the image looks and rendering time.
For information about changing only the appearance on your screen while you work
without changing final output, see "Customizing layer work and views" on page 78.
Collapsing transformation properties
The Collapse Transformations/Continuously Rasterize layer switch ( ) in the Timeline
window affects nested compositions and Adobe Illustrator files. However, it affects these
layers differently.
When the layer source is a composition, this switch acts as the Collapse Transformations
switch. Selecting it may improve image quality and decrease viewing and rendering time.
You cannot select this switch if a mask or effect is applied to the layer.
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Managing Layers
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