To Reverse A Layer’s Playback Direction; To Time-Stretch A Layer From A Specific Time; To Time-Stretch A Layer To A Specific Time; To Time-Stretch A Layer But Not Its Keyframes - Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 7.0 Manual

See also
"Enhancing time-altered motion by blending frames" on page 169
"To apply the Timewarp effect (Pro only)" on page 239

To time-stretch a layer from a specific time

1 In the Timeline or Composition panel, select the layer.
Choose Layer > Time > Time Stretch.
2
3 Type a new duration for the layer, or type a Stretch Factor.
To specify the point in time from which the layer will be time-stretched, click one of the Hold In Place options,
4
and then click OK:
Holds the layer's current starting time, and time-stretches the layer by moving the Out point.
Layer In-point
Holds the layer at the position of the current-time indicator (also the frame displayed in the Compo-
Current Frame
sition panel), and time-stretches the layer by moving the In and Out points.
Holds the layer's current ending time and time-stretches the layer by moving the In point.
Layer Out-point

To time-stretch a layer to a specific time

In the Timeline panel, move the current-time indicator to the frame where you want the layer to begin or end.
1
2 Display the In and Out columns by choosing Columns > In and Columns > Out from the Timeline panel menu.
Do one of the following:
3
•
To stretch the In point to the current time, press Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac OS) as you click the In time
for the layer in the In column.
•
To stretch the Out point to the current time, press Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac OS) as you click the Out
time for the layer in the Out column.

To time-stretch a layer but not its keyframes

When you time-stretch a layer, the positions of its keyframes stretch with it by default. You can circumvent this
behavior by cutting and pasting keyframes.
Make a note of the time at which the first keyframe appears.
1
2 In the layer outline, click the name of one or more layer properties containing the keyframes you want to keep at
the same times.
Choose Edit > Cut.
3
4 Move or stretch the layer to its new In and Out points.
Move the current-time indicator to the time at which the first keyframe appeared before you cut the keyframes.
5
6 Choose Edit > Paste.
To reverse a layer's playback direction
You can easily reverse a layer's playback direction. When you do, all keyframes for all properties on the selected layer
also reverse position relative to the layer. The layer itself maintains its original In and Out points relative to the
composition.
ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS 7.0 232
User Guide