Working With The Time Remap Graph; Time-Remapping Parts Of A Layer; To Freeze The First Frame Without Changing The Speed; See Also - Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 7.0 Manual

See also

"Using keyframes" on page 192
"About animation and layer properties" on page 188

Working with the Time Remap graph

When remapping time in the Graph Editor, use the values represented in the Time Remap graph to determine and
control which frame of the movie plays at which point in time. Each Time Remap keyframe has a time value
associated with it that corresponds to a specific frame in the layer; this value is represented vertically on the Time
Remap value graph. When you enable time remapping for a layer, After Effects adds a Time Remap keyframe at the
start and end points of the layer. These initial Time Remap keyframes have vertical time values equal to their
horizontal position on the timeline.
By setting additional Time Remap keyframes, you can create complex motion effects. Every time you add a Time
Remap keyframe, you create another point at which you can change the playback speed or direction. As you move
the keyframe up or down in the value graph, you adjust which frame of the video is set to play at the current time.
After Effects then interpolates intermediate frames and plays the footage forward or backward from that point to the
next Time Remap keyframe. In the value graph, reading from left to right, an upward angle indicates forward
playback, while a downward angle indicates reverse playback. The amount of the upward or downward angle corre-
sponds to the speed of playback.
Similarly, the value that appears in blue next to the Time Remap property name indicates which frame plays at the
current time. As you drag a value graph marker up or down, this value changes accordingly and a Time Remap
keyframe is set, if necessary. You can click this value and type a new one, or click and drag the value to adjust it.
The original duration of the source footage may no longer be valid when remapping time, because parts of the layer
no longer play at the original rate. If necessary, set a new duration for the layer before you remap time.
As with other layer properties, you can view the values of the Time Remap graph as either a value graph or a speed
graph.
If you remap time and the resulting frame rate is significantly different from the original, the quality of motion within
the layer may suffer. Apply frame blending to improve slow- or fast-motion effects.
See also
"Frame blending" on page 238

Time-remapping parts of a layer

There are limitless options for time-remapping in After Effects. For example, you can time-remap an entire layer,
making it play backwards. You can time-remap a frame at the beginning or end of the layer, creating a freeze-frame
effect. Or you can time-remap frames in the middle of the layer, creating a slow-motion effect that only lasts for a
few seconds.

To freeze the first frame without changing the speed

In a Composition or Timeline panel, select the layer you want to remap.
1
2 Choose Layer > Time > Enable Time Remapping.
In the Graph Editor, move the current-time indicator to where you want the movie to begin.
3
Click the Time Remap property name to select the start and end keyframes.
4
ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS 7.0 235
User Guide