To Track Dependencies Of A Watch-Folder Render (Pro Only); To Start In Watch Folder Mode (Pro Only); Using Multiple Computers To Render Plug-In Effects (Pro Only) - Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 7.0 Manual

After Effects renders the item to the specified destination folder and, if necessary, to the overflow volumes you have
specified in the Output preferences (see "Working with overflow volumes and segments" on page 631). When After
Effects finishes rendering all of the queued items in a given project, it closes that project without saving it and then
scans the watch folder for new projects to render. Because it doesn't save the project, After Effects ignores any Post-
Render Actions in the Output Module settings dialog box that specify to import the item when it is rendered.

To track dependencies of a watch-folder render (Pro only)

You can track render dependencies when you render over a network by setting Post-Render Action options. When
you set these options, After Effects confirms that all of the items that it needs to render are ready and available. For
example, if one item depends on another to render, and the first has not finished rendering or has received an error,
the second does not render.
You can use this process to render a single QuickTime or AVI movie from a watch-folder render. The movie is
actually created on only one computer.
Note: This procedure assumes that you have already created a multiple-system watch-folder. (See "To set up watch-folder
rendering (Pro only)" on page 628.)
1 In the Render Queue panel, drag the output module to the Project panel. After Effects creates a placeholder for
that item's output.
Drag the placeholder back to the Render Queue panel.
2
3 Set the render settings and output module settings for the placeholder, and click Render.

To start in watch folder mode (Pro only)

Watch-folder mode applies only to rendering from a folder on your local computer.
•
To start After Effects in watch-folder mode automatically, save a project with the file name Watch This Folder.aep.
After Effects watches the folder containing the project if you open that project.
•
To start After Effects in watch-folder mode when you start your computer, create a shortcut (Windows) or alias
(Mac OS) to the Watch This Folder.aep project and move it to your Startup folder (Windows) or your Startup
Items folder (Mac OS). After Effects watches the folder containing the project if you open that project.
•
(Windows only) To start After Effects in watch-folder mode from the command line, choose Start > Run, and then
enter the following, modifying the application path to the exact name of the folder in which you installed After
Effects, and replacing C:\[temp] with the path to your watch folder: "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After
Effects 7.0\Support Files\afterfx.exe" -wf C:\[temp]
Note: You can also use this command line in batch files.

Using multiple computers to render plug-in effects (Pro only)

When a composition contains layers that use a plug-in effect, the plug-in that created the effect must be present on
all of the computers that will render the composition.
When you install an After Effects render engine on a computer, it contains all the plug-ins included with After Effects
Professional. If a composition uses a plug-in from another manufacturer, that plug-in must be present on all
computers that will render the composition. However, support for network rendering varies among plug-in
manufacturers. Before you set up a network to render effects created by third-party plug-ins, see your plug-in's
documentation or contact the plug-in manufacturer and get answers to the following questions:
•
Does the plug-in's license agreement allow installing multiple copies on a network for the purposes of rendering?
•
Are there any other limitations or tips that apply to using that plug-in for network rendering?
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User Guide