Adobe 65008009 - After Effects CS4 Using Manual page 396

Last updated 12/21/2009
Color depth
Many effects support processing of image color and alpha channel data at a depth of 16 or 32 bits per channel (bpc).
Using an 8-bpc effect in a 16-bpc or 32-bpc project can result in a loss of color detail. If an effect supports only 8 bpc,
and your project is set to 16 bpc or 32 bpc, the Effect Controls panel displays a warning icon
You can set the Effects & Presets panel to list only the effects that support the color depth of the current project. (See
"Color depth and high dynamic range
Render order
The order in which After Effects renders masks, effects, layer styles, and transform properties—called the render
order—may affect the final result of an applied effect. By default, effects appear in the Timeline panel and Effect
Controls panel in the order in which they were applied. Effects are rendered in order from top to bottom in this list.
To change the order in which effects are rendered, drag the effect name to a new position in the list. (See
and collapsing transformations" on page 64.)
Adjustment layers
To apply an effect to only a specific portion of a layer, use an adjustment layer.
An effect applied to an adjustment layer affects all layers below it in the layer stacking order in the Timeline panel. (See
"Adjustment layers" on page 141.)
Andrew Kramer provides a video tutorial on his
layer to apply an effect to only a short duration and to only specific portions of a movie.
Expression Controls effects
Expression Controls effects do not modify existing layer properties; rather, these effects add layer properties that
expressions can refer to. (See
Preventing edge clipping with the Grow Bounds effect
Because an effect is applied to a layer, the results of some effects are constrained to within the bounds of the layer,
which can make the effect appear to end abruptly. You can apply the Grow Bounds effect to a layer to temporarily
extend the layer for the purpose of calculating the results of other effects. This process is not necessary for newer
effects, which tend to be 32-bpc effects.
Managing effects and effect properties with scripts
Paul Tuersley provides a script on the
turn them on or off.
Paul Tuersley provides a script on the
multiple layers easier.
More Help topics
"Plug-ins" on page 641
"Effects & Presets panel" on page 392
"Layer switches and columns in the Timeline
color" on page 274.)
Video Copilot website
"Expression Controls effects" on page 653.)
AE Enhancers forum
AE Enhancers forum
panel" on page 154
in which he shows how to use an adjustment
with which you can search compositions for effects and
that makes synchronizing changes to effect properties on
USING AFTER EFFECTS CS4
Effects and animation presets
next to the effect name.
"Render order
390