After Effects On the Spot[c] Time-Saving Tips and Shortcuts from the Pros

On a tight deadline (uh yeah)? Missing footage but need to get started? Whatever the reason for speed, use a placeholder or proxy to increase productivity.

Use placeholders when you don't have access to the file you want to animate. For best results, set the placeholder to the same size , duration, and frame rate as the actual footage.

To use a placeholder:

• Choose File>Import>Placeholder or File>Replace Footage>Placeholder.

• In the New Placeholder dialog box, specify the placeholder's name , size, frame rate, and duration, then click OK.

To replace a placeholder with the actual footage:

• In the Project window, double-click the placeholder you want to replace, or choose File>Replace Footage>File or press Cmd+H (Ctrl+H).

• Locate and select the actual footage, then click Import (Mac OS) or OK (Windows). Effects, masks, and properties applied to the placeholder are applied to the actual footage when you perform the replacement.