• Adobe After Effects

  Editing Precomps… Part 2

  Posted by Alex Kuzelicki on July 15, 2007 at 1:01 am

  Hi,

  I recently asked how you can edit the In and Out Points of a Precomp. – without having to manually drag the handles every time you create one.

  I’ve found that using the In-point controls in the the Layer window (for a particular Precomp) will set the In-point BUT also move the entire layer to the beginning of the Main Composition – which basically shifts your clips out of their original alignment. Can’t understand how this could be useful but… anyway.

  I got a great reply:

  “Set your In and Out-points inside the Precomp (using the Work Area bar – “B” for In, “N” for Out). Right-click in the grey of the Work Area bar and select “Trim Comp to Work Area”.”

  Pretty happy to get that answer… but… I’ve just realized that this method also shifts your Precomp to the beginning of the Main Composition.

  Damn.

  So, to reword the question: Is there a way to edit the In-point of a Precomp so that it ‘stays’ where you edit it in the Main Comp?

  Thanks in advance,

  ALEX

  Roland R. kahlenberg replied 19 years, 1 month ago 2 Members · 3 Replies
• 3 Replies

• 

  Roland R. kahlenberg

  July 15, 2007 at 2:40 pm

  It’s “ALT+[” (the left square bracket) and ALT+] to make an inpoint. Both points dependent on where the Timeline Indicator is.

  Best to set CompMarkers as guides before precomposing. That ways, you’ll know exactly where to trim.

  HTH
  Roland Kahlenberg
  https://www.broadcastGEMs.com
  https://www.myspace.com/rorkrgbspace
• 

  Alex Kuzelicki

  July 15, 2007 at 4:34 pm

  Rork, I’d like to buy you a drink… it’s just that I live in Australia.

  Thanks so much for this simple tip.

  Believe it or not, it’s changed the way I work: has added precious minutes of (saved) time to my every AE session.

  Very much appreciated,

  ALEX

  PS – Mind if I have that drink on your behalf?
• 

  Roland R. kahlenberg

  July 15, 2007 at 5:05 pm

  [Alex Kuzelicki] “Rork, I’d like to buy you a drink… it’s just that I live in Australia.”

  I’m in Singapore – not too far away.

  BTW, look under the Help Menu for a link the Keyboard Shortcuts.

  [Alex Kuzelicki] “PS – Mind if I have that drink on your behalf?”

  Then you owe me two. The one you offered plus this one which you took. 😉

  Cheers
  Roland Kahlenberg
  https://www.broadcastGEMs.com
  https://www.myspace.com/rorkrgbspace

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