How can I see more frames at the same time

[Kevin Camp]

the only way i can think of would be to create a comp that is 3x as wide, duplicate you footage so you have 3 versions, then slide one piece of footage forward one frame and another back one frame. then position those time offset clips to the sides of the original clips (one of the left the other on the right).

now, as you frame advance through the timeline you’ll be able to see the previous, current and next frame in the same comp window.

Kevin Camp
Senior Designer
KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW

[Mike Browning]

Also there is another method but not as effective. This might not completely solve your problem but it’s a step in the right direction. It won’t be as render intensive anyway.

Assuming you are staying on that frame and not having to move every couple of seconds to a different frame (for roto work, etc.), you can use the “snapshot” feature. Down at the bottom of the composition window is a button that looks like a camera (right next to the timecode and the little man). You can press it and it will take a snapshot of that frame.

Then go to View –> New Viewer. You can undock the new viewer and use it to display the snapshot. To display the snapshot, you have to hold down the little man button (or F5). Unfortunately, you can’t toggle it on/off – you have to physically hold it down. That’s the biggest drawback. The other drawback is that it doesn’t update – it’s in memory so it doesn’t re-render when there are changes.

Also you can take more than one by holding down Shift+F5, F6, F7, or F8. Then recall them by pressing the corresponding F5, F6, F7, or F8. But as far as displaying two at the same time and having them update, you’re out of luck.

Maybe not the most useful tool in AE, but certainly gets overlooked some times.

Also, could you create two new viewers (as mentioned above), pre-compose your composition twice and then open each up in a different viewer? I think you can lock the frame on each viewer somehow. Not sure though.

Mike Browning
VisionQuest Media Solutions

[Accountclosed_no_realname]

I wonder why you would want to do that. Are you trying to onion skin, like in Flash? Then perhaps you can use the Time effect (well I think it was called that… i can’t remember now).

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Angel Breath