[Seth Marshall]

Pete, thank you so much for coming to the rescue! I’ve literally spent 10+ hours actively trying to figure this out. It sounds like your method of correcting what I’ve done is to go back to my first keyframe, setting it to 100%, then working my way across the timeline correcting each keyframe position one by one.

Unfortunately my composition is more complicated then I have described. From the beginning I’ve keyframed a 300% speed increase because starting at the beginning I need it increased 3 times speed. The time lapse is a construction site and as construction winds down I increase the speed to say 600%, then at night when there is no construction I go to 1000% (not 100%). This goes on for a few days with additional speed changes. Ultimately I go down to 100% for a fashion show then back to 300% for when they take down the set. I’ve laid dozens of keyframes across 11 minutes of footage, all are perfectly set when looking at display mode set to “source” Of course when I change it to Twixtored output “everything” gets messed up.

I now understand it needs to be in Twixtored output mode. But do I have to go through the footage all over again replacing the keyframes? I am hoping there may be an easier solution especially since I have them laid perfectly already.

Does my situation make sense? Thank you again so much for helping me with this!

[Seth Marshall]

I’ve been searching the manual for more information regarding rendering at different resolutions from the composition settings. At first it reads on page 203 of “Using Adobe After Effects CS4″:

When you render a composition for final output, you can use the current Resolution settings for the composition or set a resolution value in the Render Settings dialog box that overrides the composition settings.”

…which would really make one think it doesn’t matter what your composition settings are as far as H&V…. then on page 689 it reads:

By default, the render settings for a render item are based on the current project settings, composition settings, and switch settings for the composition on which the render item is based. However, you can modify the render settings for each render item to override some of these settings.

…which really makes me feel it would be okay to stay with maximum resolution settings of source material… But then on the next page describing possible render settings it reads:

Resolution= Resolution of the rendered composition, relative to the original composition dimensions. Note: If you render at reduced resolution, set the Quality option to Draft. Rendering at Best quality when reducing resolution produces an unclear image and takes longer than Draft quality!

Why would the manual contradict itself like that. Not that it’s a complete contradiction but it really makes one believe render settings override composition settings in so far as H&V resolution.

So is it definitive that for best quality you need composition settings to match intended output resolution!? This would be a pain in a situation where you need different H&V dimensions (i.e. 1920×1080 and 1280×720

[Seth Marshall]

A huge thank you or that step by step breakdown! It really clarifies the steps in workflow for me! I have two remaining questions if you find the time to answer them:

1.). Is it essential to start over and create a comp in the correct dimensions to start?Seeing I have plenty of space to scale down couldn’t I just change my comp settings in my existing project (or is there a quality issue I’m unaware of)?

2.) If I intend multiple outputs at different dimensions would this mean I need to start over with a fresh comp of correct dimensions for each one to get best quality? I need 1620×1080, 1920×1080, 1280,720 and would like a master 2k for archival (not sure proper way to archive in AE)

what does H&V stand for anyhow?–can’t find it in manual. Thanks so much for all your help and time, it’s truly helped me
because a better filmmaker.

[Seth Marshall]

Dave, your fact about resizing in the composition for better quality (versus in output render) brings up a great example of my concerns:

aftery my shoot I came home and adjusted the dimensions of my comp to my output. I then repositioned my footage but realized doing so interfered with the keyframe I had placed for when I stabilized– my footage starts drifting toward to inappropriately places anchor.

I then tried moving the other position values in transform (looks like there are two) which corrected the movement– but then noticed in addition since I had to scale the footage down it too interferred with stabilizer keyframes where it had a scaling tracker–footage begins to grow.

Alternatively I could use the camera again, or maybe use a null object (?).

But with your earlier warning about quality– is it best to scale footage within comp as opposed to using other methods such as camera and null object?

If so would that mean I have to start over and restabilize the new sized/positioned sequence since the trackers will need new data values?

Thank you so much for your help!

[Seth Marshall]

Dave, this is really helpful information to know! Thank you for sharing that. I assumed the render “make movie” export would be just as good. I may be wrong but I thought with FCP changing size in Compressor (exporting) was preferred to changing size in the timeline and having to render. If you say it’s best to have correct size in AE comp settings first off than that is exactly the kind of “best way of doing this” information I was looking for.

I know what I’m doing is very simple in comparison to what you pro’s do, but it’s important I know these simple rules on how to get the best quality possible. Anything else I should know?

Sounds like using the camera layer was an okay choice. No one has said if one way is better than another. I did paint myself in a corner for the first time setting my anchor point incorrectly. If these mistakes don’t effect quality I’m fine with learning other work arounds.

[Seth Marshall]

Thanks Joey, I look forward to taking a closer look at those links you’ve provided. (Shooting on location right now)

[Seth Marshall]

Thanks again. To clarify, I’m not concerned about resolution lost during stabilizing. I was aware of this issue. My footage is over 2K and I intend to output 1080 so there is plenty of room there. I’m a videographer professionally so I try to be aware of “most” these issues (I do as much homework as I know). But when it comes to After Effects’ huge capabilities I’m very much out of my element.

Which is why I asked, for what I’m trying to do, is there one “best” way of going about it. Or for any task in AE for that matter? In photography you need to approach shooting something a specific way–is this the same in post with AE? Or are there many ways to do the same thing and not one is better than the next?

[Seth Marshall]

Thanks for the reply!

Is there any one ‘correct’ way of going about this? (I.e. You can use tranform with the anchor point, I found the camera layer method, you propose a null object…. Is one preferred over the other for quality reasons?)