Adobe After Effects - Manual (Page 205)

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Work area markers indicate the composition duration rendered for previews or final output.
To move the work area, drag the center of the work area bar left or right.
Dragging center of work area bar to move work area
To expand the work area to the size of the composition, double-click the center of the work area bar.
To show the duration of the work and the times of its beginning and end in the Info panel, click the work area bar.
Snapshots
When you want to compare one view to another in a Composition, Layer, or Footage panel, take a snapshot. For example, you may want to
compare two frames at different times in a movie.
Snapshots taken in one kind of panel can be displayed in another kind. For example, you can take a snapshot of a Layer panel and display the
snapshot in a Composition or Footage panel. Displaying a snapshot does not replace the content of the panel. If the snapshot has a different size
or aspect ratio than the panel in which you display it, the snapshot is resized to fit the current view.
Snapshots are for reference only and do not become part of the layer, composition, or rendered movie.
A sound is generated when you take a snapshot.
To take a snapshot, click the Take Snapshot button at the bottom of the panel or press Shift+F5, Shift+F6, Shift+F7, or Shift+F8.
To view the most recent snapshot taken with the Take Snapshot button or Shift+F5, click and hold the Show Snapshot button at the
bottom of the panel.
To view a specific snapshot, press and hold F5, F6, F7, or F8.
To purge a snapshot, hold down Ctrl+Shift (Windows) or Command+Shift (Mac OS) and press F5, F6, F7, or F8.
To free all memory used to store snapshots, choose Edit > Purge > Snapshot.
Preview on an external video monitor
You can preview the contents of your Layer, Footage, or Composition panel on an external video monitor. Previewing on a video monitor requires
additional hardware, such as a video capture card or a FireWire port. If you’re using a video card to connect an external video monitor, follow the
directions that came with your video card to connect the monitor for viewing previews. If you’re using a FireWire port, first connect a digital
camcorder or similar device to the port; then connect the video monitor to the device. For more information on setting up FireWire previews, see
the documentation that came with your digital camcorder, VCR, or other device.
1. Choose Edit > Preferences > Video Preview (Windows) or After Effects > Preferences > Video Preview (Mac OS).
2. Choose an external device from the Output Device menu. (If a device is available, it’s automatically listed in this menu.)
3. Choose a mode from the Output Mode menu. The choices listed depend on the device you are using. The Frame Size value that appears
under the Output Mode menu is dependent on the value that you select from the Output Mode menu, and is not dependent on any other
After Effects settings.
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