Time-remap a layer – Adobe After Effects CS3 User Manual

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AFTER EFFECTS CS3

User Guide

222

The original duration of the source footage may no longer be valid when remapping time, because parts of the layer
no longer play at the original rate. If necessary, set a new duration for the layer before you remap time.

As with other layer properties, you can view the values of the Time Remap graph as either a value graph or a speed
graph.

If you remap time and the resulting frame rate is significantly different from the original, the quality of motion within
the layer may suffer. Apply frame blending to improve slow- or fast-motion effects.

Note: Use the information shown in the Info panel to guide you as you work with time-remapping. The ratio given in
the units of seconds/sec indicates the current speed of playback—the number of seconds of the original layer being played
for each second after time-remapping.

“Work with the Graph Editor” on page 184

Time-remap a layer

You can time-remap all or part of a layer. For example, you can time-remap a frame at the beginning or end of the
layer, creating a freeze-frame result, or you can time-remap frames in the middle of the layer, creating a slow-motion
result that only lasts for a few seconds.

“Work with the Graph Editor” on page 184

Freeze the first frame without changing the speed

In a Composition or Timeline panel, select the layer that you want to remap.

Choose Layer > Time > Enable Time Remapping.

This adds two Time Remap keyframes by default, one at the beginning of the layer and one at the end.

Move the current-time indicator to where you want the movie to begin.

Click the Time Remap property name to select the start and end keyframes.

Drag the first keyframe to the current-time indicator, which moves the start and end keyframes. (If you are

working in the Graph Editor, drag the bounding box—not the keyframe or a handle—so that both keyframes move.)

Freeze a frame in the middle of a layer’s duration

In a Composition or Timeline panel, select the layer that you want to remap.

Choose Layer > Time > Enable Time Remapping.

This adds two Time Remap keyframes by default, one at the beginning of the layer and one at the end.

Move the current-time indicator to the frame that you want to freeze, and set a Time Remap keyframe at the

current time by clicking the keyframe navigator diamond for the Time Remap property.

Select the last two Time Remap keyframes (the second and third keyframes) and drag them to the right.

Press F2 to deselect the keyframes, and then click the second (middle) keyframe to select it.