Video Production Workflow: Adobe After Effects (Pro Edition)

Adobe After Effects Pro is basically similar to Premiere. However, it differs in how it is used compared to Adobe’s image-based applications. In this article, we will explain in detail the workflow of video editing using After Effects.

Please also check out our previous article, Vol.10: How to Create Videos – Adobe Premiere Edition.

By launching After Effects, a new project is already created by default. Go to the menu and select “File” → “New” → “New Project” to create a new project screen.

*Note: You cannot open multiple projects at the same time.*

Next after creating a project, you create a “composition.” Select “Composition” → “New Composition” from the menu.

Alternatively, you can also create it by clicking “Create New Composition” at the bottom of the Project panel.

A dialog box will appear. Adjust the settings according to your purpose. These settings can be changed later as well. The composition will then be created in the Project panel.

Select the asset file from the menu via “File” → “Import.” Alternatively, you can directly drag and drop the assets from their folder into the workspace. You can also double-click the Project panel in the workspace to open a dialog box and select files from there. Once the imported file name appears in the Project panel, the import is complete.

<Import types when bringing in assets>
When importing files, there are two import types: “footage” and “composition.” The difference is that “footage” imports the selected file as a single image, while “composition” imports the file while preserving its layer structure.

Open the “Transform” properties from the layer in the Timeline panel.

<Creating a vertical movement animation>
We will create an animation that moves this asset from top to bottom.

Select the composition you want to export as a video format. From the “File” menu, choose “Export” and select the file type that matches your purpose. Exporting takes time. Therefore, when you need to edit and export multiple items, you can add them to the render queue after editing and perform rendering overnight.

When you select “Add to Render Queue,” the rendering information is added to the Render Queue. If you want to change settings such as file type, you can do so in the “Output Module.” If you want to export multiple files at once, repeat the same process and add them to the Render Queue.

When you press the “Render” button, the compositions registered in the Render Queue will be rendered sequentially from top to bottom.

We introduced how to create videos in After Effects. What is written here is truly just a small part of it. There are countless possibilities, almost infinite things you can do, so it’s a tool worth mastering.