To edit an After Effects composition directly from Premiere Pro, select the composition in the Project panel or a linked clip in the Timeline, and then choose Edit > Edit Original. This will open the After Effects composition, allowing you to make changes. Once you save those changes in After Effects, they will automatically update in your Premiere Pro project.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Steps to Edit After Effects Composition from Premiere Pro
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Locate the After Effects Composition: In Premiere Pro, find the After Effects composition you want to edit. You can locate it either in the Project panel or directly on the Timeline if it's already part of your sequence.
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Select the Composition or Linked Clip:
- In the Project Panel: Click on the After Effects composition to select it. This applies if you haven't added the composition to your timeline yet.
- In the Timeline: Select the clip that represents the linked After Effects composition in your sequence.
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Choose "Edit Original": With the composition or linked clip selected, navigate to the top menu in Premiere Pro and select Edit > Edit Original. This command instructs Premiere Pro to open the linked After Effects project and composition.
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Make Changes in After Effects: After Effects will launch (or switch to focus if already open) and load the specified composition. Now, you can make all the necessary edits to your composition within After Effects.
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Save the Changes in After Effects: Once you've made your modifications, save the After Effects project (File > Save).
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Return to Premiere Pro: Switch back to Premiere Pro. Premiere Pro automatically detects the changes made in After Effects. The linked composition in Premiere Pro will update to reflect the edits you made. There is generally no need to manually re-import or relink anything.
Important Considerations:
- Adobe Dynamic Link: This workflow relies on Adobe Dynamic Link, which allows After Effects and Premiere Pro to work together seamlessly. Dynamic Link eliminates the need to render and import files repeatedly.
- Project Compatibility: Ensure both After Effects and Premiere Pro are compatible versions to avoid any linking issues.
- Complex Compositions: Very complex After Effects compositions might affect Premiere Pro's playback performance. Consider rendering these compositions within After Effects and importing them as video files if performance becomes an issue.
