In After Effects, a composition is the fundamental building block you use to create motion graphics and visual effects. Think of it as the container or stage where you assemble all the elements of your animation or video project.
Understanding the Composition
Based on the reference provided, a composition is essentially a framework for a movie. This means it defines the dimensions (width, height), frame rate, duration, and other settings for the final output you intend to create.
Every composition is self-contained and has its own timeline. This timeline is where you arrange and time the various elements of your animation or effect sequence.
Layers: The Components of a Composition
A typical composition is built from multiple layers. These layers are stacked on top of each other and represent the individual components that make up your visual.
The reference indicates that these layers can represent a variety of assets and elements, including:
- Video and audio footage items: Your source video clips and sound files.
- Animated text and vector graphics: Text you type directly in After Effects or vector shapes you create.
- Still images: Photographs or static graphic files.
- Lights: Virtual lights used to illuminate 3D layers and create shading and shadows.
These layers are organized and manipulated on the composition's timeline to control their appearance, position, animation, and interaction over time.
In essence, you build your entire project by adding, arranging, and animating layers within one or more compositions. You can even nest compositions within other compositions to create more complex structures and workflows.
