To crop a source (like an image or video layer) in After Effects, you'll primarily use the Crop effect. Here's how:
-
Import your source: Open After Effects and import the image or video you want to crop. Drag the source into a new composition or an existing one.
-
Select the layer: In the Timeline panel, select the layer corresponding to the image or video you wish to crop.
-
Apply the Crop effect:
- Go to the Effects & Presets panel (Window > Effects & Presets if it's not visible).
- Type "Crop" in the search bar.
- Locate the Crop effect (under the Transform category).
- Drag the Crop effect from the Effects & Presets panel onto your selected layer in the Timeline panel or Composition panel.
-
Adjust the crop settings:
- In the Effect Controls panel (Window > Effect Controls), you'll see the Crop effect settings.
- You have controls for Left, Top, Right, and Bottom. These values represent the percentage of the image to be cropped from each side.
- Adjust these values by dragging the numbers or typing in specific percentages to crop the image as desired. For example, increasing the "Left" value will crop the left side of the image.
Example:
Let's say you want to crop 10% from the top and 20% from the right of your image:
- In the Effect Controls panel for the Crop effect:
- Set "Top" to 10.0%.
- Set "Right" to 20.0%.
Alternatives to the Crop Effect:
While the Crop effect is the most straightforward method, you can also use other methods to achieve a similar result:
- Masks: Create a mask on the layer to reveal only the desired portion. Use the Pen tool to draw a shape around the area you want to keep visible.
- Pre-composing: Pre-compose the layer and then scale and position the pre-comp to achieve the desired cropping effect.
The Crop effect is generally the simplest and fastest way to trim the edges of a source within After Effects.
