You set in and out points in After Effects using simple keyboard shortcuts to define the work area of your composition.
Setting in and out points, which define the Work Area, is a fundamental step in managing your composition's playback and render duration in After Effects. This allows you to work on, preview, and render only a specific section of your timeline.
Setting the Work Area Points
The quickest way to define the start and end of your work area is by using key commands:
- To set the In Point: Place your playhead (the current time indicator) at the desired start frame on the timeline and press the 'B' key.
- To set the Out Point: Place your playhead at the desired end frame on the timeline and press the 'N' key.
Here’s a quick reference:
| Key | Function |
|---|---|
| B | Set In Point |
| N | Set Out Point |
Once set, the area between the In and Out points will be visually represented by a shaded bar at the top of your timeline, above the time ruler.
Importance of Setting Points Before Rendering
As highlighted, it's very important to set your In and Out Point before pushing your video into the render queue or Adobe Media Encoder. If you don't set these points, After Effects will typically render the entire duration of your composition, which might be longer than you need and could waste significant time. Setting the work area ensures that only the specific portion you've defined is rendered.
Adjusting the Work Area Manually
While the 'B' and 'N' keys are efficient, you can also adjust the work area manually. Simply click and drag the left or right edge of the shaded work area bar at the top of the timeline to precisely trim or extend the in or out point.
Using these methods helps streamline your workflow, focusing on the relevant parts of your project and optimizing render times.
