Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
times for composition
development. This function
creates a dedicated file of the
preset size to keep track of your
unchanged resources or layers.
You can set this to whatever you
like, but a file too large can
reduce your system's overall
performance. Try keeping to
2 GB or 4 GB (if you're using a
Windows PC running the FAT32 file system, you cannot have this file any larger
than 4 GB). Set the 'Choose Folder . . .' location to your fastest hard drive and
select a folder wherever you want (you cannot just select the root drive without
a folder). The other settings determine the allocation of system memory and
how much virtual memory is shared. The default settings are fine, though if you
run many other applications at the same time (i.e. Photoshop, Illustrator, Maya,
3DS MAX, etc.), you may discover that your system memory runs out a wee bit
too soon. Then it's up to you to decide who needs the most memory and how
best to share.
Video Preview
- If you have a
FireWire capable machine (and
you should!), or a dedicated D1,
or HD video output card, After
Effects can display its
Composition Window (Preview
Window) out to a TV or HD
monitor. This is extremely
convenient for ensuring 'what
you design is what you see'
(WYDIWYS?). The fact is computer monitors don't even come close to
accurately (or more correctly - inaccurately) showing what a regular TV displays.
By hooking up a DV display device to a TV, you are more likely to see color
artifacts and errors than just viewing your work on a computer monitor.
Use the drop-down menus to select the Output Device you can use, and then
select the Output Mode (NTSC or PAL). Other options offer After Effects more
