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Andrew Yoole
Inspiring
August 31, 2009
Question

AFTER EFFECTS WISHLIST

  • August 31, 2009
  • 203 replies
  • 212721 views

What features would you like to see implemented in After Effects? New ideas for plugins? Interface changes? Post 'em here!

Let's keep bug identification to individual posts, as these will probably be addressed more readily. Let's use this thread for specific ideas about ways that AE can be improved and expanded.

These Forums are for users, not Adobe employees, so don't forget to also fill in an Adobe feature request form.

To view the Wish List posts prior to September 2009, look here.

    203 replies

    Participant
    October 6, 2009

    I would like to read the work area length in a field on the center of it.

    http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/2751/aefx.gif

    Participant
    October 6, 2009

    1. coloured marks

    2. more than 99fps comps

    3. the ability 2 import more than 32k pics and an improvement in time

    4. better dynamic link support. (not just importing hole comps, complete functionally as example: change the PP made cut in AE)

    Participant
    October 5, 2009

    At our studio we would LOVE scripting access to more options of the render que items!

    We've got several work arounds right now, such as importing projects with the rendersettings and outputmodual presets saved, or saving the same presets on all of our farm machines....BUT

    If we could access the output file types, qualities, and other aspects of rendering with scripts we would explode with happiness!

    -Anthony

    Inspiring
    October 2, 2009

    I'd like to see Growl support on the Mac.

    bogiesan-gyyClL
    Participating Frequently
    September 29, 2009

    > What features would you like to see implemented in After Effects? New ideas for plugins? Interface changes? Post 'em here! <

    My projects have grown in complexity, 30-50 layers now instead of 10-20, and I find it difficult to stay oriented as my eyes move from left to right, trying to keep track of which keyframes are attached to which effect in which layer.

    Mostly I just wish Adobe would dedicate more development energy to fixing everything that's broken, doesn't quite work as promised, or is too complex to be used by most users. Perfect After Effects and streamline the existing systems instead of adding more complex stuff to satisfy niche users.

    bogiesan

    Participant
    September 29, 2009
    I'd like a shorcut to select all layer above/below.

    I suggest

    Ctrl + alt + shift + up



    Participating Frequently
    September 28, 2009

    Being able to easily convert 3D motion from a camera movements in 2D motion.
    3D softwares allows to export camera and null but compositions are usually 2D.

    Best regards,

    Léon

    Participating Frequently
    September 28, 2009

    3D softwares allow to export camera and nulls for 3D compositions but we need 2D motion for link null to masks, effects, stockshots etc ...

    Known Participant
    September 23, 2009

    Here's my two cents:

    1.

    Disc preview.

    This would work as the opposite for RAM preview, so that AE would basically render the comp in to a temp folder in order to be able to run the preview in real time. This would be useful in situations in which there is not enough memory for a complete RAM preview. I know about disc cache and have it turned on, but many times AE won't use disc cache since it thinks it's faster to use ram. It's frustrating in situations in which you don't get disc cache but you don't get a full RAM preview either. Basically this could work simply as a way to force AE to render something in to disc cache.

    I know I can always render the movie out to preview it like this, but instead of specifying output module settings, file locations and then opening the rendered file in a video player software, it would be so much easier to just hit a keyboard shortcut and let AE take care of everything, similarly to what Premiere does when you render the timeline. I want to make clear that this shouldn't in any way replace RAM preview, but simply be available as an option for those situations in which RAM preview doesn't cut it.

    2.

    Timeline folders.

    The ability to organize layers in the timeline into folders, in order to make the timeline easier to navigate. We have folders in the project window and they are great, why not extend that functionality in to the timeline too? I bet that in most projects the timeline has much more items than the project window does, which makes it very important to be able to keep the timeline tidy. A timeline folder would simply be a visual way to group layers inside folders. This way a 100 layers could be displayed as a single folder layer if necessary. Vertical screen estate is very valuable in the days of wide screen displays, and this would help make better use of it.

    3.

    Spatial snapping.

    We have the ability to snap the CTI in the timeline and we have the ability to snap layers to the grid. I think it would be great if there were an option to snap objects geometrically in to each others too (in the comp window). Smart guides and snapping similar to Adobe Illustrator would be fantastic!

    Thank you and keep developing the greatest software in the world!

    Participating Frequently
    September 20, 2009

    My #1 request:

    Please give us an NLE in after effects (a simplified Premiere RT panel or whatever).

    I find it amazing that 90% of AE plug-ins work in Premiere if just stick them in the common-mediacore folder. If I could have real bezier masks, track mattes and adjustment layers in Premiere there would be very little need to even go into AE for most film/movie oriented projects. This makes me thing that a merge wouldn't be that out of the question or that hard.

    Either that or fix  AE so when you import a premiere pro project or it knows what the AE dynamic linked files are and where they are. It's backwards to have the Premiere CS4 'replace with ae' function clippled because it has no idea what to do with AE projects.

    Mainly this is related to Adobe having complete film/tv workflow.that isn't such a pain. IF you have dynamic linked media in your .prproj then import it into AE wouldn't you think AE would know the AE file is?

    Beside the obvious (native 64bit, real 3d space and 3d model import, 3d text at least)

    Participating Frequently
    September 20, 2009

    Also whay can;t we have photoshops brilliant curve/hue sat picker in AE?

    Inspiring
    September 16, 2009

    This one is pretty simple, and like 64-bitness, hopefully already on the books.  But EVERY AE plug-in needs to work in 32pbc color. There's really no excuse for some plugs to support only 8-bit color in 201x (whenever CS5 comes out).

    Inspiring
    September 16, 2009

    I don't know the political nature of the different CS divisions at Adobe, but it would be super keen if you and the Photoshop team could get on the same page.

    AE is always a version behind in supporting the latest PSD features (like CS4's Vibrance adjustment).  Would be also great if you could make some of the Adobe RAW controls available as 32-pbc AE plug-ins -- such as White Balance, Recovery, Fill Light, Blacks, Clarity, and the aforementioned Vibrance.

    Todd_Kopriva
    Inspiring
    April 12, 2010

    > AE is always a version behind in supporting the latest PSD features (like CS4's Vibrance adjustment).

    After Effects CS5 added new Color Correction effects based on Photoshop adjustment layer types. When you import PSD files with these  adjustments, they are preserved: