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Participant
April 27, 2016
Answered

My After Effects preview is all black.

  • April 27, 2016
  • 29 replies
  • 155126 views

Is there a way to repair this? Because every time I try to preview my footage the video shown is completely black. Is there an option to tick or something? This problem started after doing some 3D edits.

Correct answer talfeld

I've been experiencing this problem for over a month now. One day my video preview just disappeared. Audio played during ram preview but the video was all black. However, today I finally realized the dumb reason why I wasn't seeing any video! I hope this solves your problem as well...

In the preview panel it says "include" and there are a few icons: a speaker icon, an eye, etc. The eye icon wasn't selected! That's why nothing was showing up. I must have accidentally un-clicked it. Make sure it's selected on your end.

Good luck!

29 replies

ReFlecT5C25
Participant
April 14, 2021

Hey I have also been experiencing the same issue but different. When I apply an effect into my composition, It just goes black... Any help?

 

Participant
April 29, 2021

I'm having the same issue too, after applying an effect, it just goes black. I've tried all the solutions here but none worked for me.

Participant
December 5, 2020

Life changing comment!!!!

everettjhall
Participant
June 9, 2020

this was my problem --- been using AE since 2001 too lol ... thank you

Participant
February 17, 2019

I had the same problem. THere is a small button on the bottom which says "region of interest".  I had accidentally pushed or used a hot key.  Either way when I pushed it the image reappeared.

Participant
September 21, 2018

I ran into a similar problem today, a black preview!

Solution: I realized that when I toggle motion blur active to a precomp containg precoms, while the prcomps contains very wigling particles. It doesn't RAM-preview. Removing the motion blur solve it.

Participant
December 6, 2020

Removing motion blur did it for me as well! After Effects 2020 on a 2014 MacBook Pro.

Community Expert
December 2, 2017

Try to purge the application. Go to the menu Edit / Purge / All Memory and Disk Cache. In some cases, the previous ones hosted in RAM and Disk Cache usually give problems.

Byron.
KarinaMandarina
Participant
December 1, 2017

I had the same problem and I realized that it just changed from Active Camera to Front Camera.
I realized that I could see just some elements and that's when I noticed the Camera's changes. It turned black when I was trying to press I-don't-know-what-keys on my keyboard. There must be a shortcut to change cameras....

Participant
February 1, 2022

thank you very much this solved the problem I had.

talfeld
talfeldCorrect answer
Participant
October 4, 2017

I've been experiencing this problem for over a month now. One day my video preview just disappeared. Audio played during ram preview but the video was all black. However, today I finally realized the dumb reason why I wasn't seeing any video! I hope this solves your problem as well...

In the preview panel it says "include" and there are a few icons: a speaker icon, an eye, etc. The eye icon wasn't selected! That's why nothing was showing up. I must have accidentally un-clicked it. Make sure it's selected on your end.

Good luck!

Participant
December 24, 2017

Thank you!
had the same "problem" and the Eye icon was it.

Szalam
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 27, 2016

It sounds an awful lot like you're looking through the wrong camera OR you've added lights that aren't illuminating your layers. (Or both.)

Participant
April 27, 2016

The black preview applies even if I start a totally new project. Also the green rendering line doesn't fill anymore.

Szalam
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 27, 2016

Then it's time for all of the details you can muster and some comprehensive screenshots.