Skip to main content
james grochowalski
james grochowalski
Participant
Dec 18, 2017 7:57 PM UTC
Question

Preview Files in Ae easier

Hi,

I'm wondering if theres a way to preview files in a folder just like Premiere pro has it's features to view images/video in a folder showing thumbnails. It's odd to me that After effects doesn't have this same capability. Opening one by one in a preview window takes forever. Wondering if theres an add on or script that helps with this.

Thanks!

    8 replies

    lflegg
    lflegg
    Inspiring
    Dec 1, 2024 4:56 PM UTC

    It blows my mind how AE can be such a mature and widely used product and STILL somehow doesn't support thumbnails in the Project panel?! - like not even the option to enable them. What in the world are the design team thinking? Every app including Adobe (Premiere, Photoshop, etc) have all had thumbnails since the dawn of time. 

    But in AE, I have to scroll through a list of potentially hundreds of images, individually clicking on each of them one by one and previewing them to see what they are. 

    So incredible that in 2024 this is still lacking.

    Translate
      desobot
      desobot
      Participating Frequently
      Apr 28, 2023 6:55 PM UTC

      Is there STILL no thumbnial view within AE? This seems insane. 

      Translate
        westmeetseast
        westmeetseast
        Participating Frequently
        Jun 18, 2024 11:54 PM UTC

        Not so insane once you realize that A-duh-be is here to only take your money, not help you work more efficiently!

        Translate
          David Arbor
          Inspiring
          Dec 19, 2017 2:20 PM UTC

          There's a much more robust Media Browser-like script called AEViewer: AEViewer - aescripts.com

          In fact, it was just updated today!

          Translate
            vobrazovka
            Known Participant
            Mar 12, 2024 11:41 AM UTC

            But AEviewer is only for importing media, does not show those are already imported? Or am I missed something?

            Translate
            Mylenium
            Mylenium
            Legend
            Dec 19, 2017 8:38 AM UTC

            AE has no thumbnail mode, but as Dave said, the preview shows at the top of the project window when you select an item.

            Mylenium

            Translate
              Dave_LaRonde
              Dave_LaRonde
              Inspiring
              Dec 18, 2017 9:13 PM UTC

              What, are you saying that when you highlight a clip in the project pane, you don't see a thumbnail at the top of the pane?

              Translate
              Anthony5ECB
              Known Participant
              Nov 16, 2023 5:45 PM UTC

              This isn't the answer. The answer is simply "no". Obviously you can see the preview up top in the project panel, but you cannot see every clip as a preview thumnail in one window. This is what the OP was asking about. This is unfortunate if you have a lot of footage and are looking for clips of specific content. You have to go through every single clip one-by-one to find what you're looking for, and the only difference between doing this and opening each clip in the Footage window is that you click on it once instead of twice. 

              Translate
                Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
                Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices