After effects Trim Time Out (Alt+]) leave a frame of additional footage beyond the time indicator

[jobutts]

I am always having issues with this, and I don't know the solution. Everytime I use the 'Trim Time In' feature, the clip is cut at the in point based on my time indicator.

But when I use the 'Trim Time Out' shortcut, the footage still extends a frame too far beyond the time indicator. How to I get around this. I am often duplicating layers and needing the beginning cut off one, and the end cut off the other so they match up exactly.

[Warren Heaton · Accepted solution]

The Current Time Indicator (CTI) aligns with the left edge of the frame.  As such, when zoomed in it will appear to be flush with the left edge of the Time Span at the In point and one frame back from the right edge of the Time Span at the Out point.

It's just the way the user interface is designed.

-Warren

[Rick Gerard]

As Warren said the CTI in AE always parks at the start of the last frame. If it parked at the end of the last frame the Project Panel would not show the last frame. Create a 30 fps comp that is 10 seconds long and you go to the last frame the time indicator will show 9:29 and you will see what is in the last frame. There is no option to change the behavior. It is standard behavior in compositing apps. Normal behavior in an NLE when using the Razor tool is to cut after the last frame. In the Monitor Panel or in the Preview panel if you go to the out point the CTI stops at the beginning of the last frame just as it does in After Effects. Since AE is not an editing app this behavior makes sense and is extremely handy. You just have to understand how to look at the timeline in AE.

[Roman28924684re4o]

So if I want to trim 10 seconds, I need to set 9 seconds and 29 frames? (if the composition is 30 frames per second)

[Jaydude-wb]

Not really an answer, in my opinion. It's just confirming the status quo :-). I would love to have the possiblity to really set the outpoint at the end of the frame with a shortcut. When lining up subsequent layers (with alpha/transparancy), it is very annoying that the CTI has to be moved one frame for each 'cut'. Maybe a alt+cmd+] would be a nice way to add the functionality.

[jobutts]

Thanks. after looking everywhere on the internet, I understand why this is now.

[TonyPham247]

Could you please share why?

[Rick Gerard]

When you design motion graphics and animations, it is important to see the last frame when you make a cut. All animation apps I have ever worked with show you the last frame when you make a cut or set a keyframe. If it were not so, you would have to set your last keyframe, then move the keyframe and move the time indicator. 

Editing apps make the cut when the frame is over so that you can see the start of the next frame. That also makes sense because you want to cut on the blink or the end of a turn. You make the cut just before you see the punch miss, not hit, the bad guy. 

[Jaydude-wb]

Kind of a work around: use split clip (ctrl-shift-d) and the backspace to remove the already selected second part.

[toma63241188]

You're a real one for this!!! Thanks so much