How to view previous frame transparent across current frame

[petert78221311]

I'm doing a video with animation, and I would like to see the previous frame as I animate (a la dragonframe) in order to prevent mistakes.

[Roland Kahlenberg · Accepted solution]

Create an Adjustment Layer and place it at the top of the Timeline. Then apply Effects>Time>CC WideTime. Set the Forward Steps prop to 0 and the Backward Steps prop to 1 to view an overlay of the previous frame. Enable the Comp's Transparency Grid if you think it helps you with a clearer view .

[vishal5C32]

how can i see last frame during paint?

[angie_taylor · Accepted solution]

There's no onion skinning feature in After Effects unfortunately. However I sometimes use the Echo filter as a workaround.  You can toggle it on and off when you need to compare frames. Apply the Echo effect via the effects and presets panel and then set the time offset to whatever frame rate timing you want.

[ryanallen_com]

Thanks angie_taylor! This answer works best for my needs, as I am editing the layer, and not the composition. The other answer works if you are working in the composition instead of the layer. I had to hunt for the effect but it made sense when I thought about it:

Effects>Time>Echo

I found I needed to take my starting intensity down to .3-ish

My time for 1 frame was -0.033sec

Thanks again for giving me onion skinning in after effects layers!

[angie_taylor]

I'm glad I could help 🙂 Thanks for letting us know how it worked 🙂