Adobe After Effects Terms

Alpha Channel - The part of a video or image that contains transparency information, allowing certain areas to be transparent or semi-transparent.

Anchor Point - The point around which transformations like scaling, rotation, and position adjustments occur. It can be moved to change the pivot point of the layer.

Blending Modes - Methods for combining multiple layers. They affect how the colors and transparency of the layers interact with each other, such as Multiply, Screen, and Overlay.

Bezier Curve - A curve defined by mathematical formulas, used in animation to create smooth motion paths and shape outlines.

Composition - A container that holds layers of video, audio, text, and effects. It's the workspace where you build your animations and visual effects.

Channels - Components of a color model (such as RGB), including Red, Green, Blue, and Alpha channels, which can be individually manipulated.

Dynamic Link - A feature that allows for seamless integration and real-time updates between Adobe After Effects and other Adobe applications like Premiere Pro, without rendering intermediate files.

Duplicating - The process of making an exact copy of a layer or composition for reuse or additional manipulation.

Expressions - Scripts written in JavaScript to create complex animations and automate tasks by linking properties with code.

Effect - A modification applied to a layer to alter its appearance or behavior, such as blurs, color corrections, or distortions.

Frame Rate - The number of frames displayed per second in a composition. Common frame rates include 24, 30, and 60 fps.

Footage - Source video, images, or audio files imported into a project for use in compositions.

Graph Editor - A tool for viewing and editing the speed and value graphs of animated properties, providing fine control over motion and timing.

Gradient - A gradual blend between multiple colors or shades, often used to create smooth transitions or shading effects.

Hierarchical Parenting - A relationship where one layer (the child) inherits transformations from another layer (the parent), allowing for complex animation structures.

Hue - The attribute of a color that defines its position on the color wheel, such as red, blue, or green.

Interpolation - The calculation of intermediate values between keyframes to create smooth transitions in animations.

In Point - The start point of a layer within a composition, defining where it becomes visible.

Jitter - The visible irregular motion that can occur in animations, often due to frame rate issues or imperfect motion paths.

JPEG Sequence - A series of JPEG images used as frames in a composition, providing a way to import animation frames or time-lapse sequences.

Keyframe - A marker that defines a specific value for a layer property at a particular point in time, used to create animations by interpolating between keyframes.

Kerning - The adjustment of space between individual characters in text layers to improve readability and visual appeal.

Layer - An individual element within a composition, such as video, text, shape, or solid, that can be independently manipulated and animated.

LUT (Look-Up Table) - A file used to apply color grading to footage by remapping colors according to predefined values.

Mask - A path or shape used to hide or reveal specific areas of a layer. Masks can create transparency, isolate effects, or define motion paths.

Motion Blur - A visual effect that simulates the blurring of moving objects to create more realistic and smooth animations.

Null Object - An invisible layer used to control other layers. It's often used as a parent layer to coordinate animations.

Noise - Random pixel variations that can be added to a layer to create texture or simulate film grain.

Opacity - The transparency level of a layer, with 0% being completely transparent and 100% being fully opaque.

Output Module - The settings used to render and export a composition, defining the file format, codec, and other output parameters.

Pre-compose - The process of grouping multiple layers into a single composition, simplifying the main composition and allowing for easier management of complex animations.

Path - A vector outline that defines shapes, masks, or motion paths. Paths consist of points connected by segments.

QuickTime - A multimedia framework and file format developed by Apple, commonly used for video files with the .mov extension.

Queue - The list of compositions waiting to be rendered, often managed using the Render Queue panel.

Rotoscoping - The technique of manually tracing over video footage to create masks or matte layers, often used for isolating objects or creating animations.

Resolution - The dimensions of a composition in pixels, such as 1920x1080 (Full HD) or 3840x2160 (4K).

Shape Layer - A layer that contains vector-based shapes like rectangles, ellipses, and paths, which can be animated and styled.

Spline - A smooth curve defined by control points, used in the creation of motion paths and shapes.

Timeline - The workspace where layers are arranged and animated over time, allowing for precise control over the timing of animations and effects.

Tracking - The process of adjusting the spacing between multiple characters in a text layer, as opposed to kerning which adjusts spacing between individual characters.

UI (User Interface) - The layout and design of After Effects’ controls and panels, through which users interact with the software.

Unsharp Mask - An effect used to enhance the edges of an image or video by increasing contrast, making the content appear sharper.

Value Graph - A graph in the Graph Editor that shows the values of animated properties over time, allowing for precise adjustments to keyframe values.

Vector - Graphics based on mathematical formulas rather than pixels, allowing for infinite scaling without loss of quality.

Warp Stabilizer - An effect used to reduce camera shake and stabilize footage, creating smoother video playback.

Work Area - The section of the timeline defined by start and end points that determines the portion of the composition to preview or render.

XMP Metadata - Information embedded in media files, such as keywords, copyright details, and camera settings, which can be used for organization and search.

XML - A file format used for exchanging project data between different software applications, often used in workflows involving multiple programs.

YUV - A color encoding system used in video processing, where Y represents luminance (brightness) and UV represent chrominance (color).

Y-Axis - The vertical axis in a coordinate system, often used to define the vertical position of elements in compositions and animations.

Z-Axis - The depth axis in a 3D coordinate system, allowing for the positioning and animation of elements in 3D space.

Zoom - The action of increasing or decreasing the view of the timeline or the scale of a layer or composition, allowing for precise editing and navigation.