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Supported file formats | After Effects

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After Effects

After Effects

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  1. After Effects User Guide
  2. Beta releases
    1. Beta Program Overview
    2. After Effects Beta Home
  3. Getting started
    1. Get started with After Effects
    2. What's new in After Effects 
    3. Release Notes | After Effects
    4. After Effects system requirements
    5. Keyboard shortcuts in After Effects
    6. Supported File formats | After Effects
    7. Hardware recommendations
    8. After Effects for Apple silicon
    9. Planning and setup
  4. Workspaces
    1. General user interface items
    2. Get to know After Effects interface
    3. Workflows
    4. Workspaces, panels, and viewers
  5. Projects and compositions
    1. Projects
    2. Composition basics
    3. Precomposing, nesting, and pre-rendering
    4. View detailed performance information with the Composition Profiler
    5. CINEMA 4D Composition Renderer
  6. Importing footage
    1. Preparing and importing still images
    2. Importing from After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro
    3. Importing and interpreting video and audio
    4. Preparing and importing 3D image files
    5. Importing and interpreting footage items
    6. Working with footage items
    7. Detect edit points using Scene Edit Detection
    8. XMP metadata
  7. Text and Graphics
    1. Text
      1. Formatting characters and the Character panel
      2. Text effects
      3. Creating and editing text layers
      4. Formatting paragraphs and the Paragraph panel
      5. Extruding text and shape layers
      6. Animating text
      7. Examples and resources for text animation
      8. Live Text Templates
    2. Motion Graphics
      1. Work with Motion Graphics templates in After Effects
      2. Use expressions to create drop-down lists in Motion Graphics templates
      3. Work with Essential Properties to create Motion Graphics templates
      4. Replace images and videos in Motion Graphics templates and Essential Properties
      5. Animate faster and easier using the Properties panel
  8. Drawing, Painting, and Paths
    1. Overview of shape layers, paths, and vector graphics
    2. Paint tools: Brush, Clone Stamp, and Eraser
    3. Taper shape strokes
    4. Shape attributes, paint operations, and path operations for shape layers
    5. Use Offset Paths shape effect to alter shapes
    6. Creating shapes
    7. Create masks
    8. Remove objects from your videos with the Content-Aware Fill panel
    9. Roto Brush and Refine Matte
  9. Layers, Markers, and Camera
    1. Selecting and arranging layers
    2. Blending modes and layer styles
    3. 3D layers
    4. Layer properties
    5. Creating layers
    6. Managing layers
    7. Layer markers and composition markers
    8. Cameras, lights, and points of interest
  10. Animation, Keyframes, Motion Tracking, and Keying
    1. Animation
      1. Animation basics
      2. Animating with Puppet tools
      3. Managing and animating shape paths and masks
      4. Animating Sketch and Capture shapes using After Effects
      5. Assorted animation tools
      6. Work with Data-driven animation
    2. Keyframe
      1. Keyframe interpolation
      2. Setting, selecting, and deleting keyframes
      3. Editing, moving, and copying keyframes
    3. Motion tracking
      1. Tracking and stabilizing motion
      2. Face Tracking
      3. Mask Tracking
      4. Mask Reference
      5. Speed
      6. Time-stretching and time-remapping
      7. Timecode and time display units
    4. Keying
      1. Keying
      2. Keying effects
  11. Transparency and Compositing
    1. Compositing and transparency overview and resources
    2. Alpha channels and masks
    3. Track Mattes and Traveling Mattes
  12. Adjusting color
    1. Color basics
    2. Color management
    3. Color Correction effects
    4. OpenColorIO and ACES color management
  13. Effects and Animation Presets
    1. Effects and animation presets overview
    2. Effect list
    3. Effect Manager
    4. Simulation effects
    5. Stylize effects
    6. Audio effects
    7. Distort effects
    8. Perspective effects
    9. Channel effects
    10. Generate effects
    11. Time effects
    12. Transition effects
    13. The Rolling Shutter Repair effect
    14. Blur and Sharpen effects
    15. 3D Channel effects
    16. Utility effects
    17. Matte effects
    18. Noise and Grain effects
    19. Detail-preserving Upscale effect
    20. Obsolete effects
  14. Expressions and Automation
    1. Expressions
      1. Expression basics
      2. Understanding the expression language
      3. Using expression controls
      4. Syntax differences between the JavaScript and Legacy ExtendScript expression engines
      5. Editing expressions
      6. Expression errors
      7. Using the Expressions editor
      8. Use expressions to edit and access text properties
      9. Expression language reference
      10. Expression examples
    2. Automation
      1. Automation
      2. Scripts
  15. Immersive video, VR, and 3D
    1. Construct VR environments in After Effects
    2. Apply immersive video effects
    3. Compositing tools for VR/360 videos
    4. Advanced 3D Renderer
    5. Import and add 3D models to your composition
    6. Import 3D models from Creative Cloud Libraries
    7. Image-Based Lighting
    8. Extract and animate lights and cameras from 3D models
    9. Tracking 3D camera movement
    10. Cast and accept shadows
    11. Embedded 3D model animations
    12. Shadow Catcher
    13. 3D depth data extraction
    14. Modify materials properties of a 3D layer
    15. Work in 3D Design Space
    16. 3D Transform Gizmos
    17. Do more with 3D animation
    18. Preview changes to 3D designs real time with the Mercury 3D engine
    19. Add responsive design to your graphics 
  16. Views and Previews
    1. Previewing
    2. Video preview with Mercury Transmit
    3. Modifying and using views
  17. Rendering and Exporting
    1. Basics of rendering and exporting
    2. H.264 Encoding in After Effects
    3. Export an After Effects project as an Adobe Premiere Pro project
    4. Converting movies
    5. Multi-frame rendering
    6. Automated rendering and network rendering
    7. Rendering and exporting still images and still-image sequences
    8. Using the GoPro CineForm codec in After Effects
  18. Working with other applications
    1. Dynamic Link and After Effects
    2. Working with After Effects and other applications
      1. Export After Effects project as Premiere Pro project
    3. Sync Settings in After Effects
    4. Creative Cloud Libraries in After Effects
    5. Plug-ins
    6. Cinema 4D and Cineware
  19. Collaboration: Frame.io, and Team Projects
    1. Collaboration in Premiere Pro and After Effects
    2. Frame.io
      1. Install and activate Frame.io
      2. Use Frame.io with Premiere Pro and After Effects
      3. Frequently asked questions
    3. Team Projects
      1. Get Started with Team Projects
      2. Create a Team Project
      3. Collaborate with Team Projects
  20. Memory, storage, performance
    1. Memory and storage
    2. How After Effects handles low memory issues while previewing    
    3. Improve performance
    4. Preferences
    5. GPU and GPU driver requirements for After Effects
  21. Knowledge Base
    1. Known issues
    2. Fixed issues
    3. Frequently asked questions
    4. After Effects and macOS Ventura
    5. How After Effects handles low memory issues while previewing

Here you'll find a comprehensive list of media file formats supported in After Effects.

This document lists the file formats that Adobe After Effects can import and export. Installing a third-party plug-in can add support for additional file formats. 

If you receive an error message or the video does not display correctly, you may need to install the codec used by the file. For more information about the codec in use, contact the manufacturer of the software or hardware used to create the file.

Most file formats are rendered from After Effects by adding the composition to the render queue. To learn more about it, refer to rendering and exporting a movie using the render queue.

Some formats are only available through the File > Export menu. To learn more about it, refer to rendering and exporting a movie using QuickTime components.

Audio file formats

Format

Import/Export support

Format Details

MPEG-1 Audio Layer II

Import only

Audio format in a WAV container file

Advanced Audio Coding (.aac, .m4a)

Import and Export

 

Audio Interchange File Format (.aif, .aiff)

Import and Export

 

MP3 (.mp3, .mpeg, .mpg, .mpa, .mpe)

Import and Export

 

Waveform (.wav, .bwf)

Import and Export

 

Still image file formats

Note:

You can import files of any still image format as a sequence. Learn more about preparing and importing still images in After Effects.

Format

Import/Export support

Format Details

Adobe Illustrator (.ai, .eps, .ps)

Import only

Continuously rasterized

Adobe PDF (.pdf)

Import only

 

First page only, continuously rasterized.

Adobe Photoshop (.psd)

Import and Export

 

8-, 16-, and 32-bpc

Bitmap (.bmp, .rle, .dib)

Import only

 

Camera raw  (.tif, .crw, .nef, .raf, .orf, .mrw, .dcr, .mos, .raw, .pef, .srf, .dng, .x3f, .cr2, .erf, .sr2, .mfw, .mef, .arw)

Import only

 

Cineon (.cin, .dpx)

Import and Export

Converts to project's color bit depth: 8-, 16-, or 32-bpc

CompuServe GIF (.gif)

Import only

Discreet RLA/RPF (.rla, .rpf)

Import only

16-bpc, imports camera data

ElectricImage IMAGE (.img, .ei)

Import only

Encapsulated PostScript (.eps)

Import only

IFF (.iff, .tdi)

Import and Export

JPEG (.jpg, .jpe)

Import and Export

HEIF (.heif)

Import only

On supported operating systems, After Effects can import HEIF files (High Efficiency Image Format; .heif and .heic), such as those created by the camera apps on Apple iOS 11 or later.

Minimum supported operating systems for HEIF file import:

Note: HEIF Image and HEVC Image Extensions are not included with Windows 10 and must be installed separately.

Maya camera data (.ma)

Import only

OpenEXR (.exr, .sxr, .mxr)

Import and Export

32-bpc 3D Channel effect plug-ins from fnord software are included with After Effects to provide access to multiple layers and channels of OpenEXR files. Learn more about using channels in OpenEXR files in After Effects Help.

PCX (.pcx)

Import only

Windows only

Portable Network Graphics (.png)

Import and Export

16-bpc

Radiance (.hdr, .rgbe, .xyze)

Import and Export

32-bpc

SGI (.sgi, .bw, .rgb)

Import and Export

16-bpc

Softimage (.pic)

Import only

Targa (.tga, .vda, .icb, .vst)

Import and Export

TIFF (.tif)

Import and Export

8- and 16-bpc

Video and animation file formats

Format

Import/Export support

Format Details

Panasonic

Import only

Camera acquisition metadata is displayed in the Dynamic Media panel of the Metadata panel.

RED (.r3d)

Import only

 

Sony X-OCN

Import only

 

Canon EOS C200 Cinema RAW Light (.crm)

Import only

 

RED Image Processing

Import only

 

Sony VENICE X-OCN 4K 4:3 Anamorphic and 6K 3:2 (.mxf)

Import only

MXF/ARRIRAW

Import only

ARRIRAW codec in an MXF container file

H.265 (.hevc)

Import only

HEVC (also known as H.265) codec footage in a QuickTime (.mov) container

3GPP (.3gp, .3g2, .amc)

Import only

Adobe Flash Player (.swf)

Import only

Note that .swf files are imported with an alpha channel. Interactive content isn't retained. Export functionality of SWF files is supported by versions earlier than After Effects CC 2014.

Adobe Flash Video (.flv, .f4v)

Import only

Animated GIF (.gif)

Import only

Apple ProRes codec

Import and Export

On Windows, After Effects can render HDR color in imported QuickTime files using Apple ProRes codecs tagged for Rec. 2020 color, including PQ or HLG profiles, such as those produced by Atomos monitor recorders.

AVCHD (.m2ts)

Import only

DV

Import and Export

In MOV or AVI container, or as container-less DV stream; requires QuickTime on Windows

H.264 (.m4v)

Import only

Media eXchange Format (.mxf)

Import only

MPEG-1 (.mpg, .mpe, .mpa, .mpv, .mod)

Import only

MPEG-2 (.mpg, .m2p, .m2v, .m2a, .m2t)

Import only

Some MPEG data formats are stored in container formats with filename extensions that are not recognized by After Effects; examples include .vob and .mod. In some cases, you can import these files into After Effects after changing the filename extension to one of the recognized filename extensions. Because of variations in implementation in these container formats, compatibility isn't guaranteed.

MPEG-4 (.mp4, .m4v)

Import only

Open Media Framework (.omf)

Import and Export

Raw media [or essence] only; Windows only

QuickTime (.mov)

Import and Export

Video for Windows (.avi)

Import and Export

Export is on Windows only.

Windows Media (.wmv, .wma. asf, .asx)

Import only

Windows only

XDCAM HD and XDCAM EX (.mxf, .mp4)

Import only

Project file formats

Format

Import/Export support

Format Details

Advanced Authoring Format (.aaf)

Import only

Windows only

Adobe After Effects XML Project (.aepx, .aep, .aet)

Import and Export

 

Adobe Premiere Pro (.prproj)

Import and Export

 

Data file formats

Format

Import/Export support

Format Details

JSON (.json)

Import only

 

mgJSON (.mgjson)

Import only

 

JSX (.jsx)

Import only

After Effects 15.1 and later use a different JSON parser that is strict and will not allow a JSON file with illegal syntax to be imported. You can import a JavaScript syntax extension file (.jsx) into After Effects 15.1. The content of the JSX file can be the same as a JSON file imported into After Effects 15.0, you are required to change the file extension to .jsx. If you open an existing project containing a JSON file that no longer works, use File > Replace Footage to replace the JSON file with the JSX file.

CSV (.csv)

Import only

 

TSV (.tsv, .txt)

Import only

 

Other file formats

Format

Import/Export support

Format Details

Cinema 4D Importer (.c4d)

Import and Export

Import uses Cineware effect

Maya Scene camera data (.ma)

Import only

 

XML (.xml)

Import and Export

CMYK file formats

After Effects can import Adobe Photoshop (.psd), Adobe Illustrator (.ai), and Encapsulated PostScript (.eps) files that use the CMYK color space. After Effects will convert the CMYK color values to RGB.

Note:

After Effects cannot assign an input color profile to files that use non-RGB color spaces, such as CMYK. Color management on CMYK files is, therefore, limited. To effectively, color manage CMYK files you should convert them to RGB before you import them into After Effects. For more information, see Interpret a footage item by assigning an input color profile.

16-bpc and 32-bpc file formats

While After Effects can operate in 16 and 32 bits per channel, most video and animation file formats and codecs support only 8-bpc. Typical cross-application workflows for higher bit-depth color involve rendering to a still image sequence rather than a video or animation file. Still image formats that support 16-bpc that After Effects can render to include .psd, .png, .tiff, .iff, and .sgi. Formats that support 32-bpc include .psd, .exr, .hdr, and .tiff.

Video codecs that support 10-bpc are provided with hardware such as a capture card or software such as Adobe Premiere Pro. You can import 10-bpc uncompressed YUV AVI files created in Adobe Premiere Pro into 16-bpc RGB After Effects projects. You can also render from After Effects with 10-bpc YUV compression.

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