
AFTER EFFECTS CS3
User Guide
150
• To change the color of a label for all layers with that label color, select one of the layers belonging to the label group,
choose Edit > Label > Select Label Group, and choose Edit > Label > [color name].
• To change the default colors for labels, choose Edit > Preferences > Label Colors (Windows) or After Effects >
Preferences > Label Colors (Mac OS).
• To change the default associations of label colors with source types, choose Edit > Preferences > Label Defaults
(Windows) or After Effects > Preferences > Label Defaults (Mac OS).
See also
“Select a color or edit a gradient” on page 236
Show and hide layers in the Timeline panel
You can mark a layer as shy andthenusetheHideShyLayers compositionswitchatthetopoftheTimelinepanel
to hide all shy layers in the Timeline panel layer outline. Making layers shy is useful for making room in the Timeline
panel to show the layers and layer properties that you want to adjust.
The icon in the Switches column indicates whether a layer is shy or not shy .
Shy layers are still rendered, both for previews and for final output. To exclude layers from previews or final output,
use the Video switch or make the layer a guide layer.
• To toggle a layer between shy and not shy, click the Shy switch for the layer, or select the layer in the Timeline panel
and choose Layer > Switches > Shy.
• To toggle between hiding and showing all shy layers, click to select or deselect the Hide Shy Layers composition
switch at the top of the Timeline panel, or choose Hide Shy Layers from the Timeline panel menu.
See also
“Layer switches and columns in the Timeline panel” on page 147
Layer image quality
A layer’s quality setting determines how precisely it is rendered, as well as influencing the precision of other calcula-
tions involving the layer, such as motion tracking and the use of the layer as a control layer for a compound effect.
The default quality of new layers is determined by the Create New Layers At Best Quality preference in the General
preferences category.
Duplicated or split layers retain the Quality setting of the original layer.
To toggle between Best and Draft quality of selected layers, click the Quality switch in the Timeline panel. To choose
from all three options, choose Layer > Quality:
Best Displays and renders a layer using subpixel positioning, anti-aliasing, 3D shading, and complete calculation of
any applied effects. Best requires the most time for rendering—both for previews and for final output.
Draft Displays a layer so that you can see it, but only at rough quality. Draft quality displays and renders a layer
without anti-aliasing and subpixel positioning, and some effects are not precisely calculated. Draft quality is often
themostusefulsettingforgeneralworkandforvideolayers(toavoidblurringwhenmatchingcompositionstoraw
video footage).
Wireframe Displays a layer as a box, without layer contents. Layer wireframes are displayed and rendered faster than
layers rendered with Best or Draft settings.
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