As a Dataclay user, you know that Templater and Projector can revolutionize your motion graphics workflow. Templater® is an Adobe After Effects® plugin that lets you create custom video templates and then use those templates to create multiple personalized or localized videos. You can customize text, images, branding, graphic elements, colors, and embedded footage. Projector is an app that automates the rendering and distribution of videos created using Templater.
But, let’s face it: After Effects isn’t known for its blazing export speeds, especially when handling complex compositions. This can be particularly frustrating when you’re trying to churn out multiple versions of a project using Templater and Projector.
But don’t despair! While After Effects might be a bit of a resource hog, there are several key strategies you can implement to optimize its performance and get those exports flying out the door.
Streamline Your After Effects Projects for Templater & Projector
Ruthlessly Purge Unused Assets: Templater doesn’t discriminate when it comes to processing layers. It evaluates every single layer in your project. Go through your compositions with a fine-tooth comb and delete any unused layers, effects, or compositions. This will significantly reduce the workload for After Effects and result in faster render times.
Here’s a video demonstrating how to purge unused assets from an After Effects project:
Pre-compose and Crop Like a Pro: This is a classic After Effects optimization technique, and it’s even more critical when using Templater. If you have layers that are scaled down significantly, or only a portion of a layer is visible, pre-compose that layer and crop it down to the required size. This minimizes the number of pixels After Effects has to process, resulting in a significant performance boost.
Here’s a video demonstrating how to create a precomp and reduce its dimensions:
Templater Specific Optimization Tips
Understand How Templater Handles Data: Templater integrates with various data sources, including spreadsheets, JSON files, and live data feeds. By optimizing your data sources and ensuring they are properly formatted, you can streamline Templater’s processing and improve overall performance.
Leverage Templater’s Time Sculpting Feature: Templater’s patented Time Sculpting feature allows you to create templates with layers of variable time duration. This means you can automatically adjust the timing of elements in your videos based on the length of the content being used.
Here’s a video demonstrating Templater’s Time Sculpting feature:
Projector Specific Optimization Tips
Harness Projector’s Parallel Processing Power: Projector can leverage the After Effects rendering engine in parallel, based on the number of cores in your machine. This can significantly reduce the overall time it takes to render a batch of videos.
Utilize Projector’s Automated Distribution: Once your videos are rendered, Projector can automatically distribute them to a variety of platforms, saving you time and hassle.
General After Effects Performance Tips
Optimize Your Caching Strategy: Make sure you understand how After Effects’ caches work and adjust the settings to suit your workflow.
Here’s a video about caches in After Effects:
Use Proxies for Heavy Footage: If you’re working with high-resolution footage or complex effects, consider using proxies to reduce the strain on After Effects during playback and preview.
Here’s a video about After Effects proxy workflow:
Choose the Right Export Settings: Make sure you choose the right settings for the intended use. You can also use Projector’s integrated transcoder to output videos in various formats.
Conclusion
By implementing these optimization strategies, you can make Templater and Projector work even harder for you. You’ll be able to produce high-quality videos more efficiently, speed up your After Effects exports, and free up your time to focus on what you do best: creating amazing content.
Give us your thoughts on this subject in a related Dataclay forum post on the subject of Premiere Pro and After Effects exports.
