Need to figure out which After Effects project rendered out a video clip? Here's a nifty tip that utilizes Adobe Bridge.
Have you ever been asked by a client, "Can you make some changes to that project from last year? Here's the video file for reference..."
Even if you are an organized person, it can be tricky to figure out which After Effects project was used to render "v04_without_map". The deadline was probably tight and you probably did loads of changes at the end because the client needed some additional options... so your historical file structure might be a bit of a mess.
Well, this is where being organized comes in. You should always archive your projects at the end of a project... but don't worry, there's another way of finding out if you've not completed this step.
Adobe Bridge: The After Effects Project Finder
Eh? What's this? Adobe Bridge is going to tell me what After Effects project was used to render the movie file?
Yes it is! It's all down in meta data!
If you're not familiar with the term, metadata is simply little snippets of information that are tagged onto your video files. Metadata is used for categorizing all sorts of information like frame rate, resolution, duration, audio channels, and more.
Anytime you render a video using an Adobe tool metadata will be attached to the video file. In addition to the normal video metadata information (resolution, duration, date, etc.), After Effects stores the name of the project file as well as its location at the time of rendering into the metadata of a video file rendered in After Effects. The awesome thing about this is even if you've used Adobe Media Encoder to transcode the footage to say an MP4, the meta data travels with the file!
HOW TO FIND WHICH AFTER EFFECTS PROJECTS RENDERED A VIDEO WITH ADOBE BRIDGE
If you don't have Adobe Bridge installed, for the love of all things creative... get it installed right away! After that just follow these steps to find which After Effects project rendered out your video.
- Open Bridge
- Drag the movie file onto the App icon or navigate to the folder within Bridge.
- Press CTRL / CMD+I or right click and choose show info
- In Bridge CC you need to check the Meta tab and scroll towards the bottom. There, you'll find the After Effects project file and file path.
Dive into real-time 3D with our Unreal Engine beginner's course by Jonathan Winbush. Master importing assets, world-building, animation, and cinematic sequences to create stunning 3D renders in no time! Perfect for motion designers ready to level up.
Explore this Course ➔
Unlock the secrets of character design in this dynamic course! Explore shape language, anatomy rules, and motifs to craft animation-ready characters. Gain drawing tips, hacks, and Procreate mastery (or any drawing app). Ideal for artists seeking to elevate their craft.
Explore this Course ➔
Elevate your freelance motion design career with our guide to client success. Master a repeatable method for finding, contacting, and landing clients. Learn to identify prospects, nurture leads, and develop a thriving freelance philosophy amidst chaos.
Explore this Course ➔
Rev up your editing skills with After Effects! Learn to use it for everyday needs and craft dynamic templates (Mogrts) for smarter teamwork. You'll master creating animated graphics, removing unwanted elements, tracking graphics, and making customizable templates.
Explore this Course ➔
Stand out with Demo Reel Dash! Learn to spotlight your best work and market your unique brand of magic. By the end, you'll have a brand new demo reel and a custom campaign to showcase yourself to an audience aligned with your career goals.
Explore this Course ➔
Illuminate your 3D skills with Lights, Camera, Render! Dive deep into advanced Cinema 4D techniques with David Ariew. Master core cinematography skills, gain valuable assets, and learn tools and best practices to create stunning work that wows clients.
Explore this Course ➔
Master After Effects at your own pace with Jake Bartlett's beginner course. Perfect for video editors, you'll learn to create stylish animated graphics, remove unwanted elements, and track graphics into shots. By the end, you'll be equipped for everyday AE needs and more.
Explore this Course ➔
Revolutionize your Premiere workflow with customizable AE templates! Master creating dynamic Motion Graphics Templates (Mogrts) in After Effects to speed up your team's work. By the end, you'll craft easily-customizable templates for seamless use in Premiere Pro.
Explore this Course ➔
Not sure where to start?
If you’re a beginner, here are some great courses to help you get started:
After Effects Kickstart
Dive into the fundamentals of motion design with our most popular (and recently updated) After Effects course.
Photoshop + Illustrator Unleashed
Master the basics of Photoshop and Illustrator and gain invaluable insights in this introductory level course.
Design Kickstart
An introduction to the design principles behind all great work.
More Advanced?
If you’re a more advanced student looking to up your game, here are some great options:
Animation Bootcamp
Learn the art and principles of creating beautiful movements in Adobe After Effects.
Design Bootcamp
Learn to design for motion in this intermediate-level, project-based course.
Cinema 4D Basecamp
Learn Cinema 4D from the ground up in this exciting introductory C4D course.
Now is the time to learn the skills you need to advance in your motion design career:
