When it comes to video editing, Adobe After Effects is considered to be one of the top tools for adding effects and completing post-production work. However, there may be instances where the final result is not as sharp or of high-quality as desired. Do not fret! Here are some suggestions to assist you in enhancing the video quality using Adobe After Effects.
1. Use the Right Composition Settings
The first thing you’ll want to do is ensure your Composition Settings are correct for the type of video you’re creating. Start by selecting your composition in the Project Panel, then go to Composition > Composition Settings (or press Ctrl+K on Windows or Cmd+K on macOS).
In the Composition Settings dialog, make sure your resolution is set to Full and the width and height match your desired output format. You can also set the frame rate here. Typically, a higher frame rate will result in a smoother video, but also a larger file size.
2. Enable Continuous Rasterization
If you’re working with vector graphics or text layers, enabling Continuous Rasterization can help improve the quality of your output. This option essentially tells After Effects to continually re-render the layer at the highest quality, regardless of the scale or transformation applied to it.
To enable Continuous Rasterization, simply toggle on the sun-like icon in your layer panel.
3. Use the Detail-preserving Upscale Effect
Adobe After Effects has a built-in effect called “Detail-preserving Upscale” that can help you improve the quality of your video. This effect increases the resolution of your video while preserving details, making it ideal for upscaling low-resolution footage.
To apply this effect, go to Effect > Distort > Detail-preserving Upscale.
4. Use the Render Queue for Output
The final step in improving your video quality is to use the right output settings. After Effects’ Render Queue provides more options and better quality control than exporting directly from the Composition panel.
To use the Render Queue, go to Composition > Add to Render Queue (or press Ctrl+M on Windows or Cmd+M on macOS). In the Render Queue, you can select your output module and format, set your output destination, and much more.
When selecting your output module, choose a format that supports high-quality video, such as H.264 or ProRes 422. And in the Quality and Sampling section, make sure the Quality is set to Best.
Conclusion
Improving video quality in Adobe After Effects is not a Herculean task. All you need to do is follow the steps outlined in this blog post. Remember, the key to high-quality video is to use the right settings and techniques, and Adobe After Effects provides all the tools you need to achieve this.
