After Effects HD Settings

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Composition Settings

To properly set up an After Effects Composition for High Definition, create a New Composition, and choose HDTV 1080 24 from the Preset menu. If this preset does not exist, match the settings shown below.

Your composition must be 24 frames per second. 

Be sure to name your Composition, so that you can keep track of it.

Your final settings must be: 1920 x 1080, square pixels, 24 fps.

If your film was designed using a different aspect ratio, you must still export it so it fits within a 1920 x 1080 composition. See HD Aspect Ratios for more information.

Composition Settings

Exporting Video

When you’re ready to export a movie, select Add To Render Queue from the Composition menu.

Render Settings

In the Render Queue window, click on the settings name next to Render Settings.

The Render Settings should match those in the screenshot below:

  • Quality: Best
  • Resolution: Full
  • Size: 1920 x 1080
  • Field Render: Off
  • Frame Rate: Use comp’s frame rate (should be 24)
Render Settings

Output Settings

In the Render Queue window, click on the settings name next to Output Module to change the settings.

In the Output Module window, select QuickTime as the Format.

Output Module – QuickTime selected

In the Video Output section, click on Format Options… and choose Apple ProRes 422 HQ from the Video Codec menu. Click OK.

QuickTime Options – Video Codec

If exporting audio, select Audio Output On in the Output Module window.

Output Module – Audio Output On

Choose 48 kHz, 32-bit, Stereo (unless you’re working in Mono). Click on Format Options… and choose Uncompressed from the Audio Codec menu. Click OK.

QuickTime Options – Audio Codec

Note: We do not recommend editing audio in After Effects. It’s suitable for testing sound sync or scratch audio, but Premiere Pro or ProTools should be used for audio editing and mixing.

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