Time Stretch, Time Remap, Timewarp...confusing

[sean90291]

Seems like there are several ways to play with time in AE7.

At first blush, I'm concluding that Time Stretch is useful because it's quick, but not keyframeable. Whereas Timewarp allows you to keyframe time for time ramp effects. However, Timewarp also changes time without lengthening the source clip. So if I slow it down, it finished too early (since the out point remains the same, but the slowed clip only plays halfway through the scene). Is there a way to use Timewarp and still stretch the overall length of the clip so that it still plays out in full, albeit more slowly?

[sean90291]

Well it's a common problem, apparently, but given the giant Internet, not always easy to isolate the simple answer. Here it is for any folks wondering themselves:

Click on the footage in question in the Project window. Open the Interpret Footage dialogue box (under File). Loop the footage 2 (or 3 or 4) times. Use this newly interpreted footage for your Timewarp slo-mo effects. This technique extends the source footage so that when you slow it down in After Effects using Timewarp, the slowed down clip plays right through to the end and nothing gets chopped off. Now why don't any of the After Effects help categories, or any of my three After Effects books mention this solution.

Cheers.

[wahrez]

I learnt that from the lynda.com tutorial....just started trying out the timewarp effect on some hvx footage that is already shot at 720p50 so I'm looking to see how far I can slow things down!!!