my AE project is very slow/sluggish...how can I speed up rendering???

N

Nicholas Natteau

Veteran
I have a Mac Pro desktop, 2x2.8 Ghz Quad-core Intel Xeon with 8 GB Mhz of DDR RAM and I'm using AE CS5, and working on a map of the world for a history documentary.

My problem is that when I dolly into my AE map with a camera, it takes ages for the effect to render. My map, created in Illustrator CS5, has 86 layers, so is that why the rendering is so slow?

I need many layers because I'm focusing on all the territorial changes that took place in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, after World War I as a result of the Versailles Treaty.
The map is 1917x959 large but my project is 1280x720.

Any suggestions on how I can speed up rendering? My map project takes nearly 30 seconds just to open when I launch After Effects. Am I just working with a project that is too big? DO I have too many layers? If so, how many layers should AE projects have?
 
Nicholas Natteau said:
The map is 1917x959 large but my project is 1280x720.
Click to expand...

That's probably part of the problem anyway. Keep your original at its original size, but reduce a copy down to 1280 x 720 for your video use. This will help AE by removing steps from the render.

Next, consider several copies for your vid, by stripping out the layers you don't need for this particular part of the vid. This will also probably help AE by removing some steps from the render.
 
The size of the map at 1917 x 959 shouldn't add that much overhead compared to a version at 1280 x 720. I've used documents with dimensions in the 8000px wide range and AE still stays fairly responsive (considering). How long do your renders take? Some people who think something that takes ages is not really that long in AE render time. How long is your comp too? That's a big factor as well.

To put it in perspective, I have some projects that have well over 600 layers (including precomps) and they render in an acceptable amount of time. Adding things like 3d layers can increase time too, but you have a fairly decent machine which shouldn't have too much trouble. Let us know the times it takes and we can help you better, plus more details of your comp will help. What effects you are using, what else is happening, motion blur, etc?
 
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