"The size of After Effects is breath-taking, put simply this is the very best and most comprehensive software you can buy. "
John Hillman
Adobe After Effects CS5 has taken a giant leap forward with the introduction of some very advanced new feature sets.
But crucially it is the fact that the programme has been built around 64-bit code for the first time that is really making the difference in its appeal to designers, filmmakers and visual effect specialists.
The introduction of 64-bit native performance gives After Effects the ability to utilise more memory than ever before. It also allows it to work smartly with dual and quad core processors, dividing memory between each individual core and allowing for better background multi-processing.
This all allows for more efficient multi-tasking, improved control of your PC and a dramatic speeding up render times by as much as 50%.
What we like best
Adobe After Effects is definitely the software platform to beat when it comes to creating motion graphics and visual effects. This is professional grade software used from BBC Studios to Hollywood.
One of the most innovative new additions to After Effects is a tool called the Roto Brush that allows you to cut moving objects out of footage and superimpose them onto a new background.
While this has always been possible in the past, the Roto Brush takes what was once a time consuming and complicated process and turns it into something much cleaner, faster and simpler.
Another cool new feature is called Digieffects FreeForm – again making the whole production process much easier than ever before. This app lets you bend or warp layers in 3D space.
The size of After Effects is breath-taking, put simply this is the very best and most comprehensive software you can buy. The fact is if you can’t do it in After Effects then it probably can’t be done.
What we like least
After Effects is pricey and represents a considerable investment for anyone. At more than £1000 for a single licence it is probably worth considering paying the extra £700 and getting the full Creative Suite 5 Production Premium instead.
This makes it much better value for money as you also get Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Soundbooth amongst many others.
With much improved rendering times and the excellent new native 64-bit support, along with some genuinely incredible new tools, you just have to admire the magical capabilities that After Effects will give to designers and graphics professionals. It’s just unfortunate that as a stand-alone package it’s so expensive. We would recommend saving up the extra and going for CS5’s Full Monty option instead. It just makes more financial sense.
Features
NEW: Roto Brush which quickly isolates foreground elements from backgrounds
Download or CD
CD
Compatible with
Windows Vista Home Premium - Windows 7 Ultimate
System Requirements
- For Windows - Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon 64 processor (Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Phenom II recommended); 64-bit support required
- 64-bit operating system required: Microsoft Vista -Windwos 7 Ultimate
- 2 Gb of RAM
- 3 Gb of available hard-disk space plus 2 Gb of space for optional content; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on removable flash-based storage devices)
- 1280 x 1024 display with OpenGL 2.0 compatible graphics card
- DVD-ROM drive
- QuickTime 7.6.2 software required for QuickTime features
- Broadband Internet connection required for online services
- For Mac OS - Multicore Intel processor with 64-bit support
- Mac OS X v10.5.7 or v10.6
- 2 Gb of RAM
- 4 Gb of available hard-disk space plus 2 Gb of space required during installation (cannot install on a volume that uses a case-sensitive file system or on removable flash -based storage devices)
- rest as above
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