Slow speeds when rendering and other performance issues in Adobe After Effects can be seriously frustrating for users, primarily because it can disrupt their workflows and delay the deadlines of important creative projects. Slowdowns can happen whether the user is working on complicated tasks such as color correction, color grading, or even when they are merely trying to streamline their editing process.
Fortunately, there are multiple effective methods as well as advanced strategies using which users can enhance Adobe After Effects’ rendering speeds and amplify the tool’s overall performance. By leveraging advanced third-party tools and advanced technologies, users can truly improve the efficiency of the tool and avoid facing performance-related bottlenecks.
In this article, we will list 8 practical ways following which After Effects users can obtain faster render times. Let us begin:
Practical Ways to Boost After Effects Rendering Speeds
Here is the ultimate list of highly effective ways to boost the performance and editing workflow of Adobe After Effects when it comes to video render speeds, especially #8:
- Using After Effects on Postudio
There are instances when users’ systems do not meet the minimum Effects computer configuration requirements or the base system configuration needed to run the tool properly, thereby preventing them from using the app to the best of its capabilities. In such cases, the best course forward is opting to use Postudio, an all-in-one pro-level virtual creative studio.
The cloud-based platform features an extensive range of top-tier post-production applications, including After Effects, which users can access and use without worrying about meeting any software or hardware requirements. Moreover, Postudio is highly secure and hence, creatives such as novice as well as professional video editors and designers can work on any project without worrying about dips in performance, data loss or cyberthreats.
If you wish to unleash your creativity without spending insane amounts of money on the biggest performance bumps by upgrading hardware or purchasing software, join Postudio and get started on your journey today!
- Optimizing the Settings for Memory Cache
One of the most foolproof methods to enhance the performance of After Effects in terms of single-frame or multi-frame rendering is optimizing the settings for memory cache and cache frames. By enabling the “Disk Cache” preference, users can allocate a higher amount of memory for the rest of the applications when caching files or frames to the disk for video previews. To do so, users need to assign as much space as they possibly can to the folder called “Disk Cache” onto a separate drive. Doing so helps the application to access as well as render frames faster and more efficiently.
- Optimizing RAM Usage in Adobe After Effects
Adobe’s powerful composting tool requires a minimum of 4 or 5 GB of RAM for performing basic operations. However, for achieving optimal performance, users should have a minimum of 2 GB of installed RAM per processor core. To ensure the management of memory pool more effectively:
- Shut down any unnecessary program or app in order to free up memory. Performance may be drastically reduced if resource-hogging operations continuously operate in the background.
- Make adjustments to RAM allocation from within the app via Preference > Memory & Performance > RAM Reserved for Other Applications. In this section, users can specify the amount of RAM they need to reserve for other apps, thereby ensuring that After Effects holds access to sufficient memory for operating smoothly.
- Storing Source Files on the System’s Local Drive
Storing the source footage of any Effects project files on a local disk drive which is fast can truly enhance the performance of After Effects. Users should consider leveraging separate, fast local drives like a portable USB RAID drive, for storing source footage foles as well as the rendered outputs. Doing so can significantly reduce lag and amplify access times when rendering.
- Utilizing Render Presets
Try utilizing the native render presets present in Adobe After Effects for common output video formats. Why? Well, the in-built presets are properly optimized for offering efficiency to users, i.e., they can help save a lot of time, especially when exporting projects that are large in size. By utilizing the right preset, users can easily streamline the elaborate and time-consuming editing process, more specifically the rendering part. Moreover, they can also save themselves from the hassle of making unnecessary adjustments.
- Streamlining Your Project
Another popular and effective way to make Adobe After Effects run faster and smoother is to simplify your project. Needless to say, complicated video compositions as well as heavy effects can significantly tone down even the most agile systems. Hence, users working with complex video compositions are advised to review their project before starting the rendering process in order to track down any area that has room for simplification.
- Rendering in After Effects
Although it might be highly tempting for users to export their projects directly to the Adobe Media Encoder, doing so may lead to numerous render errors as well as slowdowns. Instead, they are advised to render their project within the app first. After the Effects file has been rendered, they can transcode it to a different file format with the help of the Media Transcoder. This particular approach is, in most cases, faster in addition to being reliable.
- Installing Adobe After Effects Updates & Drivers
Keeping the Adobe After Effects application up-to-date is very important for achieving optimal performance. Regular software updates for the applications in addition to installing latest graphics drivers can truly enhance its performance besides fixing bugs and other issues.
To check for new Adobe After Effects updates, users need to open the app and navigate to Help > Updates. Doing so makes sure that users are running the most recent or current version of the application which features all the latest features and improvements.
Conclusion
By following the aforementioned step guide, users can significantly amplify the performance of their After Effects application and add fluency to their creative process. Effective management of RAM, optimized settings, and most importantly, utilizing advanced technologies are the key avenues to achieve smoother workflows and better performance, including faster render times.
