other information that makes up the model for that image. After Effects renders content every
time it creates a preview, but this lesson focuses on the rendering process that occurs when
you’ve completed your composition and are ready to share your movie. You can generate a final
movie file using the Render Queue panel in After Effects or Adobe Media Encoder. (The Render
Queue uses an embedded version of Adobe Media Encoder to encode most movie formats, but
doesn’t include all the features of the separate application.)
When you use the Render Queue to create your final output, there are two steps to the process:
After Effects renders the composition and then encodes the rendered frames into output files. In
the Render Queue, the first step is governed by the render settings you’ve selected, and the
second by the selected output module.
Adobe recommends that you use Adobe Media Encoder to create a high-quality movie file that is
compressed for the web, DVD, or Blu-ray disc.
Exporting using the Render Queue
You can export a movie using the Render Queue at any stage in the process—whether you’re
creating a sample for a client to review, producing a low-res version to check the timing, or ready
to create a final high-resolution movie. The settings you choose for each purpose are different,
but the process is the same.
You’ll export a draft version of the On the Move movie using the Render Queue.
Tip
Alternatively, you can drag the composition from the Project panel onto the Render
Queue panel.1. Select the Movement composition in the Project panel, and choose Composition > Add To
Render Queue.After Effects opens the Render Queue panel. The Movement composition is in the queue. Note
the default settings in the Render Settings and Output Module pop-up menus; by default, After
Effects produces a full-size high-quality movie. You’ll change the settings to create a low-
resolution test file that will render quickly.
2. Click the arrow to the right of Render Settings, and choose Draft Settings. Then, click the
blue words “Draft Settings.”