Two simultaneous AFXs in windows?

#1

Hello peeps

I’m wondering if it’s possible to launch two windowed after effects (not the bgrender kind) so that I can copy paste effects between two different projects, without having to resort to some ridiculous workflow (like importing a full aep)

Thanks for your input… i’m working all day everyday on after effects after having being doing 5 years of mostly maya so I’m a little rusty !

#2

You can launch different versions of AE at the same time on a 64bit OS, but not the same version multiple times.

Mylenium

#3

It is possible to load multiple copies of the same version after effects, but unfortunatly it won’t allow you to copy and paste between them.

I’m using Windows 7, and a second copy can be opened by opening a command prompt and typing:

“C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe After Effects CS4\Support Files\AfterFX.exe” -m

I don’t see much point in forcing it to do this though since you can’t really work between them very well, and a single After Effects is enough of a resource hog as it is.

One way you can copy and paste effects from one project or another without importing is to copy and paste a single effect or layer. First open the first project, select the effect or layer you want to copy (Preferably by going to Edit>Copy instead of using the keyboard shortcut), loading the second project, and using Edit>Paste. The disadvantage of this is you can only copy one effect or layer at a time, and alot of the time I find that doesnt even work that well. Also, it won’t copy the source material along with (even solids), so most of the time it will immediatly turn up bars and say “Source Deleted”.

#4

Ah ok, thanks. Kind of tedious.Too bad.

#5

Don’t know if this helps but why don’t you export the project you want to copy effects from. Then, simply import it into the project you want to paste the effects into. Just make it into a new comp and open up two separate preview windows showing each composition and go from there.

#6

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.