How to Zoom in After Effects

After Effects is great at creating motion graphics and stunning effects.

Adobe After Effects is a powerful software tool for creating a number of impressive visual effects and motion graphics for everything from DVD menus to feature films. The software includes a number of useful tools and many ways to access them. The high resolution and detail available in After Effects means that you may need to zoom in to make the small adjustments that may be necessary for your project, and there are a number of methods for zooming in and out in your project.

Instructions

Zoom with the Drop-Down Box

1. Click the arrow next to the zoom box directly under the composition preview window. The zoom box displays a percentage such as "50 percent."

2. Click the percentage of zoom you wish to use, such as 100 percent, or for an even greater zoom, choose 200 percent.

3. Click the arrow next to the box, and choose "Fit" to re-size the preview to fit the box again.

Zoom Using the Scroll Wheel on Your Mouse

1. Slide the scroll wheel on your mouse or touch pad up toward the screen while centering the mouse cursor over the area you wish to zoom into. This will zoom in.

2. Slide the scroll wheel down to zoom out.

3. Click the arrow next to the zoom box and choose "Fit" to reset the zoom setting so the entire composition fits in the preview window.

Zoom Using the Zoom Tool

1. Click the zoom tool in the toolbar at the top left of the screen. The zoom tool icon looks like a small magnifying glass.

2. Click a spot in the composition in the preview window to zoom in at that spot. You can also click and drag to select a portion of the screen to zoom into.

3. Hold down the "Alt" key on your keyboard while clicking on a spot in the composition to zoom out.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have zoomed in to an undesirable area of the composition preview, you can always reset the zoom level by choosing the "Fit" option in the zoom box.

References

• TechTutor.tv: Zoom Tool After Effects CS3