To Interpret Footage
This step will allow you to convert an image sequence to 24, 15, or 12 frames per second. In addition, you will be able to turn the sequence into a repeating loop (for a walk cycle for example).
Once you have imported an image sequence to the project, After Effects will store the footage in the Project Window. To Interpret the Footage — or, to change the duration of the sequence or loop the images — you should do one of two things.
First of all, referring to the Project Window, click on the footage icon and go to File > Interpret Footage > Main. Or, similarly, to activate the dialogue box, right-click on the icon and go to File > Interpret Footage > Main.
Under the Interpret Footage options, you should select the following:
- Alpha: Choose “Straight – Unmatted”
- Frame Rate: “Assume the frame rate” is 24 frames per second (single-frame animation) or 12 frames per second (double-frame animation)
The other Options to consider are:
- Pixel Aspect Ratio: Choose “Square Pixels”
When Interpreting Footage, Choose Loop to Create Cycles
A very useful option that After Effects offers is to “loop” image sequences. This will allow you to repeat sequences. For example, the loop feature is ideal for treadmill walk cycles.
- First, import an image sequence, such as a treadmill walk cycle.
- Once you’ve imported the sequence, in the Project Window, right-click on the sequence icon and Interpret Footage > Main.
- After you have set the frame rate, go to the lower section of the Interpret Footage Dialogue Box and choose Other Options > Loop:
- Loop: Choose a large amount of times you would like to the cycle to repeat. For instance, to make a 10 second walk cycle, the software should repeat the character’s steps 20 times.