It wasn’t too way back that the baseline understanding throughout the trade was that function movies had been lower in Avid, documentaries in Premiere, and commercials in FCP. It’s been over a decade since that narrative was absolutely shattered with Oscar winners like “Gone Lady.” Extra just lately, we’ve seen movies like The whole lot In every single place All At As soon as lower in Premiere, which is one thing we proceed to see with Adobe instruments being utilized for 2025’s winners for greatest image, greatest modifying, greatest visible results and extra. Nevertheless, we’re within the midst of one other shift as creatives at each stage are using Adobe After Results in an entire new method.

Whereas these greater modifications throughout the modifying panorama have been shaping up and out for a few years, Adobe After Results had at all times been largely relegated to the realm of movement graphics, visible results, and compositing. Mentioning you “edit” in After Results would possibly even elicit a number of raised eyebrows, a figuring out smirk, or maybe a lecture on correct workflow.

However for a sure breed of “editor,” similar to these creating content material for online-only social distribution similar to TikTok edits or YouTube Shorts, saying “I edit in AE” is one thing that is smart. In truth, for particular initiatives, it may be a strong and arguably most effective selection.

When After Results Turns into Your NLE (Kind Of)

That is one thing to focus on: After Results will not be, by design, a non-linear editor (NLE) within the conventional sense. It lacks most of the streamlined trimming, group, and audio mixing options that make devoted NLEs so environment friendly for long-form content material. Nevertheless, for short-form, closely effects-driven, or animation-heavy initiatives, AE’s distinctive strengths can rework it right into a surprisingly succesful “modifying” surroundings.

After Results would possibly simply be your secret weapon for reducing short-form, VFX-heavy content material. That’s music movies, extremely stylized commercials, title sequences, or experimental shorts. If each different shot requires vital visible results, advanced compositing, or movement graphics, why bounce between functions? Retaining every little thing in AE permits for seamless integration and iteration.

It may also be an thought instrument in case your undertaking is primarily animated or constructed round intricate movement graphics, with live-action parts serving as accents, then AE is your pure habitat. Chopping inside AE is smart when the “edit” is inherently tied to the animation timeline.

For filmmakers who embrace unconventional narratives and visible storytelling, AE’s layer-based system and in depth results library provide unparalleled inventive freedom. You’ll be able to manipulate time, house, and imagery in ways in which could be cumbersome in a conventional NLE.

Lastly,  generally you have to ship a proof-of-concept, a temper reel, or a fast social media piece with a really particular, effects-laden aesthetic, which might make AE a really perfect instrument. If you realize you’ll be closely processing each clip, staying in AE can expedite the method.

So, what does this unconventional workflow entail?

What “Modifying in AE” Really Seems Like

It’s not about replicating Premiere Professional’s timeline; it’s about leveraging AE’s core strengths.

The Composition as Your Timeline

As a substitute of sequences, you’re working with compositions. Your essential composition turns into your “grasp edit,” the place you herald all of your footage, pre-compositions, and results.

Layer-Primarily based Group

Each clip, each graphic, each impact is a layer. This implies you’re stacking parts, adjusting their in/out factors instantly on the layer bar, and utilizing mix modes and masks extensively.

Heavy Pre-Composing

That is paramount. To maintain your essential timeline clear and manageable, you’ll be pre-composing consistently. Every particular person shot or section with its personal results would possibly stay in its personal pre-comp. This lets you apply results to an entire “clip” moderately than particular person layers and retains your undertaking organized.

Adjustment Layers for International Seems

Identical to in NLEs, adjustment layers are your folks for making use of colour grades, grain, or different international results throughout a number of photographs with out duplicating results on each layer.

Time Remapping and Velocity Ramps

AE presents extremely granular management over time remapping, permitting for classy pace ramps, freezes, and reverse results which can be typically extra exact than what’s obtainable in commonplace NLEs.

Animation Keyframes Over Conventional Cuts

Many transitions and “cuts” in an AE edit aren’t onerous cuts however moderately fastidiously animated opacity modifications, place shifts, or effect-driven wipes. The traces between modifying and movement graphics blur significantly.

Important Graphics Panel for Titles (and extra)

If you happen to’re utilizing MOGRTs created in AE, they are often dragged instantly into your essential comp, appearing like subtle, editable title playing cards or decrease thirds.

Whereas highly effective, “modifying” in After Results will not be with out its challenges, and it’s vital to understand the audio limitations, as these instruments in AE are rudimentary at greatest. For something past fundamental sound design or syncing, you’ll finally must export stems to a devoted DAW and even an NLE for a correct combine.

Moreover, layer-heavy compositions with advanced results can shortly convey even highly effective machines to their knees. Environment friendly pre-composing and cautious use of demanding results are key. It’s also possible to overlook about reducing multi-camera interviews instantly in AE. It’s merely not designed for that. And as a reminder that AE will not be a conventional NLE, there’s no automated approach to detect cuts in a single clip and break it into particular person editable segments.

All of which is to say that modifying in AE isn’t for everybody or a match for all initiatives. However saying “I do all of my video modifying in AE” isn’t an unconventional workflow, In truth, below the proper parameters, utilizing anything can truly be extra cumbersome.

Embrace the Unconventional

The following time somebody raises an eyebrow whenever you point out “modifying in After Results,” don’t shrink away. As a substitute, proudly clarify how this often-misunderstood workflow permits you to obtain distinctive visible outcomes, seamlessly combine advanced results, and preserve inventive management from begin to end. For the proper undertaking, utilizing AE as your major editor isn’t a shortcut however is as an alternative a strategic inventive selection that an increasing number of inventive are embracing.