In this article we will tell you how accelerate the slow down a video in after effectsOne of the most commonly used and easiest to use options within After Effects is to speed up or slow down a clip to achieve the desired result.
However, it may be easy to use, but if not used correctly, it can create still frames and the image will not run properly or you will get a “Quality control error» if you plan to upload to TV stations. Read on to learn how to do it the right way.
How to slow down a video after effects
Speed up or slow down in After Effects It's very easy. Just right click on your clip > Go to "Weather"> «Time stretching». After this, change its percentage to the desired speed. That's it!
Do you want your motion graphics project in After Effects to have faster clips? Maybe you'd like to slow things down to show how cool your clip looks? We'll go over methods for doing this in a moment. Speed up and slow down a clip for After Effects.
Maybe you may be interested: Change the Color of a Solid Layer in After Effects
After Effects has plenty of effects tools to accomplish something as simple as a time shift. Any piece of footage can be made faster or slower without much work. You won't have to sift through too many options to accomplish this task. However, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the program.
After all, there are so many tools and features that you can get lost trying to find what you need. Make a change in There It is perhaps one of the easiest features to use. You will see how to achieve it in this step-by-step tutorial on this essential After Effects technique. Here are the steps to follow:
Step 1: Attaching the timing clips
Let's start with prepare our timeline for the clips we will editIn this tutorial, we will place two video clips on the timeline: the first one I want to be slow and the second one I want to be fast.

The goal of this tutorial is slow down two clips and place them side by side, essentially editing the clips together. It should be noted that this timing tutorial doesn't have to be just for side-by-side clips. You can also use this technique for motion graphic illustrations and composite backgrounds. For this tutorial, though, we'll keep things simple by focusing on two separate clips.

Create a new project and import your two video clips. With your video clips in the asset library, create a new composition to place your clips in. Once you've created the composition, open it and drag your two clips into the timeline.
Each clip should have its own layer. Try moving them around on the timeline so they're next to each other. You'll want to take note of the composition's length. Edit the composition settings by navigating to Composition > Composition Settings.
Change the timecode to have enough time in your composition to handle both clips. For our tutorial, this staging will make the changes seem more apparent and you'll get used to how time stretching alters the timeline.

Now we are ready to start our time shift with the clips in place. One clip will speed up while the other will slow down. Let's use Time Stretch to do this.
Step 2: Apply the time extension
To speed up or slow down a video in After Effects, let’s start with the marina footage first. Click on the first piece of footage in the first layer to make sure the clip is selected. We’ll be changing the timing of this clip through the layer rather than the clip itself.

At the top of the interface, go to Layer > Time > Time Extension. This will open up a mini-window to set the time stretch for that particular layer. Now we can start telling After Effects whether we want this layer to speed up or slow down.
Step 3: Adjust the time stretch
Here's what you'll find in the mini-window to stretch time:
- Original duration: This is the timecode during which the video is running in the layer. Use this as a reference when making changes.
- speed factor: This is the speed percentage of the layer. By default, you'll be at 100%. Raising it will increase the pace and lowering it will slow it down.
- New duration: This will be the new length of the clip after applying the time stretch.

So we want this layer to be slower. To do this, we will reduce the speed factor by reducing the percentage from 100% to 75%. You will notice how the time of the layer has changed. New duration when you make this edit.
None of this will be reflected in the timeline until you approve this change by clicking Accept. That is why we can see so much Original duration and New duration. We can measure the difference without waiting for the span to finish rendering. When you are ready to make the change, click Accept. You will now notice that the layer is much longer. So now we need to change our composition a bit.
Let's go back to the composition settings and give our composition some more time. We're going to turn it up a bit, so we have more room to see how far the slowed down footage now extends. Don't worry if it's too long; we can change this setting later.

Next, let's do the same application Time Stretch for the other clip. Click on that layer and then go to Layer > Time > Time Stretch. Now we will change this satellite footage to move at a faster pace by changing the speed.
Change the speed factor to 125%. Notice now that the new duration is shorter than the original duration. This means that our footage will be faster and its location on the timeline will be shorter.
Click on Accept to apply this change. Just as our marina footage was enlarged, our satellite footage was shortened. We'll reposition it on the timeline so that it's right next to the marina, so that we can see how they both look when we preview the footage.
Step 4: Preview your clips
Now comes the most critical but time-consuming part of the process. We need to see what our footage looks like now that we have applied Time Stretch to our two clips. Press the space bar on your keyboard with the composition timeline selected as a shortcut to start playback.

If you are not familiar with playback in After Effects, you must wait for the footage to process first before you get a full preview. This means that the footage will play slowly at first as you show the edits you've made. You can see this progress with small color bars at the top of the timeline.
When the colored bars finish progressing on the timeline, return the timeline marker to the beginning and press the space bar again. You should get a smooth preview of your sped up and slowed down clips if the footage is processed correctly.
Take a close look at the images to make sure the timing is right. If you don't like it, you can simply modify it by selecting the layer and bringing up the options. Extension of time. Change them to your liking and re-render for another preview. This process extends to more than just video clips.
It can be useful for making sure a logo slides properly or a motion graphics character moves believably. Time Stretch can be a quick-fix option for some projects if you get involved with more elaborate motion graphics projects. Time Stretch Tool It's not perfect for all your timing needs.
More complex animations may require specific keyframe modifications rather than a wide timing difference. However, for quick and easy timing edits, this is an invaluable skill to take with you into your future After Effects projects.
You may want to know: How to Make a Fluid Animation in After Effects, Blender and Maya Fluid Effects
An easier way to speed up or slow down a video
Wondershare Filmora Pro is a famous video editing tool. It is suitable for users who work on creating and editing high-quality videos. This software supports video editing up to 4K.
Wondershare Filmora Pro is also popular due to its affordability in terms of audio and video and its plethora of options available to design, customize videos, and add effects. You can also add voiceovers to your videos.
Features:
- Screen splitting.
- Noise elimination.
- Controls for audio, sound and video.
- Separation for audio.
Change Video Speed in Wondershare Filmora Pro:
In case you find it very difficult to speed up or slow down a video in After Effects, it is recommended to switch to Filmora Pro, which is a powerful yet easy-to-use tool for users to create effects easily. You can speed up or slow down your videos easily with it. Download Filmora Pro to have a try and then follow these steps:
- Step 1: Import the file into Wondershare Fimora Pro and drag it to the timeline.
- Step 2: In the effects tab, go to search speed.
- Step 3: Drag the speed effect over the video clip present in the timeline. Adjust the slider to change the speed.
You can also change video playback speed In Wondershare Filmora (for beginners, different from FilmoraPro):
- First method: Simply right click on the video clip present in the timeline and select the option Speed and Duration. Keep dragging the speed slider to adjust the speed of the video

- Second method: On the toolbar, click the speed icon and the number of options visible. It includes slowing down, reversing and speeding up the video.

- Third method: Drag the video manually by simply pressing the key Ctrl on the keyboard. Take the cursor on the last of the clip. You will see a round speed change icon. The purple stripe is visible to confirm the speed change.

FAQs
Below we will address some questions that arose when explaining how to speed up or slow down a video in After Effects:
Is Adobe After Effects free?
Adobe After Effects requires a subscription to use the app. The only way to use After Effects for free is by taking advantage of the seven-day trial version of the software. This will allow you to take advantage of all the features and tools of After Effects without limitations. Completion of the trial will require you to pay a monthly fee to continue using one of the applications.
How much does After Effects cost?
Using After Effects costs a monthly fee to Adobe's Creative Cloud. The price is $20.99 per month with an annual plan, and the cost will cover updates and patches as long as you keep paying. After Effects can also be purchased through the Creative Cloud bundle, priced at $52.99 per month. This bundle includes After Effects and other programs Premiere, Photoshop, and Animate.
Is it worth editing in After Effects?
After Effects is best suited for handling composition and visual effects applied to your videos. However, while you can edit videos together through this app, it is not an ideal video editor. This is because the program does not work well for previewing audio. You will want to use a video editor like Adobe Premiere alongside After Effects if you want to edit videos for more than just effects.
How much does After Effects cost per year?
The After Effects annual plan will cost you $239,88 per year. You can pay all at once over the year or pay through this plan month-to-month for $20.99 per month. Without an annual plan, you'll need to pay $31.49 per month.
Take a look at: How to Add Text in Filmora: 3 Steps to Customize Your Subtitles
Final thoughts
In short, by following these steps, you will know for sure how to speed up or slow down a video in After Effects. Additionally, you will be able to control the acceleration or deceleration of the speed of time. We recommend using Time Remapping all the time unless you just need a quick adjustment and nothing more serious. If you want to express your opinions, the comments section is available for you, until next time.
My name is Javier Chirinos and I am passionate about technology. Ever since I can remember, I have been interested in computers and video games, and that passion has turned into a job.
I have been publishing about technology and gadgets on the Internet for over 15 years, especially in mundobytes.com
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