How to Freeze Frame in After Effects?

How to Freeze Frame in After Effects?

When it comes to video editing, After Effects is a must-try option because its practical editing tools and features give users a great experience to play around with their creations. It also provides a layer-based editing tool that allows you to edit videos most professionally. Simultaneously, you can add multiple layers, audio, transitions, effects, and other media.

Of all the features, the one we would like to talk about is a freeze-frame. The freeze frame lets you freeze or stop the specific frame that you wish to focus on or feature. Just pick or select the frame you want to freeze and refer to the following steps to learn how to make a freeze frame in After Effects.

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Steps on How to Freeze a Frame in After Effects

Step 1. Download and Install After Effects

After Effects requires a certain amount of space on your computer. After downloading and installing it, launch it on your desktop. It works on both Windows and macOS.

Step 2. Import New Composition

Once you launch this program, you will see several options for opening or creating a new project. Simply drag and drop your video or click the New Composition From Footage area to import the video you want to edit.

Step 3. Add Video to the Timeline

Drag and drop the imported video onto the timeline below for editing.

Step 4. Select the Frame

You can see a playhead or slider above the video timeline. This slider helps you select the frame you want to freeze. And you can press the Space bar on your keyboard to play and pause the video. With the help of the slider, play the video and select the frame to pause the video at that moment.

Step 5. Create a New Layer

Now, you have paused the video where you would like to freeze the frame. Press Ctrl + Shift + D to cut the video at that moment. Another layer of the video will be added just after the moment.

Step 6. Freeze the Frame

Right-click on the layer and the Settings menu will appear. Go to Time > Select Freeze Frame. Once done, the frame you selected will be frozen.

Step 7. Save the Video

Go to File > click Export to save the edited video to your computer according to your requirements.

Why Can’t I Freeze a Frame in After Effects?

The reason for not being able to freeze the frame in After Effects may be caused by the greyed-out feature. With this feature it is not possible to create or add a freeze frame from a sequence, so you need to go back to the original clip to create a freeze frame or any other type of effect.

What Does Freeze Frame Do?

The freeze-frame feature creates a pictorial effect as if the video is frozen in a specific moment. And this feature stops the movement of the video as well as converts the video into a still image for the desired duration.

Also read: What Is the Freeze Frame and How to Use It in the Films?

Conclusion

After Effects is a decent video editing application that allows you to freeze frames in your videos. We hope that the above guide on how to freeze frame in After Effects will be of great help to you.

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