How to Cut and Trim a Clip in After Effects without Quality Loss

As the customer video graphics editing software, After Effects is a part of the Creative Cloud suite of Adobe system. Users can do different types of video editing work in the software. Cutting clips from any video, for example, is one of the editing works. However, the incorrect workflow can damage your video. Therefore, this tutorial will show you how to cut a clip in After Effects in detail. So, let's start the learning now.

Cut Clip in After Effects

Part 1: How to Cut a Clip in After Effects

There are many reasons why you need to split or cut a clip in Adobe After Effects. There are a few ways to go about doing it too but the software does not have an intuitive video-cutting tool. As result, you have to do it by splitting or trimming the layer. Anyway, we explain the easiest way below for beginners and average people.

Step 1: Run After Effects, go to the File menu from the top menu bar, choose Import, and select File. Find and bring a clip into After Effects through the open-file dialog.

Step 2: Drag the clip to the New Composition icon at the bottom of the Projects panel. Then a new composition will be created according to the media properties of the clip. The composition only has one layer.

Step 3: Place the play-head bar to the position where you would like to cut or split. If you intend to find the exact frame, move the play-head forwards and backward with the hotkeys, like Page Up and Page Down.

Step 4: When you find the exact frame, you have a couple of options:

Go to the Edit menu and choose Split Layer, or press Control + Shift + D keys on your PC keyboard or Command + Shift + D keys on Mac. Now, the layer will become two clips. Select the unwanted clip and press the Delete key on your keyboard to remove it.

To cut a clip in After Effects directly, place the play-head bar to the new beginning, and press the Alt + [ keys on PC and Option + [ on Mac to reset it. Next, put the play-head bar to the new endpoint and press the Alt + ] keys on PC or Option + ] on Mac.

Step 5: Now, preview the clip in the composition panel. If you are satisfied, locate the Project window, and select the video clip. Go to the File menu, select Export, and choose to Add to Adobe Media Encoder Queue. Change or keep the preset on the Media Encoder dialog, set the destination folder, and click the Save button.

Part 2: Best Alternative to After Effects to Cut a Clip

As mentioned previously, After Effects does not provide a video-cutting functionality. So, the workflow is pretty complicated to cut a clip in the software. It makes sense that some users look for an alternative solution. AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate is one of the best choices.

Main Features of the Best Alternative to After Effects

• 1. Cut a clip or split a video into clips in one click.
• 2. Optimize and enhance video quality while cutting.
• 3. Include a wide range of bonus tools, like video converting.
• 4. Support almost all video formats, such as AVI, MP4, MOV, FLV, etc.

How to Cut a Video Clip with After Effects Alternative

Step 1: Load a video

Launch the best alternative to After Effects aft you install it on your PC. There is another edition for Mac users. Click and expand the Add Files menu, and choose the Add Files or Add Folder option to import the video that you intend to cut. If you need to cut several clips in the After Effects alternative, open all of them.

Step 2: Cut the clip

Click the Cut button under the video title with the scissors icon. Then the video cut window will pop up. You can see the video on the timeline. Next, reset the start and end positions by dragging the left and right sliders on the timeline. You can also cut a clip exactly by entering the time directly. Click the Add Segment button to add the current clip to the list. Now, you can cut another clip from the video in the After Effects alternative.

Step 3: Export the clip

Click the Save button to confirm the clips and go back to the home interface. Move to the bottom area, click the Folder button and select a location directory in the Save to box. At last, click on the Convert All button to export the clips to your hard drive.

Note: If you want to transform the video format, click the Convert All to menu at the upper right corner, and choose the desired format on the profile dialog.

Part 3: FAQs about How to Cut a Clip in After Effects

Conclusion

Now, you should understand how to cut a clip in Adobe After Effects. Although it is pricy, the software can help you split and trim a video clip on the layer. Moreover, our concrete guide can make the procedure streamlining. If you do not like it, AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate is a nice alternative solution. More questions? Please write them down below.