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Taking and viewing a window snapshot


    When you want to compare one view to another in the Composition, Layer, or Footage window, take a snapshot of one view and temporarily replace the window image with the snapshot. For example, you might want to compare two frames in different locations in a movie. You can instantly show and hide the snapshot to identify differences between the views. If you have a sound card installed, you hear a sound when you take a snapshot.

    When working with snapshots, here are some tips to keep in mind:

    • Snapshots taken in one kind of window can be displayed in another kind. For example, you can take a snapshot of a Layer window and display the snapshot in the Composition or Footage window.
    • Displaying a snapshot does not replace the content of the window.
    • If the snapshot has a different size or aspect ratio than the window in which you display it, the snapshot is resized to fit the window.
    • Choose Edit > Purge > Snapshot to free up memory used by your snapshots.
    • Snapshots are for reference only and do not become part of the layer, composition, or rendered movie.

To take a snapshot:

    Click the take-snapshot icon at the bottom of the window, or press Shift+F5.

To view a snapshot:

    Click and hold the display-snapshot icon at the bottom of the window, or press F5.

To take and view multiple snapshots:

    Do any of the following:

    • Hold down Shift and press F5, F6, F7, or F8 to take separate snapshots.
    • Press and hold F5, F6, F7, or F8 to view the corresponding snapshots.
    • To purge any snapshot, hold down Ctrl+Shift (Windows) or Command+Shift (Mac OS) and press F5, F6, F7, or F8.

    For more information on using shortcut keystrokes, see the Quick Reference Card.