Positioning effects on layers

After Effects renders all effects using subpixel positioning, a highly accurate interpolation that calculates a layer's position to thousandths of a pixel. Effects are calculated to a level of precision higher than the resolution displayed on-screen, which results in smooth, high-quality effects and animations. Positioning with subpixel accuracy may soften pixels when used with blending or smoothing effects.

To position an effect exactly where you want it:

1. Choose View Options from the Composition window menu and then select Effect Controls to make the effect points visible.
2. Select the effect you want to position in the Effect Controls or the Timeline window.
3. Zoom in on the layer in the Composition window. The more you zoom in, the more accurate you can be. Effect points for effects are interpolated throughout the area of the image.

Note: A layer must be set to Best quality to take advantage of subpixel accuracy. However, for faster editing, you can keep layers at Draft quality until you render a finished movie.