Using the Pre-render command

The Pre-render command provides an easy way to flatten nested compositions, greatly shortening preview times. The command opens the render queue and creates a render item for the selected composition with Import and Replace Usage selected as the Post-Render Action option.

To prerender a composition:

1. Select the composition in the Project or Composition window.
2. Choose Composition > Pre-render. Adjust the settings as necessary, and render the footage.

To edit a prerendered composition:

1. In the Project window, click the proxy indicator  for the prerendered composition until it displays an empty box. This turns off the proxy so that After Effects uses the actual composition in the project.
2. In the Project window, double-click the composition from which the proxy movie was rendered.
3. Edit the composition.
4. Save the project.
5. Render the composition into a movie again, using the same filename as the previous version of the movie.
6. After rendering is complete, set up the movie as a proxy for the composition. The next time you view the composition containing the movie, the new movie is displayed.