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Using the Composition window
Use the Composition window to preview the composition and animate its contents manually. Move a layer by dragging it; scale a layer by dragging its handle; scroll through the window by using the hand tool. The Composition window contains a number of features and controls to help you work with layers. You can also change the background color of the composition.
A. Rulers
Align layers in the composition window using the rulers. The ruler scale is in pixels. (See Using rulers and guides.)
B. Magnification ratio pop-up menu
Specifies a magnification from the menu. Hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) as you press the mouse button to view composition information. (See Changing magnification in windows.)
C. Title-Action Safe button 
Toggles between viewing the title-safe and action-safe zones and viewing just the image. To display the animator grid, hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) and click this button. (See Viewing safe zones and grids.)
D. Toggle View Masks button 
Toggles between viewing masks in a composition and viewing the image without masks.
E. Current Time button
Opens the Go To Time dialog box. Specify a new frame or time in the text box.
F. Take Snapshot and Show Last Snapshot buttons 
Captures a screen image of the window. Snapshots are not saved to disk, and only the most recent snapshot can be viewed. Click and hold the Show last Snapshot button to view the most recent snapshot instead of the active composition. (See Taking and viewing a window snapshot.)
G. Show only Red, Green, Blue, and Alpha channel buttons 
Click one of the first three buttons to view the composition's red, green, or blue channel. Areas with high values of that channel's color are displayed as white. Click the fourth button to view the composition's alpha channel. Transparent and opaque areas are displayed as black and white, and degrees of opacity appear as shades of gray. (See Viewing color and alpha channels.)
H.
Resolution/Down Sample Factor pop-up menu
Specifies the resolution for the current composition from the pop-up menu.
I. Region of Interest button 
Narrow the composition area for previewing. (See Changing the region of interest.)
J. Toggle Transparency Grid button 
Toggles between viewing a checkerboard background to display transparency, or viewing the background color.
K. Layer Wireframes button 
Toggles between a wireframe and normal view of layers. (See Using Wireframe view in the Composition window.)
L. 3D View pop-up menu
Specifies a view for a 3D layer from the pop-up menu. (See Using 3D views.)
M. Toggle Pixel Aspect Ratio Correction button 
Toggles between turning on and off pixel aspect ratio correction. Turn on Pixel Aspect Correction to squash or stretch an image and correct a non-square pixel aspect ratio. Pixel Aspect Correction has no effect on square-pixel compositions, layers, or footage. It also has no effect when you create files with the Make Move or Export command. Because the scaling is not high quality, use Pixel Aspect Correction to evaluate shapes, not fine pixel details.
N. Dynamic Preview Acceleration button 
Specifies a preview option from the pop-up menu. (See Previewing animation, and Using OpenGL interactive previewing.)
O. Timeline button 
Brings forward the Timeline for the current composition.
P. Comp Flowchart button 
Brings forward the Flowchart View for the current composition. (See Visualizing organization with Flowchart View.)
Q. Comp Window Options
Allows you to open the View Options dialog box, the Composition Settings dialog box, enable frame blending and motion blur, and select options for Dynamic Preview Acceleration, Disable Dynamic Preview, Draft 3D, and Transparency Grid.
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