Optimize collaboration with team projects in After Effects

With the continuous developments in Adobe's creative programs, After Effects CC 2017.2 offers an exciting opportunity for collaboration: Team Projects. This feature allows you and your team to efficiently and easily edit projects together, from anywhere via the cloud. In this article, you will learn how to use Team Projects in After Effects to optimize your creative processes and work seamlessly on projects, no matter where your team is located.

Key insights

• Team Projects allow interdisciplinary work via the Adobe Cloud.
• You need to purchase a special license for Team Projects in order to use them.
• Rendering projects can be efficiently done through the Media Encoder.
• Dynamic Link allows you to edit projects without version conflicts.
• Proxies provide an efficient editing option for 4K content.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Overview of Team Projects and their Benefits

Before you start with Team Projects, it’s important to understand what they are. Team Projects allow you and your team to operate in a shared work environment, regardless of your locations. This is especially useful when multiple team members are working on a single project while using Premiere Pro and After Effects. To get started with Team Projects, you’ll need a stable internet connection, as everything runs on the cloud.

2. Accepting an Invitation to a Team Project

To join a Team Project, you must receive an invitation from the project leader. This invitation allows you to join the project and work in an organized manner in the cloud. Be sure to accept the invitation and go through all the required steps to be fully integrated into the project.

3. Accessing Project Settings

Once you are added to a Team Project, you can adjust the project settings. These are located in the upper right corner of the user interface. It’s important to familiarize yourself with these settings, as they allow you to fully utilize the cloud integration and ensure all team members have the right permissions.

4. Creating a New Team Project

If you are the project leader, you can create a new Team Project. Go to "File" and select the appropriate option for Team Projects. Note that you must have a special Team Projects license from Adobe to set up such a project. This ensures that you have all the necessary features and resources available.

5. Using Creative Cloud for Team Projects

Once you have access to Team Projects, you can use the Creative Cloud on the left side to manage your projects. Here, you can see the Team Projects that have been assigned to you. Be sure to check regularly for updates or changes to stay up to date.

6. Rendering Projects in Media Encoder

One of the key features of Team Projects is the ability to work with Adobe Media Encoder. You will find the option to load your project in the Media Encoder queue, allowing you to render your projects efficiently. This also works even if you are not the one who edited the project. This capability facilitates the use of computing resources.

7. Simultaneous Work Without Conflicts

With Team Projects and Dynamic Link, you can avoid conflicts during editing. When multiple users work on a project, it ensures smoothly that no changes are overwritten. In case of version conflicts, you have the option to view the version history and ensure that nothing is irreversibly overwritten.

8. Options for Working with Proxies

For those working with 4K or higher resolutions, there is the option to use proxies. Proxies are low-resolution files that allow for efficient playback and editing of your material. You can use proxies that have already been created by another team member. Later, you can render the project in 4K by simply disabling the proxies.

9. Managing Project Versions

When using Team Projects, it’s important to regularly save your versions. The cloud stores earlier versions, so you can restore them at any time if necessary. Make sure that when you finish your work, you are prompted to save to avoid losing anything.

Summary - Team Projects in After Effects: Maximum Collaboration

The new features of Team Projects in After Effects CC 2017.2 revolutionize the way you and your team can collaborate creatively. With the ability to edit and render projects efficiently through the cloud, collaboration is made both practical and effective. Use the steps presented to dive into the world of Team Projects and improve your production workflows.