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Home / Screen Recording / How to Cut Video in After Effects and Its Alternative | 3 Steps

How to Cut Video in After Effects and Its Alternative | 3 Steps

By Lydia | Follow twitter | Updated on March 29, 2024
Introduction:
Adobe After Effects is a powerful software with professional effects to help you shorten your video clip. However, if you are using it for the first time, you can find it a bit complex to split layers. Sadly, you won’t find a traditional tool about how to cut video in After Effects. But we are here with the possible solutions and detailed process.
summary

In this article, AWZware will guide you on detailed information to cut a clip in After Effects. You will also find a few additional steps to streamline your workflow seamlessly. Let’s explore the ways to cut and shorten your video clip with After Effects.

How to Cut Video in After Effects

Adobe After Effects is a powerful software to edit your videos with professional effects. You can record videos on a PC and then trim in After Effects to shorten your clip. It is a Hollywood-level software with impressive capabilities to cut footage. But there’s much more to this powerful kit. However, it is expensive to subscribe to its pro plan and an alternative might be necessary if you are budget-minded.

Let us find out how to cut video in After Effects through the detailed steps.

Step 1: Launch and import the video in After Effects

How to cut video in After Effects on PC

Download and launch After Effects on your computer. Then, open up a new project and load the video footage into the software that you want to edit. Tap "Import" and click "File" if you need to add a video before knowing how to cut in After Effects. Once in place, you must drag your video onto the timeline.

Step 2: Select and split the layer

How to cut video in After Effects on PC

Select the appropriate video track in your timeline to cut the video in the software. Now go to "Edit" and choose "Split Layer" to shorten or trim footage After Effects. Once split, your video footage will turn into two separate clips. If needed, you can delete either clip. You can also use the "Ctrl + Shift + D" keys to proceed with the same.

Step 3: Render the project

How to cut video in After Effects on PC

After you have cut the video in After Effects, you must render it to a finished product. Click File and select Export from the menu. By doing so, you can add your video to the render queue. Select the file type and the location to save your video. Now enjoy the cut video clip.

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How to Cut Video in After Effects with Shortcuts

Among the many video cutters for PCs, the quickest way to cut a video clip in After Effects is to use shortcuts along with the playhead. The After Effects cut clip shortcut does not only apply to video layers, but you can also use it to trim any type of layer, be it shape layers, solids, or adjustment layers. The best part about using shortcuts is that it will increase your workflow significantly.

Let us quickly check how to cut videos in After Effects with Shortcuts.

Step 1: Position the play head at the exact frame to be cut.

Step 2: Use the shortcut Alt + [ on PC or Option + [ on Mac computers to trim your clip from the beginning.
How to cut video in After Effects with shortcuts

Step 3: Alternatively, to trim your video clip from the end, you can use the shortcut Alt + ] on PC or Option + ] on Mac computers

Either of these shortcuts will help you cut a clip in After Effects to wherever your play head is positioned.

How to Cut Video in After Effects Alternative

After Effects cut clip shortcut is a great and quick way to cut your videos, but it needs a bit of processing power. So, if you are looking for a reliable After Effects alternative, AWZ Screen Recorder with a video editor can be the best fit. You can split video in After Effects, but AWZ Screen Recorder can help you capture the screen details and perform basic edits. Furthermore, you can even compress your video clips to reduce the file size, maintaining the original quality.

Here’s how to cut videos in After Effects’ alternative, AWZ Screen Recorder, with just a few steps. 

Step 1: Download and launch AWZ Screen Recorder on your PC. Then, choose Quick Tools;

Step 2: Select Video Editor to cut unnecessary clips. Then, import your video clips to the indicated area;
How to cut video in After Effects alternative

Step 3: Drag the progress pin to the time you want to trim;

Step 4: Click Export to save the changes without a watermark.
How to cut video in After Effects alternative

Note: If your video is oversized, you can compress a video by selecting “Video Compressor”. Add your file and choose the “Compression level”. Then, click “Compress” to reduce the size of the video without a watermark.

Pros of AWZ Screen Recorder

⭐ Capture webcam and easily record microphone audio;

⭐ Enables recording and editing of video files without watermark;

⭐ It helps take screenshots while editing the video;

⭐ Easily trims and cuts the video to improve viewer retention;

⭐ Flexible to use and compress the video file size as per your desire;

⭐ Intuitive user interface for easy navigation.

Final Words

We offer two guides on how to cut video in After Effects. You can remove unwanted clips from your video manually or with the help of shortcuts to improve your efficiency. However, when handling large video files, After Effects has lagging that might be quite annoying.

AWZ Screen Recorder is a good alternative with easy navigation to help beginners record quality on-screen actions and cut out unnecessary parts.

Common FAQ about

Q:How do I split a video into parts in After Effects?

You can easily cut a clip in After Effects, but it can also help divide your Timeline into layers. Despite the clips playing directly one after the other, you cannot have more than one clip on a Layer. You can split a clip with After Effects, and it will divide your single layer into two.

Here’s how to split video in After Effects

Step 1: Go to File and click Import. Then, choose File to import a clip. Or, click Cmd+I (for Mac) or Ctrl+I on the Keyboard;

Step 2: Select your clips and tap Open. Your clips will appear in the project browser;

Step 3: To create a new composition, drag one of your clips to the New Comp icon in the Layer panel. You can even right-click the clip and choose New Comp;

Step 4: Position your playhead to where you want to split the layer. You can move the playhead one frame at a time using Page Up/Down or Cmd+Left Arrow and Cmd+Right Arrow if you don’t have a full keyboard;

Step 5: To split the layer, go to Edit and click Split Layer (Cmd+Shift+D or Ctrl+Shift+D on your keyboard).

Q:How do you cut something out in After Effects?

You can trim footage in After Effects to cut the beginning or end of your clip. However, if you want to cut a section of your clip in other editing software, you can use the blade tool to cut and delete the section.

Here’s how After Effects cut clip shortcuts can help you cut a section from a clip.

Step 1: Add your video clip to the timeline, then select it in the Layers panel;

Step 2: Duplicate your layer by pressing Cmd+D (Mac) or Ctrl+D on your keyboard;

Step 3: Move your playhead to where the section you want to cut out begins;

Step 4: Select the bottom of the two layers and press Cmd+] (Mac) or Ctrl+];

Step 5: Position the playhead on the end of the section you want to remove and select the top of the two layers;

Step 6: Press Cmd+[ (Mac) or Ctrl+[ on your keyboard to trim the start;

Step 7: Drag the top layer along the timeline until it meets the first, and the section is removed.

Lydia is an English columnist for AWZware. She is familiar with different technology products such as office software, location changers, and video software applications. Focused on tech blog writing, she is willing to solve your problems with up-to-date information.

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