Adobe After Effects CS4

CNET editors' take

• Reviewed by:
  Elsa Wenzel
• Reviewed on: 09/22/2008

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Adobe After Effects CS4

After Effects, the popular postproduction tool for video professionals, offers numerous workflow improvements for the CS4 release. Echoing its partner CS4 applications, these improvements include pull-down menus for flipping among various workspaces and easily resizable panels.

In addition, you can search timelines and projects. For example, typing "PSD" within a search field will bring up Photoshop files related to your project. That time-saving improvement alone might be worth the upgrade price for a well-funded production studio. Plus, there's XMP metadata support for managing assets.

Working with 3D imagery expands, as you can import Photoshop Extended 3D layers into After Effects. Plus, 3D compositing gets more control with a Unified Camera tool for viewing every angle, as well as independent animation of X,Y, and Z frames.

Creative Suite 4 integration also includes the capability to export layered After Effects work in the new, XML-based XFL format for Flash CS4.You can also import FLV media.

Where to buy

store	price	in stock?	rating
	$959.99	Yes
	$1,099.99	Yes
	$999.99	Yes
	$725.00	Yes
	$1,069.88	Yes

see prices from 16 stores

Compare prices for Adobe After Effects CS4

	Newegg.com	$959.99
	VioSoftware Inc.	$1,099.99
	TigerDirect.com	$999.99
	Amazon.com	$725.00
	Royal Discount	$1,069.88

Reviews from around the WebPowered by alaTest

• alaTest.com

  Editors' rating: 89

  Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 7 reviews of Adobe After Effects CS4 from international magazines and websites. Experts rate this product 79/100 and users 100/100. Comparing these reviews to 32636 other Business reviews gives this product an overall alaScore™ 89/100 = Very Good.

  Read full review

• maclife.com

  Editors' rating: 100

  Summary: After Effects may be mature, but it's hardly showing its age. Thanks to smart, relevant new features and upgrades, After Effects remains the gold standard for Mac motion graphics and compositing.

  Read full review

• goodgearguide.com.au

  Editors' rating: 70

  Summary: After Effects CS4's new tools are all welcome additions, but we were expecting more from the new release.

  Read full review