Creating a New Composition

You can create a new composition and have it open automatically.

To create a new composition:

1. Do one of the following:
   • Select File > New or press Ctrl + N (for Windows and Linux) or Cmd + N (for Mac OS). Type in a name for your composition.
   • In a browser, right-click an empty area and select New Composition. Type in a name for your composition. Open your new composition by double-clicking it, or by selecting it and clicking Open.
     

     An Output node appears in the Schematic view (if you have one visible).

2. In the Composition tab of the tool UI, update the properties for the composition. Some properties are editable.
   

   Name The name of the composition.

   Type Designate the composition as footage or as a composition—see Footage Role.

   Created Date the composition was created.

   Modified Date the composition was last modified.

   Owner User name associated with the composition.

   Source Identifies the source application from which the composition media is derived. Usually it is Composite, but if you are using files generated by another application, such as Maya, the source would be set accordingly. You can edit this field.

   Path Location of the composition.

   Description Information you can enter about the composition.

   Primary Output Select the output to use as the principal output of the composition. The format, width, height, image aspect ratio, pixel aspect ratio, and rate settings are those of the primary output—see Primary Output.

   Format Set the resolution of the composition by specifying a known film or video format. The format you select is linked to the following: width, height, image and pixel ratio, and rate. Select Custom to define a non-standard format.

   Width, Height Width and height (in pixels). These values, together with ratios and rate, may correspond to a predefined format, in which case the format is automatically selected. Otherwise, the format selected is Custom.

   Image Aspect Ratio and Pixel Aspect Ratio The ratio is expressed as a fraction representing the proportion, width:height, of the image. This value, together with width, height, pixel ratio and rate, may correspond to a predefined format, in which case the format is automatically selected. Otherwise, the format selected is Custom. Image and pixel ratio are linked; changing one updates the other.

   Rate Frame rate expressed as frames per second (fps). For a given format, a limited number of rates are available. To set a non-standard rate for a given format, change the format to Custom.

   Channels Set the image channel for the primary output: RGB, RGBA, A.

   Depth Select the bit depth (8, 16, or 32 bits) for the primary output.

   Start, End, Duration Set the start, end, and duration of the primary output. End is exclusive, so Duration = End - Start. Example Start=0, End=30, Duration=30. Start=1, End=31,Duration=30. And so on.

   Poster Frame used for proxies, defaults to start value.

   Mark In/Mark Out Set the in point and out point for the primary output.

   Repeat Select the default repeat mode (Hold, Loop, Ping-Pong, No Repeat) for primary output when you play it.