Using Caps Lock When Rendering In After Effects
In this video I see if rendering with the caps lock key pressed really does save you time.
http://www.vimeo.com/9528416Tags: After Effects, Rendering
In this video I see if rendering with the caps lock key pressed really does save you time.
http://www.vimeo.com/9528416Tags: After Effects, Rendering
February 17th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
This is great, Brad.
http://blogs.adobe.com/toddkopriva/2010/02/hooray-for-empiricism-brad-chm.html
February 17th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
Thanks Todd.
Just so everyone is clear. Top Left = No Caps Lock. Top Right = Caps Lock. Bottom Left = Closed Comp Window.
February 17th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
Brad,
your Vimeo Video is stuttering like hell even when its fully loaded.
Comparing other videos at Vimeo the problem doies not exist.
Did you Tried using the recommended encoding suggestions by vimeo?
This video here actualy is not watchable!
(Latest Flash Player + FF 3.6)
February 17th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Thomas, Odd seems to be already over here in Safari. I’ve been having issues with vimeo the last few days.
February 17th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
It’s worth checking to see this test on a much larger project, potentially one of those “overnight” renders of which you spoke, and of course different kinds of renders. Who knows if all renders are just a few seconds faster no matter how long the overall render time, or whether it really is a percentage savings.
The thing that’s the best help is that if you need to multitask on another program while rendering caps lock is key (if annoying when you need to type), otherwise the computer is just locked up tight.
February 17th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
I’ve tried similar before and the result was about the same. I also have found out that, at least on an 8 core Mac Pro with 8GB of RAM, that unless your render is over about 5 minutes or so, it’s not worth rendering with multiple processors because of the time it takes to start the additional processes. Perhaps if you have more RAM or CS4 installed that might change.
February 17th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Nice test, that’s about what I figured would happen but I’ve never gotten around to testing. Digging the cat in the background!
February 17th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Jeff,
Yeah everyone always talks about it figured it so was time to do a test and show it in action. I maybe should of cut out some of the render time, but oh well. The cat is my assistant animator.
February 17th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Nice test Brad. I’ve always wondered if CAPS on would give better render times. I guess your test proves it. As far as your video, no stuttering on my end either.
February 17th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Hilarious, I hopped over from the reader to say exactly what everyone else is saying, namely, thanks for finally testing this! Had always been meaning to as well for myself.
Obviously the burning question on everyone’s mind
February 18th, 2010 at 12:27 am
Thank you for this test.
I do use Capslock with all render.
Also in order to get real advantage of multiple processors, be sure to install at minimum one Gig for each core but i read one day on barefeats.com that 8 core Macs gives their best with 16 gigas of ram.
Best performances improvement are 8 core, 16 gigas, SSd drives and RAid 0 + Caps Lock
February 18th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
[...] Adobe’s Todd Kopriva with a post rounding up some of the methods speeding up after effects and interestingly, Brad Chmielewski of digitalhitchhiker puts some of the urban myth techniques to the test. [...]
February 20th, 2010 at 6:23 am
Brad
To get a more accurate test I think you would need to restart the computer between each render. Remember that the computer has built in cache memory which means that if you are redoing a task that you just completed the computer will have an idea of what you just did and will perform more efficiently the second time.
Lou
February 21st, 2010 at 8:02 am
[...] the composition window whilst rendering makes a difference? Well Brad did just that and ran a series of tests to see what difference it would make. Check out the video [...]