Setup and installation

Setup and installation

 Installing the software

Before installing Adobe After Effects software, review complete system requirements and recommendations in the Read Me file. The Read Me file

is on the installation disc, as well as being included in the Release Notes document available through the After Effects support section of the

Adobe website.

For assistance with installation issues, see the Creative Suite Help and Support section on the Adobe website.

In addition to the full version of Adobe After Effects, you can also install additional copies on additional computers to use as After Effects render

engines to assist with network rendering. You install render engines in the same manner as the full version of the application. You run the render

engine using the Adobe After Effects Render Engine shortcut in the Adobe After Effects CS5 or After Effects CS5.5 folder.

Limitations of the trial version for Adobe After Effects CS5.5 and later

The trial version of After Effects CS5.5 and later includes all of the codecs that are included with the full version of After Effects CS5.5 and later.

This means that you can import and export to all of the supported file formats using the trial version. The free trial version of Adobe After Effects

CS5.5 and later software does not include some features that depend upon software licensed from parties other than Adobe. For example, Cycore

(CC) effects, mocha-AE, mocha Shape, FreeForm, and Color Finesse are available only with the full version of Adobe After Effects software.

(Keylight is included, however.) If your installation of After Effects is missing some third-party components, contact your system administrator to

ensure that all licensed components have been installed correctly. For more information about limitations of the trial version for After Effects

CS5.5, see the Adobe website.

Limitations of the trial version for Adobe After Effects CS5

The free trial version of Adobe After Effects CS5 software does not include some features that depend upon software licensed from parties other

than Adobe. For example, mocha for After Effects, some effect plug-ins, and some codecs for encoding and decoding MPEG formats are available

only with the full version of Adobe After Effects software. If your installation of After Effects is missing some third-party components, contact your

system administrator to ensure that all licensed components have been installed correctly. For more information about limitations of the trial

version for After Effects CS5, see the Adobe website.

After Effects CS5 and later is a 64-bit application

After Effects CS5 and later is a 64-bit application, so it can only run on 64-bit operating systems. If you are installing Adobe Creative Suite

Production Premium or Master Collection edition on a computer with a 32-bit operating system, then you can install After Effects CS4 and

Premiere Pro CS4 using an intaller that is included with the suite. To activate the CS4 versions of these applications, you must use a separate

serial number. For assistance, contact Adobe Customer Service.

For more information about installing and activating the 32-bit applications, see the Adobe website.

Activate the software

Activation is a simple, anonymous process. After installation, your Adobe software attempts to contact Adobe to complete the license activation

process. No personal data is transmitted.

A single-user retail license activation supports two computers. For example, you can install the software on a desktop computer at work and on a

laptop computer at home.

For more information on product licensing and activation, see the Read Me file or go to the Adobe website.

Note: Before transferring an activation to a different computer, deactivate the software by choosing Help > Deactivate.

More Help topics

Adobe Product Improvement Program

Activation and registration

Help and support

Services, downloads, and extras