Comprehensive Guide on How to Crop Videos on After Effects

Can you crop a video in After Effects? Yes, but AE is primarily a motion graphics/compositing tool. It is used in filmmaking, post-production, television production, and video games. However, you can still crop and trim your videos using After Effects, but expect it to be a bit of a challenge.

Luckily, this post will show you how to do video cropping in After Effects. Also, if you only need simple cropping, a dedicated video editor may be easier.

Part 1. Guidelines on How to Crop a Video in After Effects

As mentioned previously, After Effects can be challenging to use, especially for beginners, so you can check the two detailed methods below. We assume that before you read this post, you have successfully installed Adobe After Effects on your device. And so, let's get started by looking at the steps on how to crop a video in Adobe After Effects.

Method 1: Crop a Video in AE Using a Mask

Step 1Launch the software and start uploading the video there. To do so, click on New Project, then import the video file from your storage by hitting New Composition Footage.

Step 2Once the video is in the interface, go to click the Magnifying tab and zoom out the video to 50%. Then, go and click the Grid icon and click the Proportional Grid.

Step 3Go and hit the Shape / Mask button beside the pencil icon at the top. We will use this shape to crop the video part that you want to keep. Once cut, unclick the Proportional Grid, and magnify the video to 100%. Subsequently, you may check the pixel aspect ratio correction in After Effects by going through the video before saving your project.

Step 4Save the newly cropped video by going to File, Export, and clicking Add to Render Queue. Then, at the bottom of the interface, check on the Render Settings to make sure the output is high quality. Subsequently, hit the Output To portion, and choose a folder on your device where you want to export the cropped video from After Effects.

Method 2: Crop a Video in AE by Changing the Composition Size

Step 1Open your composition and find the Region of Interest button at the bottom of the Composition panel (it looks like a rectangle with a dotted/dashed inner box). Click on it and it will turn blue.

Step 2Click and drag your cursor directly over the video preview to draw a bounding box around the exact area you want to keep. Fine-tune the edges of the box by clicking and dragging its controllers.

Step 3Go to the top menu and select Composition > Crop Comp to Region of Interest to crop the video in After Effects.

Step 4If you also need exact pixel dimensions, press Ctrl + K (Windows) or CMD + K (Mac) to open Composition Settings. Then, you can adjust the Width and Height values manually.

Tips for Cropping Videos in After Effects

• Keep the original aspect ratio when needed.
• Check the composition dimensions.
• Preview the cropped frame before exporting.
• Choose the appropriate output resolution.
• Avoid unnecessary recompression.

Part 2. How to Crop Video in a Much Easier Way

You should know how to crop video in After Effects. However, if you only need to crop a video and do simple editing, After Effects is not suitable for you. AVAide Video Converter can be your better resort, for it is very lightweight and provides an easy workflow to crop videos. You can easily find the cropping function and draw a box on your video to crop your video easily. You can also choose a desired aspect ratio to directly crop a standard video.

Step 1Download the AVAide Video Converter

Download the software by hitting the download buttons shown above. The installation will be faster and easier than After Effectsl.

Step 2Import the File

Launch the tool, and start importing your file by clicking the Add Files tab. You can also drag and drop your videos to this program.

Step 3Crop Them Now

Click the Edit button of each file. On the next window, select Rotate & Crop. Then, you can click and drag your cursor to select a box on the video preview. You can also click the Aspect Ratio dropdown button to select a standard aspect ratio. Then, click the OK button to crop the video.

Step 4New Output Format

If you want to select an output format, click the Output Format dropdown button. It lets you select many formats, like MP4, MKV, MOV, WebM, and more, with different presets.

Step 5Take Effect the Video Crop After

To save your cropped video, click the Convert All button. This program will quickly process your video.

Part 3. FAQs about Cropping Video in After Effects

Can I change the aspect ratio of my video in After Effects?

Yes. The After Effects can change the aspect ratio of your video. To do so, go to the composition part, then look for the tab where you can adjust the pixel aspect ratio correction part.

How do I cut a specific part of a video in After Effects?

In the Timeline panel, move the Current Time Indicator to where you want the cut to begin. Then, press Ctrl and Shift and D (Windows) or CMD and Shift and D (on Mac). This will spilt the layer at the playhead position.

Is After Effects good for simple video cropping?

After Effects can crop videos, but it may be more complicated than necessary for simple cropping tasks. It is primarily designed for motion graphics, visual effects, and compositing rather than basic video editing. If you only need to remove unwanted edges or crop a video to a specific aspect ratio, a dedicated video editor or video converter can usually provide a faster and simpler workflow.

By Bryan Simmonds on Aug 19, 2026