After Effects CS6: How To Export Video as H.264 (Enable and Render in MP4 Format)

Introduction

If you've recently encountered an issue with Adobe After Effects CS6 not displaying the H.264 format option, you're not alone. This guide will walk you through the steps to enable H.264 format for your video exports, so you can render your projects in high quality.

Steps to Enable H.264 Format

1. Start After Effects: Open your After Effects project.

2. Check Format Options: Click on the “Lossless” setting or wherever you modify your export settings. Here, you may notice that the H.264 format is missing.

3. Download QuickTime:

   • Go to the description or link provided in the video (or search for the official QuickTime download page).
   • Click on the “Download” button to get QuickTime for your computer.

4. Install QuickTime: After downloading the installer, follow the prompts to install QuickTime on your computer.

5. Restart Your Computer: It's essential to restart your computer to apply the changes made by the QuickTime installation.

6. Modify Preferences (Optional):

   • In After Effects, go to the top menu and click on “Edit”.
   • Navigate to “Preferences” and then select “Output”.
   • Look for an option labeled “Show Deprecated Formats” and enable it. This step may not apply to everyone, but it's good practice to check.

7. Apply Format Changes: Once the preferences are adjusted, click “OK”.

   • Go back to your export settings, and you should now see the H.264 format available.

8. Set Output to H.264:

   • Navigate to “QuickTime”, click on “Format Options”, then select “Video Codec” and change it to H.264.

9. Render Your Project: After setting up your format, you can render your video, ensuring that it is in the high-quality H.264 format.

By following these steps, you can now enjoy the benefits of rendering your videos in the H.264 format, which offers exceptional quality compared to other formats available in After Effects. This improvement is particularly valuable for creators who rely on high-quality video outputs for their projects.

Keywords

• After Effects CS6
• H.264 format
• QuickTime
• Video export
• High-quality rendering

FAQ

Q: Why can’t I find the H.264 format in After Effects CS6? A: The H.264 option may be disabled by default. Installing QuickTime and adjusting preferences usually resolves this issue.

Q: Do I need to restart my computer after installing QuickTime? A: Yes, restarting your computer is crucial to ensure that After Effects recognizes the changes made by installing QuickTime.

Q: What if I still don't see the H.264 format after following your steps? A: Ensure you have enabled the "Show Deprecated Formats" option in the preferences. If the issue persists, consider updating your After Effects software.

Q: Is H.264 the best format for video rendering? A: H.264 is known for its high quality and efficient compression, making it a great choice for most video projects, especially for those aimed at high-quality outputs.