Learn how to configure After Effects to use RAM and CPUs as appropriate for your computer system, your footage, and your project needs. You'll also see what hardware factors affect performance and what improvements can be made to increase performance.

Wish you could render After Effects comps in the background? Wish you could create a watch folder to batch convert media? Wish you had a 64-bit capable application to do all of these things? Well, Adobe Media Encoder is all of that and more. In this episode, Dennis delves into what he thinks are the hidden gems of this under-appreciated application.

In the final installment of this series, Adobe Worldwide Evangelist Jason Levine takes you through the process of exporting/rendering your DSLR video/stills creations using the 64-bit Adobe Media Encoder. He'll talk about some of the most common formats for going to mobile devices, iPods, blu-ray discs as well as common formats for Web delivery. You'll learn about background rendering and the ability to 'queue' multiple versions of your video edits. Also featured: using *presets* in the Media Encoder for your favorite destinations (like YouTube, Vimeo, HDTV, etc)

Learn the advantages of a 64-bit After Effects application, including longer RAM previews and the ability to render larger frames. See how to allocate memory to After Effects and other applications for optimum performance.

Learn how to put the new features in After Effects CS5 into action: see how the new Roto Brush, Mocha and and the Mocha Shape plug-in, color LUT support, and more can work in tandem with other CS5 Production Premium tools to transform your podt-production workflows.

With Photoshop CS5 Extended, you can easily enhance the realism of your 3D designs by generating shadows with simple steps to invoke the shadow catcher. Browse different looks for your 3D models and extruded designs by picking realistic materials like chrome and cork from the rich new materials library. Explore with different focus points in your 3D scene by previewing and adjusting the range for depth of field. Even use stunning HDR images or panoramas to light your 3D scene.

Today's video production workflows benefit tremendously from applications that are designed to run natively on 64-bit operating systems. Learn what you can do to optimize your hardware for optimum performance.

Learn how After Effects running natively on 64-bit systems helps you be more productive.

With Photoshop CS5 and Photoshop CS5 Extended you can perform day-to-day imaging tasks faster and work faster with very large images by taking advantage of even more RAM—up to 128GB on desktops and 8GB on laptops. (Requires a 64-bit-capable computer with a 64-bit version of Mac OS, Microsoft Windows 7, or Windows Vista).

Get the most out of your hardware investment: native 64 bit support means After Effects can use all available RAM, so it’s easier to work efficiently on complex HD, 2k, and 4k projects.

Whether you're helping corporate clients communicate through images, expressing your vision in fine art, or capturing life's moments at weddings, in portraits, or for news media, you're driven by the art of your craft. That's why professional photographers have long relied on Adobe Photoshop software for the ultimate in creative control and image quality. New Photoshop CS5 helps you achieve the visual and emotional effects you’re after with re-engineered features for reducing and adding grain, performing post-crop vignetting, and sharpening. CS5 reinvents HDR imaging with Exposure Merge, which makes it easy to preserve the full tonal range of a scene—or go from photorealistic to wildly surrealistic—and automatically remove ghost artifacts. It delivers new black-and-white conversion features and a GPU-enabled crop experience. It accelerates your workflow with powerful new selection technology, integrated Adobe Mini Bridge for faster file browsing, and cross-platform 64-bit support for faster performance.

Edit HD as fluidly as SD, thanks to native 64-bit support and GPU acceleration found in the Mercury Playback Engine.

Jim Geduldick, After Effects artist at Offhollywood and leader of the popular AENY user group, shows how the new features in After Effects CS5—as well as new 64-bit plug-ins from The Foundry—are being used in production.

There is a lot of confusion, hype, and fear around 64-bit. Kush tries to set the record straight and points to an official whitepaper about how Adobe video tools fair in the world of 64-bit computing.