In this post, you will learn how to locate an original project file you can no longer find in After Effects with Edit Original. So let’s dive right in!
I’m sure this is probably something a lot of you can relate to. For example, you might have a video that you have exported out of After Effects, and you just can’t seem to find the original project file anywhere. Sounds familiar?
Well, I have good news! You can quickly locate the original project file in After Effects. Let me show you how to do it.
Applying Edit Original
Step 1: Double click on this project panel in After Effect.
Step 2: Bring your clip into the After Effects.
Step 3: Make sure your project file is selected.
Step 4: You can do one of two things:
You can either go to Edit and click on the Edit Original.
Or you can select your project file again and apply the Edit Original keyboard shortcut do CTRL+E on a PC or CMD+E on a Mac. Next, it will ask you whether or not you want to save the current project file, which I do not want to do. So I’m going to click on don’t save.
So after doing all that, Edit Original will open up the original project file for you, which is extremely useful! I have to say this thing has saved my life so many times!
There is one thing you have to do in the Output Module Settings when you are rendering out of After Effects.
Output Module Settings
Let’s send this composition into my render queue control with the keyboard shortcut CTRL+M on a PC or CMD+M on a Mac.
Click on the Output Module in the Render Queue, and you have to make sure the Include Project Link checkbox is checked.
The Include Project Link feature will let you trace back to your original project file. Hit OK when you are ready and when you render your project file, you will be able to quickly bring back your render into After Effect and quickly locate the original project file. 
I hope you found this After Effects Tip useful. You can check out all of our Tips on our website. Also, make sure to subscribe to our email list!
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