<p>Looks like that's just the composition preview window - where you'll see what you've put into the comp. If you need to change the size of the window, right-click the comp name and go to 'Composition settings'. I also like to change the background colour of my comps to something like #8E4545 to differentiate from black elements and the 'empty' screen.</p>
<p>The warning message is telling you that you need more space on the drive that your disk cache is stored on (sort of like preview files that are generated when you render the content in your AE project). Go to Edit &gt; Preferences &gt; Media &amp; Disk Cache to clear it out or change how much storage it's allowed to access.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-06-08T02:43:48.390Z
Thanks @Jamie Bruce I still don't understand why my layers aren't showing? The video tutorial has her layers showing before shes started doing anything
Birdlady9604
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-06-07T10:59:19.417Z
2023-06-07T10:59:19.417Z
Jamie Bruce
<p>Hiya new to after effects and trying to follow along with a tutorial. Can't figure out though why there is a black box when I make a new composition? I've imported an illustrator file with different layers I don't think I'm zoomed in too much perhaps theres some kind of view I'm in I need to get out of?</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/iJfrH.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/iJfrH.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/5eoxG.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/5eoxG.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/pfM9I.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/pfM9I.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>Theres also a warning dialogue box that pops up before I open After Effects potentially that has something to do with it?</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/dX4FV.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/dX4FV.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

<after-effects><adobe>
Black box in new composition - After Effects CC
Birdlady9604
# Black box in new composition - After Effects CC

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-06-06)

Hiya new to after effects and trying to follow along with a tutorial. Can't figure out though why there is a black box when I make a new composition? I've imported an illustrator file with different layers I don't think I'm zoomed in too much perhaps theres some kind of view I'm in I need to get out of?

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/iJfrH.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/iJfrH.png)

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/5eoxG.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/5eoxG.png)

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/pfM9I.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/pfM9I.png)

Theres also a warning dialogue box that pops up before I open After Effects potentially that has something to do with it?

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/dX4FV.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/dX4FV.png)

**Tags:** after-effects, adobe


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2023-06-07. Score: 1

Looks like that's just the composition preview window - where you'll see what you've put into the comp. If you need to change the size of the window, right-click the comp name and go to 'Composition settings'. I also like to change the background colour of my comps to something like #8E4545 to differentiate from black elements and the 'empty' screen.

The warning message is telling you that you need more space on the drive that your disk cache is stored on (sort of like preview files that are generated when you render the content in your AE project). Go to Edit > Preferences > Media & Disk Cache to clear it out or change how much storage it's allowed to access.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks @username_1 I still don't understand why my layers aren't showing? The video tutorial has her layers showing before shes started doing anything  

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