<p>The following steps work for me for an arbitrary camera.</p>

<ol>
<li>Create the desired composition.</li>
<li>Create a camera by going to <code>Layer -&gt; New -&gt; Camera</code>. For now just accept the default settings..</li>
<li>Position the camera as you desire by changing the <code>Transform</code> parameters or by dragging it to the desired position. Here below an image of the <code>Transform</code> parameters:
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/7Mpfo.png" alt="enter image description here"></li>
<li>Make sure that all the layers are 3D layers.</li>
<li>In the bar between your composition and the timeline there is a camera dropdown menu:
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/2u35x.png" alt="enter image description here"></li>
<li>Make sure that you choose the camera angle you wish to export. In this case it is <code>Camera 1</code>:
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/HlPDn.png" alt="enter image description here"></li>
<li>Go to <code>Composition -&gt; Save Frame As...</code></li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-01-19T19:10:57.213Z
I have mine set to `Custom View 1`, but it saves the front-on view.
ic3b3rg
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-01-19T20:28:00.973Z
As I state in the answer at point 6 it is necessary to choose which camera you want. I have added an additional step on how to create a camera as I think you have not added a camera to your scene. `Custom View 1` is not a camera.
Saaru Lindestøkke
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-01-19T21:04:50.733Z
Thank you! At step 3 I right-clicked on the camera layer and selected `Transform -> Center in View`.
ic3b3rg
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-01-19T21:07:22.267Z
Glad I helped. It's up to you of course to decide which method you're using to place your camera.
Saaru Lindestøkke
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-01-19T18:06:52.970Z
2013-01-19T21:09:15.147Z
2013-01-19T21:09:15.147Z
Saaru Lindestøkke
<p>I'm an absolute noob to After Effects. I'm not using it for video. I just want to use the 3D ray tracing to get a single image. I've created the 3D image, set the lighting I want and have a camera angle that I like. If I try to save the frame using <code>Composition -&gt; Save Frame As</code>, I lose the camera angle - it saves just a front-on view.</p>

<p>How do I save the image as it looks in the composition?</p>

<after-effects>
Save frame with current camera angle
ic3b3rg
# Save frame with current camera angle

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-01-19)

I'm an absolute noob to After Effects. I'm not using it for video. I just want to use the 3D ray tracing to get a single image. I've created the 3D image, set the lighting I want and have a camera angle that I like. If I try to save the frame using `Composition -> Save Frame As`, I lose the camera angle - it saves just a front-on view.

How do I save the image as it looks in the composition?

**Tags:** after-effects


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-01-19. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

The following steps work for me for an arbitrary camera.

1. Create the desired composition.
2. Create a camera by going to `Layer -> New -> Camera`. For now just accept the default settings..
3. Position the camera as you desire by changing the `Transform` parameters or by dragging it to the desired position. Here below an image of the `Transform` parameters:
   ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/7Mpfo.png)
4. Make sure that all the layers are 3D layers.
5. In the bar between your composition and the timeline there is a camera dropdown menu:
   ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/2u35x.png)
6. Make sure that you choose the camera angle you wish to export. In this case it is `Camera 1`:
   ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/HlPDn.png)
7. Go to `Composition -> Save Frame As...`

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I have mine set to `Custom View 1`, but it saves the front-on view.  
> **username_1**: As I state in the answer at point 6 it is necessary to choose which camera you want. I have added an additional step on how to create a camera as I think you have not added a camera to your scene. `Custom View 1` is not a camera.  
> **username_0**: Thank you! At step 3 I right-clicked on the camera layer and selected `Transform -> Center in View`.  
> **username_1**: Glad I helped. It's up to you of course to decide which method you're using to place your camera.  

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