how to slow down a video in after effects

To slow down a video in After Effects, you typically use Time Stretch for simple slow‑downs or Time Remapping for more precise, keyframed speed changes. For smoother results, especially with larger slow‑downs, combining these with frame blending or plugins like Twixtor helps avoid choppy motion.

Quick Scoop

If you are wondering how to slow down a video in After Effects in 2026, there are a few core workflows creators, editors, and forum users keep coming back to. These revolve around stretching layer duration, remapping time, and smoothing the in‑between frames with blending or advanced effects.

Method 1: Time Stretch (Fast and Simple)

Time Stretch is the quickest way to slow down an entire clip evenly across its duration.

• Select your video layer in the timeline, then right‑click and go to Time → Time Stretch.

• Increase the Stretch Factor to make the clip slower (for example, 200% makes it play at half speed by doubling its duration).

• Preview the comp; if it feels too slow or too fast, adjust the percentage until it matches the pacing you want.

This method is great for beginners or when you just want a uniform slow motion over the entire clip without detailed timing tweaks.

Method 2: Time Remapping for Custom Slow‑Mo

Time Remapping gives precise control so you can slow just parts of the clip and keep other parts at normal speed.

• Right‑click your video layer and choose Time → Enable Time Remapping to add keyframes at the start and end of the clip.

• Add additional keyframes where you want the slow‑down to begin and end, then drag those keyframes further apart in time to stretch that segment and make it slower.

• Use keyframe easing (e.g., Easy Ease In/Out) and the Graph Editor to create smoother ramps in and out of slow motion instead of abrupt speed jumps.

This is the approach most intermediate editors prefer because it allows cinematic speed ramps, like starting at real time, dipping into slow motion, then returning to normal.

Smoother Results: Frame Blending & High FPS

Even with correct time tools, slow‑motion can look choppy if the source footage has a low frame rate.

• Turn on Frame Blending on the layer (and in the timeline switch) so After Effects blends or interpolates frames for a smoother look.

• If possible, shoot or use footage captured at higher frame rates (like 60 fps or 120 fps) and then slow it down in a 24 or 30 fps composition to get clean, crisp slow motion.

Some tutorials also suggest plugins such as Twixtor or similar “optical flow” effects for extremely slow speeds where native blending begins to show artifacts.

Forums, Trends, and Extra Tips

Editors often ask in forums how to slow down full title sequences or animations, and the common advice is to enable Time Remapping and pull the last keyframe further down the timeline. Recent how‑to posts and 2025 guides continue to recommend a mix of Time Stretch for quick global changes and Time Remapping for more advanced, “trending” cinematic slow‑mo looks used in reels and shorts.

“Right click on layer → Time → Enable Time Remapping. Move the second keyframe to the desired length.” — Typical forum answer to slowing an AE animation.

TL;DR:
Use Time Stretch for simple, uniform slow‑downs, Time Remapping for precise speed ramps, and enable Frame Blending (or high‑FPS footage / plugins) to keep the motion smooth and usable in modern slow‑mo edits.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.