Your Adobe After Effects file uses a proprietary format called .aeP. This is your working, with all your layers, Keyframes, properties etc.
In order to view your animation as a self-contained Quicktime video file (the format required to upload to YouTube, Vimeo etc.) you must render it:
- Open the Composition you wish to export
- Go to File > Export > Add to Render Queue. This will open the Render Queue where the Timeline Window was.
- These are the preferred settings for HD video:
- Render Settingsshould be set to Best Settings
- Output Modules should be set to Lossless
- Click on the name next to Output To
- Set the name and destination of the file
- Set the Format to Quicktime (*.mov)
- Press the Render button
