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After Effects Shortcuts PDF
After Effects Shortcuts PDF
After Effects Shortcuts PDF
Basics Projects
Enter Rename selected Layer, Composition, Folder, etc Ctrl+Alt+Shift+P Open most recent [P]roject
Enter on numeric Open selected Layer, Composition, or Footage item Ctrl+Alt+Shift+N [N]ew Folder in Project Panel
keypad
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+K Open Project Settings dialog box
Ctrl+Alt+Arrow Move selected Layers or other elements backwards / forwards in
Down/Arrow Up stacking order Ctrl+F [F]ind in Project Panel
Ctrl+Alt+/ on Purge All Memory Ctrl+5 Open or close Effects and Presets Panel
numeric keypad
Ctrl+6 Open or close Character Panel
Esc Interrupt running a script
Ctrl+7 Open or close Paragraph Panel
Ctrl+Alt+E Display filenam[e] corresponding to Frame at current time in Info Panel
Ctrl+8 Open or close Paint Panel
Ctrl+Alt+; Open Preferences dialog box
Ctrl+9 Open or close Brushes Panel
Press and hold Restore default preferences settings
Ctrl+Alt+Shift
while starting F3 (or Open or close Effect Controls Panel for selected Layer
After Effects Ctrl+Shift+T)
Ctrl+Shift+W Close active Panel or all Viewers of type of active Viewer Q Activate and cycle through Mask and Shape Tools
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+N Split the Frame containing the active Viewer and create a new Viewer Ctrl+T Activate and cycle through [T]ype Tools
with opposite locked/unlocked state
G Activate and cycle between the Pen and Mask Feather Tools
` Maximize or restore Panel under pointer
Ctrl Temporarily activate Selection Tool when a Pen Tool is selected
Ctrl+\ Resize application (floating) window to fit screen. Press again to resize
window for contents to fill screen Ctrl+Alt Temporarily activate Pen Tool when the Selection Tool is selected and
pointer is over a path
Ctrl+Alt+\ Move (floating) window to main monitor; resize window to fit screen.
Press again to resize window for contents to fill screen Ctrl+Alt Add Vertex Tool when pointer is over a segment or convert Vertex Tool
when pointer is over a Vertex
\ Toggle activation between Composition Panel and Timeline Panel for
current Composition Ctrl+B Activate and cycle through [B]rush, Clone Stamp, and Eraser Tools
Shift+,/. Cycle to previous / next item in active Viewer Ctrl+P Activate and cycle through [P]uppet Tools
Alt+Shift+,/. Cycle to previous / next Panel in active Frame Alt In Shape Layer: Temporarily convert Selection Tool to Shape
Duplication Tool
Middle-click Activate a view in a multi-view layout in the Composition Panel without
affecting Layer selection Ctrl In Shape Layer: Temporarily convert Selection Tool to Direct Selection
Tool
Activating Tools
Compositions and Work Area
Alt+Click Tool Cycle through Tools
button in Tools Ctrl+N [N]ew Composition
Panel
Ctrl+K Open Composition Settings dialog box for selected Composition
V Activate Selection Tool
B/N Set [b]eginning / set e[n]d of work area to current time
H Activate [H]and Tool
Ctrl+Alt+B Set work area to duration of selected Layers or to Composition duration
Hold down Temporarily activate Hand Tool if no Layers selected
spacebar
Tab Open Composition Mini-Flowchart for active Composition
Z/Alt (when Zoom Activate [Z]oom In / Zoom Out Tool
In Tool is active)
Shift+Esc Activate the most recently active Composition that is in the same
Composition hierarchy as the currently active Composition
W Activate Rotation Tool
Shift+/ on numeric Turn display color management on or off for active view
D Scroll to current time in Timeline Panel keypad
Space Start or stop preview Alt+Shift+1/2/3/4 Show colorized red, green, or blue channel
Alt+ Click Reset Reset preview settings to Standard Preview behaviors Alt+Shift+4 Toggle showing straight RGB color
on Preview Panel
Alt+5 Show alpha boundary in Layer Panel
. on numeric Preview only audio, from current time
keypad Alt+6 Show alpha overlay in Layer Panel
Alt+. Preview only audio, in work area Alt+X Show Refine Edge [X]-ray
Drag / Alt-Drag Manually preview (scrub) video Double-click Hand Center Composition in the Panel
current-time Tool
indicator
./, Zoom in / Zoom out in Composition, Layer, or Footage Panel
Ctrl-Drag current Manually preview (scrub) audio
time indicator
/ Zoom to 100% in Composition, Layer, or Footage Panel
Alt+0 on numeric Preview number of Frames specified by Alternate Preview preference
keypad (defaults to 5) Shift+/ Zoom to fit in Composition, Layer, or Footage Panel
Ctrl+J/Ctrl+Shift+ Set resolution to Full, Half, or Custom in Composition Panel Ctrl+Backspace Delete a Footage item without a warning
J/Ctrl+Alt+J
Ctrl+Alt+G Open Interpret Foota[g]e dialog box for selected Footage item
Ctrl+Alt+U Open View Options dialog box for active Composition Panel
Ctrl+Alt+C Remember Footage interpretation
=/- Zoom in / zoom out time
Ctrl+E [E]dit selected Footage item
;/Shift+; Zoom in / zoom out Timeline Panel to single-Frame units
Ctrl+H Replace selected Footage item
Caps Lock Prevent images from being rendered for previews in Viewer Panels
Ctrl+Alt+L Re[l]oad selected Footage items
' Show or hide safe zones
Ctrl+Alt+P Set [p]roxy for selected Footage item
Ctrl+' Show or hide Grid
Ctrl+Alt+I [I]mport multiple files or image sequences Shift+0?9 on Toggle selection of Layer (1-999) by its number
numeric keyboard
Double-click Open movie in an After Effects Footage Panel
footage item in Ctrl+Arrow Select next Layer / previous Layer in stacking order
Project Panel Down/Arrow Up
Ctrl+/ Add selected items to most recently activated Composition Ctrl+Shift+Arrow Extend selection to next Layer / previous Layer in stacking order
Down/Arrow
Ctrl+Alt+/ Replace selected source Footage for selected Layers with Footage item Down
selected in Project Panel
Ctrl+Shift+A Deselect [a]ll Layers
Alt-Drag footage Replace source for a selected Layer
item from Project X Scroll topmost selected Layer to top of Timeline Panel
Panel onto
selected layer
Shift+F4 Show or hide Parent column Ctrl+Shift+, Set InPoint or OutPoint by time-stretching (or [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[,])
F4 Show or hide Layer Switches and Modes columns Alt+Home Move selected Layers so that their InPoint is at beginning of
Composition
Alt+B Setting sampling method for selected Layers ([B]est/Bilinear)
Alt+End Move selected Layers so that their OutPoint is at end of Composition
Alt+Shift+B Setting sampling method for selected Layers ([B]est/Bicubic)
Ctrl+L/Ctrl+Shift+ Lock / Unlock all Layers
Alt+Click Solo Turn off all other solo switches L
Switch
Ctrl+U/Ctrl+Shift+ Set Quality to Best, Draft, or WireFrame for selected Layers
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+V Turn [V]ideo switch on/off for selected Layers U/Ctrl+Alt+Shift+
U
Ctrl+Shift+V Turn off [V]ideo switch for all video Layers other than selected Layers
Shift+-/= Cycle forward / backward through blending Modes for selected Layers
Ctrl+Shift+Y Open settings dialog box for selected solid, light, camera, null, or
adjustment la[y]ers Ctrl+F [F]ind in Timeline Panel
Ctrl+Alt+V Paste Layers at current time Properties and Groups in Timeline Panel
Ctrl+Shift+D Split selected Layers (If no Layers are selected, split all Layers.) Ctrl+F [F]ind in Timeline Panel
Ctrl+Shift+C Pre[c]ompose selected Layers Ctrl+` Toggle expansion of selected Layers to show all properties
Ctrl+Shift+T Open Effec[t] Controls Panel for selected Layers Ctrl+Click triangle Toggle expansion of property group and all child property groups to
to the left of the show all properties
Double-click a Open Layer in Layer Panel property group
layer name
Alt+Double-click a Open source of a Layer in Footage Panel A Show only [A]nchor Point property (for lights and cameras, Point Of
layer Interest)
Ctrl+Alt+R [R]everse selected Layers in time L Show only Audio [L]evels property
Ctrl+Alt+T Enable [t]ime remapping for selected Layers F Show only Mask [F]eather property
/ Move selected Layers for InPoint / OutPoint to current time M Show only [M]ask Path property
Alt+/ Trim InPoint / OutPoint of selected Layers to current time T Show only Opaci[t]y property for lights and Intensity
Alt+Click Add or remove expression for a property TT Show only Mask Opaci[t]y property
stopwatch
P Show only [P]osition property
Double-click Add an effect (or multiple selected effects) to selected Layers
effect selection in R Show only [R]otation and Orientation properties
Effects and
Presets Panel S Show only [S]cale property
RR Show only Time [R]emap property Properties and Groups in Effects Controls Panel
LL Show only audio waveform Ctrl+Drag Modify property value by 1/10 default increments
property value
U Show only properties with Keyframes or expressions
Ctrl+Alt+O Open Auto-[O]rientation dialog box for selected Layers
SS Show only [s]elected properties and groups
Ctrl+Shift+O Open [O]pacity dialog box for Layers
Alt+Shift+Click Hide property or group
property / group Ctrl+Shift+R Open [R]otation dialog box for Layers
name
Ctrl+Shift+P Open [P]osition dialog box for Layers
Shift+Click Add or remove property or group from set that is shown
property / group Ctrl+Home Center Layers in view
shortcut
Arrow Keys Move Layers 1 pixel at current magnification
Alt+Shift+Click Add or remove Keyframe at current time
property shortcut
Shift+Arrow Keys Move Layers 10 pixels at current magnification
Ctrl+Alt+ Increase / decrease Opacity (or Intensity for light Layers) of Layers by 3D Layers
plus/- on numeric 1%
keypad F10 Switch to 3D view 1 (defaults to Front)
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+ Increase / decrease Opacity (or Intensity for light Layers) of Layers by F11 Switch to 3D view 2 (defaults to Custom View 1)
plus/- on numeric 10%
keypad F12 Switch to 3D view 3 (defaults to Active Camera)
Ctrl+Alt+W Scale and reposition Layers to fit Composition widt[h], preserving Ctrl+Alt+A Select [a]ll visible Keyframes and properties
aspect ratio
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+A Deselect [a]ll Keyframes, properties, and property groups
Ctrl+Alt+H Scale and reposition Layers to fit Composition hei[g]ht, preserving
aspect ratio
Alt+Arrow Move Keyframe 1 Frame later / earlier
Right/Arrow Left
F9 Easy ease selected Keyframes Double-click text Select all text on a Layer
layer
Shift+F9/Ctrl+Shif Easy ease selected Keyframes in / out
t+F9 Ctrl+Shift+Home/ Select text from cursor to beginning / end of text Frame
End
Ctrl+Shift+K Set velocity for selected Keyframes
Shift+Click Select text from cursor to mouse Click point
Alt+Shift+property Add or remove Keyframe at current time.
shortcut Arrow Keys Move one character left/right or one line up/down
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+T New [t]ext Layer Double-click, and Select word, line, paragraph, or entire text Frame
click up to 5 times
Ctrl+Shift+L Align horizontal text [L]eft
Ctrl+Shift+K Turn All Caps on or off for selected text
Ctrl+Shift+C Align horizontal text [C]enter
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+K Turn Small Caps on or off for selected text
Ctrl+Shift+R Align horizontal text [R]ight align
Ctrl+Shift+= Turn Superscript on or off for selected text
Ctrl+Shift+L Align vertical text Top
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+= Turn Subscript on or off for selected text
Ctrl+Shift+C Align vertical text [C]enter
Ctrl+Shift+X Set horizontal scale to 100% for selected text
Ctrl+Shift+R Align vertical text Bottom
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+X Set vertical scale to 100% for selected text
Shift+Arrow Extend selection one character to the right / left
Right/Arrow Left Ctrl+Alt+Shift+A Auto leading for selected text
Ctrl+Shift+Arrow Extend selection one word to right / left Ctrl+Shift+Q Reset tracking to 0 for selected text
Right/Arrow Left
Ctrl+Shift+J Justify paragraph; left align last line
Shift+Arrow Extend selection one line up / down in horizontal text
Up/Arrow Down Ctrl+Alt+Shift+J Justify paragraph; right align last line
Shift+Arrow Extend selection one line to the right / left in vertical text Ctrl+Shift+F Justify paragraph; force last line
Right/Arrow Left
Ctrl+Shift+, Decrease or increase font size of selected text by 2 units
Ctrl+Shift+Arrow Extend selection one word up / down in vertical text /Ctrl+Shift+.
Up/Arrow Down
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+,/. Decrease or increase font size of selected text by 10 units
Shift+Arrow Extend selection one character up / down in vertical text
Up/Arrow Down Alt+Arrow Increase / decrease leading by 2 units
Down/Arrow Up
Shift+Home/End Select text from insertion point to beginning / end of line
Ctrl+Alt+Arrow Increase / decrease leading by 10 units
Home/End Move cursor to beginning / end of line Down/Arrow Up
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+T Toggle paragraph composer Ctrl+Drag, then Set brush hardness for a Paint Tool
release Ctrl while
Dragging
Masks
Hold Shift while Join current paint stroke to the previous stroke
Ctrl+Shift+N [N]ew Mask beginning stroke
Alt+Click Mask Select all points in a Mask Alt+click Set starting sample point to point currently under Clone Stamp Tool
pointer
Alt+`/Alt+Shift+` Select next / previous Mask
Ctrl+Shift Momentarily activate Eraser Tool with Last Stroke Only option
Double-click Mask Enter free-transform Mask editing Mode
with Selection Alt+Shift+Drag Show and move overlay
Tool and Ctrl+T with Clone Stamp
Tool
Esc Exit free-transform Mask editing Mode
3?7 Activate a specific Clone Stamp Tool preset
Ctrl+Drag Scale around center point in Free Transform Mode
Alt+Click the Duplicate a Clone Stamp Tool preset in Paint Panel
Arrow Keys Move selected path points 1 pixel at current magnification button for the
preset
Shift+Arrow Keys Move selected path points 10 pixels at current magnification
1?9 on numeric Set opacity for Paint Tool to [1]0% thru [9]0%
Ctrl+Alt+Click Toggle between smooth and corner points keypad
Vertex
. on numeric Set opacity for a Paint Tool to 100%
Ctrl+Alt-Drag Redraw Bezier handles keypad
Vertex
Shift+1?9 on Set flow for a Paint Tool [1]0% thru [9]0%
Ctrl+Shift+I [I]nvert selected Mask numeric keypad
Ctrl+Shift+F Open Mask [F]eather dialog box Shift+. on numeric Set flow for a Paint Tool to 100%
keypad
Ctrl+Shift+M Open [M]ask Shape dialog box
Ctrl+Page Move earlier or later by number of Frames specified for stroke Duration
Up/Page Down
Ctrl+G/Ctrl+Shift+ Group / ungroup selected Shapes * on numeric Set marker at current time
G keypad
Select Path Enter free-transform path editing Mode Alt+* on numeric Set marker at current time and open marker dialog box
property in keypad
Timeline Panel
and press Ctrl+T Shift+0?9 Set and number a Composition marker (0-9) at the current time
Page Up/Page Increase/ decrease star inner roundness 0?9 Go to a Composition marker (0-9)
Down when
dragging to create
shape Alt+Click the Display the duration between two Layer markers or Keyframes in the
markers / Info Panel
keyframes
Arrow Up/Down Increase / decrease number of points for star and polygon or roundness
Arrow when for rounded rectangle
dragging to create Ctrl+Click marker Remove marker
shape
Motion Tracking
Spacebar when Reposition Shape during creation
Dragging to create Arrow Key Move feature/search region/attach point 1 pixel at current magnification
shape
Shift+Arrow Key Move feature/search region/attach point 10 pixel at current
Arrow Left/ right Set rounded rectangle roundness to 0 / to maximum, or decrease / magnification
arrow when increase polygon and star outer roundness
dragging to create
shape Alt+Arrow Key Move feature region/search region 1 pixel at current magnification
Shift when Constrain rectangles to squares; constrain ellipses to circles; constrain Alt+Shift+Arrow Move feature region/search region 10 pixel at current magnification
Dragging to create polygons and stars to zero rotation Key
shape
Saving, Exporting, and Rendering
Ctrl when Change outer radius of star
Dragging to create Ctrl+S [S]ave Project
shape
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S Increment and [s]ave Project
Ctrl+Shift+S Save As