After Effects Keyboard Shortcuts

General Shortcuts0 (number pad) RAM preview - audio and video. (number pad) RAM preview - audio onlyCTRL-N New CompositionA Layer anchor pointC Toggle 3D camera viewP Layer positionR Layer rotationS Layer scaleT Layer opacityU Reveals all keyframes in a layerV Selection toolW Composition SettingsZ Zoom toolHome Jump to homeEnd Jump to endCTRL-M Add composition to Render QueueLL Shows audio waveform in timeline* (number pad) Creates marker in timeline or on layer Shift-(any keyboard number) Creates numbered marker in timelineType any keyboard number Jumps to corresponding numbered marker on timeline, and . Zoom in and out on display windows~ Maximize windowPress and hold Spacebar Hand toolALT-[ or ] Sets inpoint or outpoint of a clip in the timeline[ or ] “Slips” the inpoint or outpoint of a clip to the CTI position

(doesn’t change clip inpoint, just moves the clip)CTRL-A Select all layersF2 Deselect all layersCTRL-D Duplicate layer, comp, footage, etc.ALT-[ or ] Sets inpoint or outpoint of a clip in the timeline[ or ] “Slips” the inpoint or outpoint of a clip to the CTI position

(doesn’t change clip inpoint, just moves the clip)Tap Spacebar Plays the timeline- and = Zoom in and out on timeline; Zoom to/from frame view (the most zoomed in)Page Up, Page Down Steps forward/backward in 1 frame incrementsShift-Page Up/Down Steps forward/backward in 10 frame incrementsCTRL-‘ Show/hide GridCTRL-0 Save RAM Preview* on number pad Set MarkerCTRL-Click Marker Delete markerDouble-Click Marker Annotate marker

KeyframesAlt-Shift-P Sets the first position keyframeJ, K Previous, next keyframeCTRL-Click keyframe in the timeline Toggles linear/bezier keyframeClick on the word “Position” (speed) Selects all keyframesCTRL-Click on keyframe in the timeline (speed) Breaks the handlesDrag keyframe handle up/down in timeline (speed) Adjusts speedDrag keyframe handle left/right in timeline (speed) Adjusts the amount of influenceF9 Easy ease both in and outShift-F9 Easy ease inControl-Shift-F9 Easy ease outShift-drag in timeline Snaps to keyframesDouble-click keyframe Edit keyframe properties

Other Helpful TipsLayer>Blending Mode (F4) Dodge, burn, dissolve, overlay, sharpen, etc.Shift -, shift = Tab through blending modesLayer>New>Adjustment Layer Affects all layers underneath itClick on { } (brackets) in comp window Set In/Out pointsDouble-click the center of the Work Area bar Expands the work area to cover the entire Composition.Shift-drag number parameters Coarse adjustmentCTRL-drag number parameters Fine adjustmentHold shift, scrub timeline Snaps to layer ins, outs, keyframes, markers, etc.

Text ToolALT-Left or Right Cursor keys Kern letters with text toolCTRL Temporary switch to move tool to position textEdit>History Shows the undo historyDouble-click center of Work Area Bar Resets the Work Area to the length of the comp

Rendering0 (on number pad) RAM Render Timeline. (on number pad) RAM Render Audio OnlyCTRL-M Add to Render Queue CTRL-0 (on number pad) Render Timeline to File

3DALT-CTRL-O Opens Camera Orientation dialogC toggle Toggle Orbit Camera toolAa Camera settings

Layers

To loop a clip, look in Interpret footage (File>Interpret Footage>Main), or CTRL-FTo loop a sequence: Right click on sequence, select Time Remapping, alt-click on Time Remap, paste the expression: loop_out("cycle",0)

To replace footage in the timeline, With the layer highlighted, hold alt and drag the new footage over the layer in the timeline

If a layer flashes, it is locked

To rename a layer, click on the name and hit ENTER

To flip a layer upside down or reversed, set the H or V scale to -100%

To create a seamless loop, set the last keyframe to one frame past the end of the comp

Slip edit tool: If you have set an inpoint or outpoint on a layer in the timeline, then you can position the mouse inside the white “handles” area and slip the clip according to the length of the handles.To scrub audio, hold down the CTRL key while dragging the timeline cursor

To move Anchor and Position together, use the Pan Behind toolTo place the anchor point in the center of a shape, alt (option) click on the pan behind tool.

Frame Blending vs. Motion Blur: To smooth out an animation and make it less strobed, use Motion Blur.If you want to smooth live-action video to which you assigned a frame rate much lower or higher than the original, use frame blending, not motion blur.

Remember, to use motion blur, you have to click on the MB icon in both the layer AND the master enable button above.

Motion Blur can be enhanced by increasing the shutter angle or samples per frame (composition settings>advanced tab).

Photoshop

In Photoshop, always create graphics with an EVEN number of pixels in height and width.

To convert a PSD from footage to layers, click Layer>Convert to Layers

To edit a PSD, click on the file or layer, right-click>Edit Original. AE won't "see" any added layers, though.

Keyframes

To Stretch a group of keyframes out over time, select them, then alt-drag the first or last one.

Hold shift to snap to keyframes

To time-reverse keyframes, click on at least two keyframes, then right click>Keyframe Assistant>Time Reverse

Exponential Scale - Select two scale keyframes, right-click>Exponential Scale

Comp Window

To zoom in/out, click in the Comp window and scroll the mouse.

To return to 100%, double-click the zoom tool