After Effects Keyboard Shortcuts
July 10th, 2007

See Shortcuts

Here is a list of most of the shortcut in AE. You can also find this in you help files too. Go through them, you will be surprised what great shortcuts you will find.

You can even type one short cut like "T" to reveal the opacity then hold SHIFT and press "R" to reveal the rotation. This is a clean way to work and efficient. Learn the shortcuts and you will be unstoppable. Try to make yourself learn a new one everyday and make sure to use it everyday.

Feel free to list some of your favorites.

Andrew Kramer
POSTED:
18 years ago
68 Comments
Murtags
17 years ago
I am from Argentina, I always had trouble with my spanish keyboard, even changing it to us mode, it didn??´t work 100% with all keys. Recently I found this link: http://generalspecialist.com/archive/2006_07_01_archive.asp
and it helps you working with non-us keyboards. Hope it helps, it did for me after a long time of taking the long way.
Thanks Kramer and his crew for all this amazing proyect going on in here.
Mind open Films
18 years ago
Thanks to Andrew. the most shortcuts i use are these you use in your tutorials.The first thing i'd done to get into After Effects was watching them all!
In addition: i love to use a mouse with more keys than just the left and right button. zooming with the mouswheel is great, and it's just amazing to undo your faults just with a movment of your thumb, or change to any tool you like
(excuse my bad english, i'm surely one of your youngest german fans
Titso
18 years ago
sleep to 12am, turn on computer, turn on after effects cs3 then press: ctrl+yand then ctrl+n then i have something to do all day
sabeer
18 years ago
to move a frame Page up/down
sabeer
18 years ago
trimming layers Alt + [ and Alt + ]
Gary
18 years ago
I have a problem. The shortcut that is the most usefull in after effects (Alt + [) for triming layers doesnt work for some reason. It's not that big of a deal but it's pretty annoying to trim it by draging to the exact frame.

Any ideas why my brackets dont work?
Flim by Tim Productions.
18 years ago
New to Adobe After Effects there is a help button and then keyboard shortcuts not sure if its also in previous versions but I just found this out and its great.
sabeer
18 years ago
to cut a footage in timeline Alt + }
18 years ago
I don't know if they had this one on there, but if you double-click on the project panel, it brings up the import sequence dialogue box. Very helpful
18 years ago
Scott, I just started to use that a lot this week, I'm doing a project that has becoming into many many pre comps and by comp 7 I couldn't take it and looked it up. Another fav. and extremely useful shortcut tip to have.
18 years ago
I like MM for mask effects, but that's also 'cause those are my initials... haha. keep up the amazing work andrew.
Scott Telle
18 years ago
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the shorcut for pre-comp.

If you're animating multiple layers and want to manipulate the layers as a whole (resize, rotate, whatever) you can nest them in a pre-comp.

Select the layers and hit CRTL+SHIFT+C. AE then prompts you with a few basic options (name, open the precomp, etc), but that's basically it.

Then you are free to manipulate everything previously selected as a whole. I love this short cut... try it!
m.abulazm
18 years ago
there is a PDF file from Trish & Chris Meyer, but i think it's better to share our shortcuts here.
Jason
18 years ago
I'm thinking about creating a PDF of the most common or (possibly) all of the shortcuts that can be printed onto an 11x17 sheet of paper, similar to the quick study guides you can find at Fry's. Does this sound like something that would be useful to anybody?
18 years ago
Hello Andrew I from Argentina
I see you tutorials and i want to tell you thank you so much for all your hard work.
I hope but to see but works yours
See you!!!

From Argentina Bs. As.
=-)
Alexander Jansen
18 years ago
Yimbo: You are kinda creepy!

List more shortcuts please! Written every comment down now
Kamisama
18 years ago
Thank you so much Andrew for all your hard work. I see you've become quite the specialist in AFX, and newbies like me just blow their head off to all the learning there is to do here. And you can put up those tutorials with that little touch of humor we all like. ^_-

If there is one place to go for AFX info (and this list is only a tiny part of it), it got to be video copilot !

Regards,
Kamisama
Yimbo
18 years ago
Hey Andrew i think i'm gonna abduct you or simply steal your brains and stuff and maybe sell it to someone in here, but don't freak out, the money i get for your brain i'm gonna spend it in your products Yay!!!
18 years ago
I love the Alt+ click on Pre-comp... result is ganging up layers.

Why because you can adjust things in the pre-comp layer then toggle between both layers as you work and minimize layers in you main comp and be Oganazized!

Grrrrrrrrrrr
Fight like apes!
18 years ago
I'm using Mac OSX and I just switched (and loving it) and the whole finger layout is moved to the right...I'm still getting used to shortcuts! But they're so handy


http://www.et-films.net
http://www.et-films.net
18 years ago
I'm using Mac OSX and I just switched (and loving it) and the whole finger layout is moved to the right...I'm still getting used to shortcuts!
m.abulazm
18 years ago
can anyone tell me how can i change the view ... i mean top left .....
Reyer
18 years ago
Whenever im working in some 3d stuff, its always annoying to keep going up and changing the camera tool.

If you just pres C you go through the 3 different tools and it makes it much easier.
18 years ago
Kami3D Says:
"What Video Camera did you guys use on tutorial (24. Blood Splattering on a Tree! and 05. Camera Shake with the Wiggler)?"


I believe they use an XL-2, but I could be wrong. I hope so because it is my favorite prosumer camera. I heard of a multi-million dollar production outfitting one with a $700,000 lens, and using the footage for the finished product!
Spence
18 years ago
"J" to go to the previous key frame.
"K" to go to the next key frame.
"B" to Set the "Beginning" of the Work Area where the Time Indicator is located
"N" to Set the "eNd" of the Work Area where the time Indicator is located.
";" to zoom in on the single frame your time indicator is on.
' (apostrophe) to turn on Title Work Safe Guides.
To start the layer from current position of the Time Indicator press [
And to do the opposite press ]
"-" and "+" to zoom in and out of the timeline.

One of my favorite features is when you have a certain point that you need to keep going back to you can set a reference point by holding "SHIFT" and press any number. "1" - "0" then to get to those points just press the number; say you set "SHIFT" and "1". then just press 1 to jump to that place in time.

Zoom in "," comma
Zoom out "." period
Zoom to 100% "/"
Zoom to fit "SHIFT" "?"

After adding a layer mask I usually just press "f" to jump to the mask and Feather options.

"G" to toggle the pen mask tool selections
"Q" to toggle the mask style options (Rectangular or Elliptical)
"W" to Rotate
"Y" to Pan behind

I work in After Effects 8 hours a day, at least at work
40 some hours a week for the past year and a half. these have been a blessing and saved me a bunch of time. Hope you can use these you guys!
rjf
18 years ago
My favorite if I'm applying expressions to effects that have several parameters (like Fractal noise, Colorama, etc.) is to temporarily set a keyframe in the Effects window. Then hit U in the timeline to bring up JUST those effect parameters that you have set temporary keyframes for. Now you can shut the keyframes off and set your expression (pickwhip and all) without having to twirl down the whole effect in the timeline. Thank you Brian Maffit of Total Training for that one.

rjf
Ezequiel
18 years ago
thanks a bunch for this
Kyle Shields
18 years ago
I mostly use, T(opacity), P(position), and ctrl Z(undo), and S (scale)sometimes.
18 years ago
Hey thanks Andrew, these are most helpful. I like MM to William since I use masks a lot. Almost all of the are helpful. Page up and page down too..wow thats helpful!
William
18 years ago
"MM" brings up the mask effects, i like that one
Ryan
18 years ago
I just press buttons tell it works XD no, i know a lot and I work pretty efficiently.
18 years ago
Ah yes, very helpful Andrew. I love that you posted this. This is going to save me tons of time!

www.MichaelBrodner.wordpress.com
Orc Master
18 years ago
Wow, thanks a lot, Andrew! That's some REALLY useful stuff
Philip
18 years ago
Anyone got a PDF of all of these? I found one here, but it isn't very well organized (lots of wasted paper if printed out).

http://ddblog.vfs.com/2007/02/20/after-effects-shortcuts/

Anyone found a better, all-in-one file?

Philip
Kami3D
18 years ago
Actually forgot to say "HELLO" to everyone here, This is my first posta'msg here

I look forward to amazing tutorials from you Andrew.

Thanks buddy!
Kami3D
18 years ago
Keyboard shortcuts save huge amount of time. hrmm, Andrew I love your tutorials. Your work is soo good that one can use that in real-life production work. Has soo much useful tips and tricks any1 can learn.

I like the idea of openning the tutorial with what you can expect to learn before starting the actual tutorial

Quick Question:

What Video Camera did you guys use on tutorial (24. Blood Splattering on a Tree! and 05. Camera Shake with the Wiggler)?

Was it the HVX-200?
Jacob Aaron
18 years ago
Thanks man! This is realy helpfull.
Craig Woolhouse UK
18 years ago
I'm not too sure, but I think we (here in the UK) may have a slightly different layout for shortcuts. I know our keyboards are set out differently for sure but not too sure on the AE 'cuts? Can anyone shed any light?
Magnusfaz
18 years ago
I found that in spanish keyboard some of the shortcuts can't work, but just change the language and done.
18 years ago
What would we do without shortcuts?!
When you know you've been working with AE too long:

- Every time you screw something up, like forgetting your girlfriend's birthday, you start hitting command + z in the air. (I'm sitting on a mac)

- And you never use a scissor, no no, why use a scissor? Just hit command + c.

- When you want to trim a comp...ehh I don't want to get into that, you can figure that out yourself...

Best regards Max Marklund!
ucantstop
18 years ago
thanks a lot ,
it will be realy helpfull.
18 years ago
Alt F4 for those moments when I'm going to destroy my computer (note press ctrl S first or you'll kill me)

thanks for the 2 confirming * for audio markers.
18 years ago
the andrew kramers cheatsheet!

nice one!
Will
18 years ago
Not a shortcut, but usefull for me : a quick way to select a small part of a long footage. In composition, double-click on the footage (it open a window for the preview)... position the cursor at beginning of the action you want, click left bracket.. position the cursor at the end of action, click right bracket (brackets buttons are at bottom left of the preview window). Close the preview. This automatically reduce the footage to the action selected, and it start at the timeline cursor. Did you get it ? This is very helpfull when the footage is more longer than the composition duration.
Will
18 years ago
Shortcut, my favorite : Ctrl-Alt-T for time-remapping
18 years ago
ah, great! thanks alot!
18 years ago
Great shortcuts..! Thanks a bunch.
m.abulazm
18 years ago
Alt+. (in the keypad) sound Ram Perview.
Turn SHIFT on while render ... stop to play the movie while reder process.
* to make marker in the selected layer while you listen to your music.

The @ symbol to switch on & off my safe area markers is very useful.

i didn't get this ..... ?

thanx Andrew ...
there is a tones of shortcuts ...
at the end i hope we can make it in one file.
Gianni (ITALY)
18 years ago
Thanks Andrew...just what I need...you're the ONE!
Sebastian Vázquez
18 years ago
Your wife's got a problem, 'cause I wanna marry you.
18 years ago
to zoom in and out of the video footage.

YEE :]
Alexander Jansen
18 years ago
Smart ones to know ; )
Superbad
18 years ago
Thanks for the list Andrew! I learned alot of shortcuts from watching your tutorials, but this should still be helpful! And it is the asterisk key to set markers
18 years ago
I think the star key by the numbers.
18 years ago
Craig Woolhouse, for the @ symbol to switch on & off my safe area markers, do I just press shift and 2/@ at any time to get the safe markers on and off? cant seem to get it working.

Anyone here know off the top of there head how to add markers while watching the video? I recall it being in a Trish and Chris Myers book about when listening to audio. Can't recall it and haven't been able to locate it.
Jeff (NoodleMaps)
18 years ago
When you going to start charging $100 a year like NAPP?
S. Gilbert
18 years ago
This is what every after effects user needs

Thanks Andrew
Craig Woolhouse
18 years ago
My favourites are...

Selecting all layers in the timeline and hitting U to see all keyframes.

The @ symbol to switch on & off my safe area markers is very useful.

The ??¬ key to enlarge an area to full screen is a good one too.
18 years ago
Swapping a layers properties to another file that isn't on the timeline.

Left Click the layer you wish to switch out.

Press and hold down Alt

Left click and hold the replacement footage.

Drag the replacement footage over the footage you want to replace.

Let go of left click then let go of Alt.

this is good when you have an update piece of footage and rather then spending the time to reanimate all the keys you can basically swap it as easy as a proxy.
ChaRLeS x
18 years ago
just what i need....
18 years ago
Does this mean you expect to be doing some faster paced tutorials? This is going to save all of us a whole lot of time!

P.S. I talked to Starbucks, they said you can make your movies there..... As long as they are P.G. And as long as Sam doesn't get injured on the premesis.
18 years ago
THANKS SO MUCH. I couldnt find it on the help files. It will be good to print out and have next to me till I remember them all!
SPC Goodwin
18 years ago
man i have been looking for this all over the net.
Sandy
18 years ago
Thankyou Andrew!!!!

thnx 4 the list. Thnkyou for all the help u r doing for us.

Warm Regards
Sandy
fersh0
18 years ago
I thanks GOD for your life and the knowledge that HE gave to you , they are very useful for me
Flim by Tim Productions.
18 years ago
pg down and pg up are my favourite I love them so much i use them for like every after effects vids make the timeline go one frame up and one frame down also ctrl +d is also great (duplicates the layer)
Haydn González
18 years ago
Thanks 4 the tips !! I appreciate it a lot
Ricardo Sassaki
18 years ago
Hello Andrew,
You always trying to help us! Thanks!!