For those who’re something like me, you’ve most likely gotten cozy together with your on a regular basis After Effects shortcuts. So that you won’t have added something new to your finger-fu for some time. That is notably widespread should you work remotely, as you miss out on the over-the-shoulder ideas that occur in a collaborative workspace.
Generally, it helps to interrupt out of that path dependency. So listed below are a few of the lesser-known shortcuts that I exploit to make my compositing work a bit sooner. I’m assured that you simply’ll discover one thing new in right here, no matter your expertise degree. (Or, should you contemplate your self a shortcut sifu, rating your self based mostly on what number of of those you already know.)
Caveats apply: I’m a PC man, so I’ll be itemizing my selections with the Alt / Ctrl key modifiers. Mac customers ought to simply swap Alt to Choice and Ctrl to Cmd. This text additionally assumes that you simply’re utilizing a Latin-based keyboard with a US structure. I additionally use the time period CTI (present time indicator) as a result of that’s what Adobe calls it. You may comprehend it as ‘playhead’.
The accent grave key helps you to maximize/restore the panel beneath your cursor.
Maximize panel: ` (accent grave)
This key’s notably helpful while you’re engaged on advanced comps with quite a lot of layers, or should you’re caught with a single-screen setup and must briefly make some room. Tapping the accent grave key (`) maximizes the panel beneath your mouse cursor. (It’s normally discovered below the Esc key and in addition has the ~ tilde image on it.) Faucet it once more to reverse.
Reveal properties: Ctrl+` (accent grave)
When you’ve discovered the accent grave key, you’ll be able to add a Ctrl modifier to it. This can reveal all of the properties for the presently chosen layer(s). However, should you solely wish to view the properties that you simply’ve keyframed, then tapping U will do the trick.
Deselect all: Ctrl+Shift+A or F2
Everybody is aware of Ctrl+A for “choose all,” however most individuals are inclined to deselect by clicking elsewhere, and that may transfer display screen focus to the place you don’t need it. The choice is to hit Ctrl+Shift+A, or simply F2. Not a giant deal, only a bit tidier.
Composition settings: Ctrl+Ok
This shortcut merely brings up the composition settings. Word that you simply both must have the composition chosen within the Mission panel, or in-focus within the Timeline panel for this to work.
Null or strong properties: Ctrl+Shift+Y
Equally, Ctrl+Shift+Y opens the Properties panel for the strong or null that’s both open within the Timeline or chosen within the Mission panel.
Discover in panel: Ctrl+F
You’ll already know Ctrl+F because the Discover shortcut. In After Results, you need to use this in each the Mission or Timeline panels, and what makes this notably highly effective is utilizing search phrases like “lacking” to search out lacking property, fonts, and plugins. For those who’re within the Timeline panel, you’ll be able to view the values for properties on all layers by including a search modifier for issues like scale, transparency, place, and so on.
Trim: Alt+[ or Alt+]
That is AE’s trim shortcut. Choose the layer(s) within the Timeline view you wish to trim and use the shortcuts to trim and out factors on the present CTI (present time indicator or playhead) place. Simply bear in mind that the conduct of Alt+] has at all times been to go away a single body after the CTI place, which has caught me out greater than as soon as. Often post-render.
Cut up at CTI: Ctrl+Shift+D
Probably the most helpful instruments to have at your disposal, Ctrl+Shift+D helps you to break up the chosen layers on the CTI (present time indicator). And it doesn’t have the additional body challenge of the trim device, so you might use it as an easier various by deleting the undesirable layer it creates.
Go to out and in: I and O
With a layer chosen within the Timeline panel, hitting I or O will transfer the CTI to the start (in) or the tip (out) of that layer.
Advance rewind 10 frames: Shift+Pg Up or Pg Dn
You need to already know that the Pg Up and Pg Dn keys will advance/rewind your CTI in single-frame increments. (You may be utilizing Ctrl+Left Cursor / Proper Cursor, as an alternative.) Holding down Shift for both of those choices will advance in 10-frame increments.
Middle to border: Ctrl+Dwelling
This can heart your chosen asset(s) to the body. Simply keep in mind that it really works off the anchor level of the chosen asset, so parts like textual content is not going to be visually centered. If it is advisable to regulate this, tapping A will reveal the anchor level properties for the chosen layer(s).
Match to composition: Ctrl+Alt+F
That is AE’s match to composition device, and it’s super-useful for rapidly becoming imported stills or clips to the body dimension. (You’d need to open the Layers-Remodel-Match to Comp menu choice to get to it, in any other case.) Simply bear in mind that it’ll not respect side ratio, so hold an eye fixed open for undesirable picture stretching.
Scale increment: Ctrl+Shift+Plus or Minus
Whereas we’re on the subject of resizing, if you wish to nudge the dimensions of a specific layer up and down by 10 %, then this allows you to do exactly that.
Opacity increment: Ctrl+Alt+Plus or Minus
And equally, this shortcut helps you to nudge the opacity of the chosen layer up and down by ten %. Alternatively, if the layer chosen is a Gentle, then this can improve the Depth property.
Paste at CTI: Ctrl+Alt+V
Ctrl+V is common for pasting copied property. Including the Alt modifier modifications the default conduct to stick the property on the CTI as an alternative of firstly of the timeline.
Time remap: Ctrl+Alt+T
If you wish to regulate the period of a chunk of footage, this shortcut allows the time-remapping device on the choose layer(s) and provides a keyframe at its out and in factors, which you’ll be able to then drag to the required place. Clearly, you don’t want to use this to nonetheless property, as these may be retimed by simply dragging the out and in factors of the layer.
Take away all results: Ctrl+Shift+E
That is a right away method to take away all the consequences from the chosen layer(s). To be sincere, I’d want this to be a operate that toggles all the consequences on and off, however you need to use Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Shift+Z after this shortcut to realize the identical objective.
Choose layers above/beneath: Ctrl+Shift+Up Cursor or Down Cursor
When you have a layer chosen within the Timeline panel, this shortcut will let you choose the layers above or beneath it. Repeatedly tapping the cursor keys will add additional layers to the choice. (And don’t neglect the F2 key for deselect all.)
Holding down Alt and dropping an asset on prime of one other will immediately exchange it with properties intact.
Substitute on timeline: Alt+Drag and Drop
That is one other super-useful device. For those who maintain down Alt when you drag a file from the Mission panel and drop it onto a layer within the Timeline panel, it’ll exchange the present asset together with your new one. However crucial half is that each one your current results and keyframes will probably be maintained.
Interpret footage: Ctrl+Alt+G
This one opens the Interpret Footage panel for a specific file. That is the place you’ll discover properties for colour administration, timecode, PAR, body price, and so on. Extra importantly, it’s the place you’ll discover the choice to loop the chosen clip, moderately than duplicating it in your timeline a dozen instances.
Apply most up-to-date: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+E
I’ve tried to steer away from four-key finger wrangles, however I exploit this one often because it applies the newest impact to the chosen layer(s).
Double-click the Hand, Form, Rotate, and Choice buttons
Have you ever tried double-clicking these buttons? You actually ought to. Every one has a novel response to this motion.
The Hand button will heart and re-size the present composition within the Composition panel.
The Form button will create a brand new masks on the chosen layer that corresponds to the present Form choice (Ellipse, Star, and so on.)
The Rotate button will reset the first Rotation property of the chosen layer to zero.
The Choice button will reset the Scale property of the chosen layer to zero.
Maintain down Alt to modify off all Solo layers aside from the one you need.
Toggle solo: Alt-click Solo change
If you wish to isolate a layer as a way to get a greater take a look at what you’re engaged on, you simply toggle the layer’s Solo change within the Timeline panel, and you may set as many layers to Solo as you want. Holding down Alt when you click on on the Solo change will flip off Solo for all layers earlier than turning it on for under the present layer.
Toggle visibility: Ctrl+Shift+V
Just like the Alt-click Solo tweak, this shortcut helps you to flip off the Visibility change for the chosen layers. To realize the alternative, you need to use Ctrl+Alt+Shift+V. (That’s the final of the four-fingers, I promise.)
Ctrl+Alt+’ (single quote)
And eventually, you’ll be able to’t actually write a chunk on keyboard shortcuts with out together with the one which brings up all of the keyboard shortcuts. If it is advisable to remind your self what does what, or want to bake a customized set that works the best way you do, then you definately’ll discover all of it right here. Go nuts. And bear in mind that you could save your preferences within the Adobe Inventive Cloud in order that they’re obtainable throughout your machines.
These had been my favourite time-saving shortcuts, however I’m at all times glad to listen to extra. And, should you assume that my finger-fu is weak, then be at liberty to problem me within the feedback beneath. Nonetheless want extra pace in After Results? Why not try Mark Christiansen’s information to creating After Effects faster.
