AE

Shortcut List

FunctionWindowsMacNotes
Add current composition to Render QueueCtrl+MCmd+M
Add Marker to TimelineNumpad *
Auto-Orient object to its path.Ctrl+Alt+OCmd+Opt+O
Center Anchor Point/PivotCtrl+Alt+HomeCmd+Opt+Home
Check duration between keyframes or markerAlt+Left click 2 keyframes/markers

Check the duration in Info Panel
Opt+Left click 2 keyframes/markers

Check the duration in Info Panel
Comp Preview Zoom, or .
Easily move layers to your Current Time Indicator (Playhead)[ or ][ will snap the front of the layer to your Indicator and ] will be vice versa.
Easy Ease In & Out for keyframesF9
Enable Time-RemappingCtrl+Alt+TCmd+Opt+T
Export a single frameCtrl+Alt+SCmd+Opt+S
Fit your comp to the viewerALT+/
Fullscreen any windows your cursor is pointing at~ (Tilde)
Hand ModeH
Hide or Show Layer ControlsCtrl+Shift+HCmd+Shift+H
Hide Properties from timelineAlt+Shift+Left click on property you want to hide.Opt+Shift+Left click on property you want to hide.To unhide, Collapse the layer > Ctrl+Left click to expand the layer again. //
Cmd+Left Click on Mac.
Jump from In Point to Out PointI & O
Kern your textAlt+Left or RightOpt+Left or RightThis id to quickly adjust a single font spacing
Move 1 frame back or forwardPage Up or Page DownCmd+Right Arrow or Cmd+Left Arrow
Move 10 frame back or forwardShift+Page Up or Page DownShift+Cmd+Right Arrow or Cmd+Left Arrow
Move between keyframesJ or K
Move mask position while still drawing mask.Hold space bar > drag to adjust position
Move ModeV
Move the layer of selected object to the top.XX
Move to Work Area Start or RndHome or End
Open Layer SettingCtrl+Shift+YCmd+Shift+Y
Open shape & mask path.Select the 2 mask points > Right Click > Mask & Shape Path > Untick Closed
Parent an object to another Object, inheriting attributes (Position, Rotation, Scale) of the parent.Shift+Parent
Pre-composed selected layer(s)Ctrl+Shift+CCmd+Shift+C
Preview twice as fastShift + Numpad 0Preview will skip some frames
Quickly Delete All Effects From LayersCtrl+Shift+ECmd+Shift+E
Quickly locate Time IndicatorDD
Quickly reset Position & Rotation attribute to default value.Double click the Selection Tool or Rotation Tool icon on the top toolbar.
Quickly set keyframes on specific propertiesAlt+Shift+A, P, S, R, TOpt+A, P, S, R, T
Quickly Split LayersCtrl+Shift+DCmd+Shift+D
Quickly switch between Mask ModeWhile drawing mask, press A(Add), S(Subtract), I(Intersect),
L(Lighten)
D(Darken) F(Difference)
Replace Layer with new layer or fileHold Alt and drag the new layer from Project Panel onto the layer in Timeline you want to replace.Hold Cmd and drag the new layer from Project Panel onto the layer in Timeline you want to replace.
Reveal Anchor PointAHold Shift to stack reveal other properties. (Position, Scale, Rotation, Opacity etc.)
Reveal KeyframesUPressing U twice will reveal properties with expressions
Reveal MasksMHold Shift to stack reveal other properties. (Position, Scale, Rotation, Opacity etc.)
Reveal OpacityTHold Shift to stack reveal other properties. (Position, Scale, Rotation, Opacity etc.)
Reveal PositionPHold Shift to stack reveal other properties. (Position, Scale, Rotation, Opacity etc.)
Reveal RotationRHold Shift to stack reveal other properties. (Position, Scale, Rotation, Opacity etc.)
Reveal ScaleSHold Shift to stack reveal other properties. (Position, Scale, Rotation, Opacity etc.)
Rotate ModeW
Scale layers to fit your composition sizeCtrl+Alt+FCmd+Opt+F
Search for Layer Name and Properties in timelineCtrl+FCmd+FIf you have any layer(s) selected, the search result will only affect that selected layer.
Set start or end of Work AreaB or NIf you have specify a work area, Ctrl+M will only render the Work Area
Set Work Area to Selected LayersCtrl+Alt+BCmd+Opt+B
Show Graph EditorShift+F3
Show/Hide GridCltr+'Cmd+' (Apostrophe)
Solo properties in layerSelect properties you want to solo > Press S twiceTo reveal everything, collapse the layer and expand it again.
Standardise animation timing and speed.Select all keyframes > Right Click > Rove Across Time
Text ToolCtrl+TCmd+T
Time-Reverse LayerCtrl+Alt+RCmd+Opt+R
Timeline Zoom+ or -
Toggle LayersCtrl+Down or UpCmd+Down or Up ArrowMove layer selection Up or Down
Toggle RulerCtrl+RCmd+R
Trigger Hand ModeHold Space+Left click dragYou can also hold the middle mouse click to move around the timeline.
Trim selected layer start or endAlt+[ or Alt+]Opt+[ or Opt+]
View or Stack more properties.Shift+P, S, R, T & etc.Hold Shift to stack reveal other properties. (Position, Scale, Rotation, Opacity etc.)
Zoom ModeZ
Toggle Hold KeyframeCtrl+Alt+HCmd+Opt+HNo keyframe transition. Hold a keyframe value until the next one.

Useful Expression

FunctionExpressionNotes
Infinite rotation looptime*x;x=frequency

Apply this to any rotation property
Loop back and forth.
A > B > A > B
loopOut(type = "pingpong")
Loop the layer from end point back to start point based on Time-Remapping keyframe.loopOut();

or

loopOut(type = "cycle")

Good for looping a loopable footage
Create Loop on Wiggle Expressionfreq = INSERT VALUE;
amp = INSERT VALUE;
loopTime = 3;
t = time % loopTime;
wiggle1 = wiggle(freq, amp, 1, 0.5, t);
wiggle2 = wiggle(freq, amp, 1, 0.5, t – loopTime);
linear(t, 0, loopTime, wiggle1, wiggle2)
With the expression

wiggle(freq,amp);

you can't loop them as it is totally randomised.
Parent Null to Puppet Pin on Shape Layern=thisComp.layer("NullLayerName")
nullpos=n.toComp(n.anchorPoint);
fromCompVec(nullpos);
Apply this expression to the Position attribute of Puppet Pin

Change NullLayerName to your Null Layer Name.
Parent Null to Puppet Pin on Solid Layer or Maskn=thisComp.layer("NullLayerName")
nullpos=n.toComp(n.anchorPoint);
fromComp(nullpos);
Apply this expression to the Position attribute of Puppet Pin

Change NullLayerName to your Null Layer Name.

Change NullLayerName to your Null Layer Name.
Randomise valuerandom();
random(x);
random(y,z);
random(); -- This will return the value of 0 or 1

random(100); -- This will return of 0 or 100

random(25,100); -- This will return a number between 25 to 100
Set the frequency and amplitude value of a propertywiggle(x,y);x=frequency
y=amplitude

Good for creating effects like wobbling, camera shake, flickering and etc.
Bouncer Expressionamp = .1;
freq = 1.0;
decay = 2.0;
n = 0;
if (numKeys > 0){
n = nearestKey(time).index;
if (key(n).time > time){
n--;
}}
if (n == 0){ t = 0;
}else{
t = time - key(n).time;
}
if (n > 0 && t < 1){
v = velocityAtTime(key(n).time - thisComp.frameDuration/10);
value + v*amp*Math.sin(freq*t*2*Math.PI)/Math.exp(decay*t);
}else{value}
Apply bounce animation to a keyframe.

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