Keys for selecting tools Use these shortcuts in the Tools panel. In most cases, you can momentarily switch tools by holding down the keyboard shortcut for the tool. Selection tool V V Rotation tool W W Camera tools (Orbit, Track XY, and Track Z) C or Shift + C to select and cycle through tools C or Shift + C to select and cycle through tools Brush, Clone Stamp, and Eraser tool Ctrl + B to select and cycle through tools Command + B to select and cycle through tools Hand tool H, or hold down spacebar H, or hold down spacebar Zoom tool Z. With the Zoom In tool selected, hold Alt to select the Zoom Out tool. Z. With the Zoom In tool selected, hold Option to select the Zoom Out tool. Pan Behind tool Y Y Mask tools (Rectangular and Elliptical) Q or Shift + Q to select and cycle through tools Q or Shift + Q to select and cycle through tools Type tools (Horizontal and Vertical) Ctrl + T to select and cycle through tools Command + T to select and cycle through tools Pen tools (Add Vertex, Delete Vertex, and Convert Vertex) G to select and cycle through tools. Hold down Ctrl to switch between the Pen tool and Selection tool. G to select and cycle through tools. Hold down Command to switch between the Pen tool and Selection tool.
Keys for working with settings Open Project Settings dialog box Ctrl + Alt + Shift + K Command + Option + Shift + K Restore default preferences settings Hold down Alt + Ctrl + Shift while starting After Effects Hold down Option + Command + Shift while starting After Effects
Keys for using footage items Use these shortcuts in the Project panel. Open selected footage item or composition Double-click or Enter on numeric keypad Double-click or Enter on numeric keypad Open movie in an After Effects footage panel Alt + double-click Option + double-click Activate most recent composition \ \ Add selected item to most recently activated composition Ctrl + / Command + / Replace a selected layer s source footage in Composition panel with selected footage Ctrl + Alt + / Command + Option + / Replace a selected layer s source footage item or composition in the Timeline panel Alt-drag footage item from Project panel into composition Option-drag footage item from Project panel into composition Delete a footage item without a warning dialog box appearing Ctrl + Backspace Command + Delete
Keys for viewing panels Display/hide title-or action- safe zones (apostrophe) (apostrophe) Display/hide proportional grid Alt + (apostrophe) Option + (apostrophe) Suspend image updates Caps Lock Caps Lock Take multiple (up to four) snapshots Shift + F5, F6, F7, and F8 Shift + F5, F6, F7, and F8 Display snapshot in active panel F5, F6, F7, and F8 F5, F6, F7, and F8 Display channel (RGBA) Alt + 1, 2, 3, or 4 Option + 1, 2, 3, or 4 Display channel (RGBA) in color Alt + Shift + 1, 2, 3, or 4 Option + Shift + 1, 2, 3, or 4 Close active tab or panel Ctrl + W* Command + W* Toggle Graph Editor Shift + F3 Shift + F3 Display footage file name in Info panel Ctrl + Alt + E Command + Option + E Maximize panel Tilde (don t press the Shift key) Tilde (don t press the Shift key) Reset view in the Composition panel to 100% and center composition in the panel Double-click Hand tool Double-click Hand tool Zoom in. (period) or Ctrl + = on main keyboard. (period) or Command + = on main keyboard Zoom out, (comma) or Ctrl + - (hyphen) on main keyboard, (comma) or Command + - (hyphen) on main keyboard Zoom to 100% / (on main keyboard) / (on main keyboard)
Resize application window or floating window to fit screen. (Press again to resize window so that contents fill the screen.) Ctrl + \ (backslash) Command + \ (backslash) *If there is content in the Composition, Layer, Footage, or Effect Controls panel, this shortcut closes the content before closing the panel.
Keys for moving around the Timeline panel Go to beginning of the work area Shift+Home Shift+Home Go to end of the work area Shift+End Shift+End Go to previous visible keyframe or layer-time marker J J Go to next visible keyframe or layer-time marker K K Go to a composition time marker 0-9 on main keyboard 0-9 on main keyboard Scroll selected layer to top of the Timeline panel X X Scroll current time to center of panel while zoomed D D Zoom out time - - Zoom in time = =
Keys for moving around panels Use these shortcuts in the Composition, Timeline, Layer, and Footage panels. Go to the beginning of a composition Home or Ctrl + Alt + Left Arrow key Home or Command + Option + Left Arrow key Go to the end of a composition End or Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow key End or Command + Option + Right Arrow key Step forward 1 frame Page Down or Ctrl + Right Arrow key Page Down or Command + Right Arrow key Step forward 10 frames Shift + Page Down or Shift + Ctrl + Right Arrow key Shift + Command + Right Arrow key or Shift + Page Down Step backward 1 frame Page Up or Ctrl + Left Arrow key Page Up or Command + Right Arrow key Step backward 10 frames Shift + Page Up or Shift + Ctrl + Left Arrow key Shift + Page Up or Command + Shift + Left Arrow key Go to layer In point i i Go to layer Out point o o Snap items such as keyframes, time markers, and In and Out points to each other on a time ruler Shift-drag item Shift-drag item
Keys for previewing Use these shortcuts in the Timeline panel. Start/pause playback Spacebar Spacebar RAM preview 0 on numeric keypad* 0 on numeric keypad* RAM preview every other frame Shift + 0 on numeric keypad* Shift + 0 on numeric keypad* Manually preview (scrub) video Drag or Alt-drag current-time indicator, depending on Live Update setting Drag or Option-drag current-time indicator, depending on Live Update setting Manually preview (scrub) audio Ctrl-drag current-time indicator Command-drag current-time indicator Wireframe preview Alt + 0 on numeric keypad* Option + 0 on numeric keypad* Display rectangle instead of alpha outline during wireframe preview Ctrl + Alt + 0 on numeric keypad* Command + Option + 0 on numeric keypad* Leave panel contents during wireframe preview Shift + Alt + 0 on numeric keypad* Shift + Option + 0 on numeric keypad* Leave panel contents during rectangle preview Ctrl + Shift + Alt + 0 on numeric keypad* Command + Shift + Option + 0 on numeric keypad* Show current frame on output device specified in Video Preview preferences / on numeric keypad / on numeric keypad. Toggle Output Device preference between Desktop Only and previously specified output device Ctrl + / on numeric keypad Command + / on numeric keypad *Make sure Num Lock is on.
Keys for nudging layers Use these shortcuts in the Composition and Timeline panels. Nudge layer 1 pixel in specific direction Arrow key Arrow key Nudge layer 1 frame earlier Alt + Page Up Option + Page Up Nudge layer 1 frame later Alt + Page Down Option + Page Down Nudge layer rotation +1 + (plus) on numeric keypad + (plus) on numeric keypad Nudge layer rotation -1 - (minus) on numeric keypad - (minus) on numeric keypad Nudge layer scaling +1% Ctrl + + (plus) on numeric keypad Option + + (plus) on numeric keypad Nudge layer scaling -1% Ctrl + - (minus) on numeric keypad Option + - (minus) on numeric keypad Nudge layer scaling +10% Ctrl + Shift + + (plus) on numeric keypad Option+ Shift + + (plus) on numeric keypad Nudge layer scaling -10% Ctrl + Shift + - (minus) on numeric keypad Option + Shift + - (minus) on numeric keypad
Keys for using layers Use these shortcuts in the Composition and Timeline panels. Rename layer, composition, folder, or effect Enter (on main keyboard) Return Send layer backward Ctrl + Alt + Down Arrow key Command + Option + Down Arrow key Bring layer forward Ctrl + Alt + Up Arrow key Command + Option + Up Arrow key Send layer to back Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Down Arrow key Command + Shift + Option + Down Arrow key Bring layer to front Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Up Arrow key Command + Shift + Option + Up Arrow key Select a layer by its layer-outline number Layer number on numeric keypad* Layer number on numeric keypad* Select non-contiguous layers Ctrl-click layers Command-click layers Select contiguous layers Shift-click layers Shift-click layers Deselect all layers F2 F2 Activate Composition panel with layer \ \ Display selected layer in Layer panel Enter (on numeric keypad) Enter (on numeric keypad) Display Effect Controls panel for selected layers Ctrl + Shift + T Command + Shift + T Open source of a layer Alt-double-click a layer Option-double-click a layer Constrain layer movement along x axis or y axis Shift-drag layer (begin dragging before pressing key) Shift-drag layer (begin dragging before pressing key)
Set In point [ (left bracket) [ (left bracket) Set Out point ] (right bracket) ] (right bracket) Trim In point of a layer Alt + [ (left bracket) Option + [ (left bracket) Trim Out point of a layer Alt + ] (right bracket) Option + ] (right bracket) Add/remove expression Alt-click a property stopwatch in the Effect Controls or Timeline panel Option-click a property stopwatch in the Effect Controls or Timeline panel Add an effect (or multiple selected effects) to selected layers Double-click an effect in the Effects & Presets panel Double-click an effect in the Effects & Presets panel Set In point by time-stretching Ctrl + Shift +, (comma) Command + Shift +, (comma) Set Out point by time-stretching Ctrl + Alt +, (comma) Command + Option +, (comma) Move In point to beginning of composition Alt + Home Option + Home Move Out point to end of composition Alt + End Option + End Constrain rotation to 45 increments Shift-drag Rotation tool Shift-drag Rotation tool Constrain scaling to footage frame aspect ratio Shift-drag layer handle with Selection tool Shift-drag layer handle with Selection tool Reset rotation angle to 0 Double-click Rotation tool Double-click Rotation tool Reset scale to 100% Double-click Selection tool Double-click Selection tool Change property value by 10 Shift-drag underlined values in Switches/Modes column Shift-drag underlined values in Switches/Modes column Change property value by.10 Ctrl-drag underlined values in Switches/Modes column Command-drag underlined values in Switches/Modes column Set all dimensions to same value for Scale and Mask Feather properties Deselect Constrain Proportions option, and Alt-click to reselect option Deselect Constrain Proportions option, and Option-click to reselect option *Make sure Num Lock is on.
Keys for viewing layer properties Use these shortcuts in the Timeline panel. Note: This table contains double-letter shortcuts (for example, LL ). To enable these shortcuts, press the letters in quick succession. Anchor Point A* A* Audio Levels L L Audio Waveform LL LL Effects E E Expressions EE EE Mask Feather F F Mask Shape M M Mask Opacity TT TT Mask Properties MM MM Material options (3D) AA AA Opacity T** T** Position P P Paint Effects PP PP Reveal modified properties UU UU Rotation R*** R*** Time Remapping RR RR
Scale S S Set layer property value in dialog box (works with P, R, F, and M) Ctrl + Shift + property shortcut Command + Shift + property shortcut Show all animating values U U Show selected properties SS SS Hide property or category Alt + Shift-click property or category name Option + Shift-click property or category name Display/hide Parent column Shift + F4 Shift + F4 Add/remove property Shift + property shortcut Shift + property shortcut Toggle switches/modes F4 F4 Turn off all other solo switches Alt-click solo switch Option-click solo switch Zoom to or from frame view ; (semicolon) ; (semicolon) Zoom in time = on main keyboard = on main keyboard Zoom out time - (hyphen) on main keyboard - (hyphen) on main keyboard *For light and camera layers, this shortcut displays the Point Of Interest property. **For light layers, this shortcut displays the Intensity property. ***For light and camera layers, this shortcut displays the Orientation property.
Keys for working with the Composition panel Set composition resolution to custom Ctrl + Alt + J Command + Option + J
Keys for modifying keyframes Use these shortcuts in the Timeline panel. Add or remove keyframe (if stopwatch is on) or turn on timevary stopwatch Alt + Shift + property display shortcut Option + Shift + property display shortcut Select all keyframes for a property Click property name Click property name Deselect all keyframes Shift + F2 Shift + F2 Snap keyframe to significant times Shift-drag keyframe Shift-drag keyframe Nudge keyframe 1 frame forward Alt + Right Arrow key Option + Right Arrow key Nudge keyframe 1 frame backward Alt + Left Arrow key Option + Left Arrow key Select all visible keyframes and properties Ctrl + Alt + A Command + Option + A Go to previous keyframe J J Go to next keyframe K K Switch interpolation between Linear and Auto Bezier Alt-click keyframe (Graph Editor) or Ctrl-click keyframe (Layer Bar mode) Option-click keyframe (Graph Editor) or Command-click keyframe (Layer Bar mode) Change Auto Bezier interpolation to Continuous Bezier Drag keyframe handle Drag keyframe handle Toggle between Continuous Bezier and Bezier interpolation Alt-drag keyframe handle (Graph Editor) or Ctrl-drag keyframe (Layer Bar mode) Option-drag keyframe handle (Graph Editor) or Command-drag keyframe (Layer Bar mode) Easy ease F9 F9 Easy ease in Shift + F9 Shift + F9
Easy ease out Ctrl + Shift + F9 Command + Shift + F9 Deselect selected keyframes and animator groups and leave their layers selected Ctrl + Alt + Shift + A Command + Option + Shift + A Go to the next In or Out point Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Right Arrow key Command + Shift + Option + Right Arrow key Go to the previous In or Out point Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Left Arrow key Command + Shift + Option + Left Arrow key
Keys for working with the Graph Editor Select all keyframes Move all keyframes Switch to Convert Vertex tool, separate direction handles, and move them independently Switch to Convert Vertex tool and toggle keyframe interpolation Draw new direction handles Switch to Pen tool and add keyframe Switch to Pen tool and delete keyframe Toggle selection of two neighboring keyframes Toggle keyframe selection Constrain movement of keyframe vertically or horizontally Constrain movement of direction handle horizontally Switch to Selection tool Create new keyframe and extend direction handles horizontally Alt-click segment between two keyframes with Selection tool Alt-drag segment between two keyframes with Selection tool Alt-drag a direction handle with Selection or Pen tool Alt-click a keyframe with Selection or Pen tool Alt-drag a keyframe with Selection tool Ctrl-click a segment between two keyframes with Selection tool Ctrl-click a keyframe with Selection tool Shift-click a segment between two keyframes with Selection tool Shift-click a keyframe with Selection tool Shift-drag a keyframe with Selection tool Shift-drag a direction handle with Selection tool Ctrl-click segment, keyframe, or direction handle with Pen or Convert Vertex tool Shift-drag a segment with Pen tool Option-click segment between two keyframes with Selection tool Option-drag segment between two keyframes with Selection tool Option-drag a direction handle with Selection or Pen tool Option-click a keyframe with Selection or Pen tool Option-drag a keyframe with Selection tool Command-click a segment between two keyframes with Selection tool Command-click a keyframe with Selection tool Shift-click a segment between two keyframes with Selection tool Shift-click a keyframe with Selection tool Shift-drag a keyframe with Selection tool Shift-drag a direction handle with Selection tool Command-click segment, keyframe, or direction handle with Pen or Convert Vertex tool Shift-drag a segment with Pen tool
Keys for setting the work area Use these shortcuts in the Timeline panel. Set beginning of work area to current time B B Set end of work area to current time N N Set work area to selected layers Ctrl + Alt + B Command + Option + B Set work area to composition duration when no layers are selected Ctrl + Alt + B Command + Option + B
Keys for using masks Use these shortcuts in the Composition and Layer panels. Reset oval or rectangle mask to fill frame Double-click Rectangular or Elliptical Mask tool Double-click Rectangular or Oval Mask tool Scale around center point in Free Transform mode Ctrl-drag Command-drag Select all points in a mask Alt-click mask Option-click mask Free transform points Ctrl + T, or double-click mask Command + T, or double-click mask Exit free transform points Enter Return Toggle Mask Shape keyframe for selected mask shapes Shift + Alt + M Shift + Option + M Toggle mask display Ctrl + Shift + H Command + Shift + H Toggle between smooth and corner points Redraw handles Ctrl + Alt-click point Ctrl+Alt-drag point Command+Option-click point Command+Option-drag point
Keys for using the Effect Controls panel Add keyframe for effect control Alt-click effect property name Option-click effect property name Add an expression in the Timeline panel Alt-click a property stopwatch in the Effect Controls panel Option-click a property stopwatch in the Effect Controls panel
Keys for 3D animation Use these shortcuts in the Composition and Timeline panels. View Custom View 1 (defaults to front) F10 F10 View Custom View 2 (defaults to custom view 1) F11 F11 View Custom View 3 (defaults to active camera) F12 F12 Return to previous view Esc Esc Move the camera and its point of interest to look at selected objects Shift + Alt + Ctrl + \ Option + Command + Shift +\
Keys for using markers Use these shortcuts in the Composition and Timeline panels. Remove layer-time marker Ctrl-click marker Command-click marker Go to previous visible layer-time marker or keyframe J J Go to next visible layer-time marker or keyframe K K Go to a composition-time marker 0-9 on main keyboard 0-9 on main keyboard Set and number a composition-time marker at the current time Shift + 0-9 on main keyboard Shift + 0-9 on main keyboard See the duration between two layer-time markers or keyframes in the Info panel Alt-click the markers or keyframes Option-click the markers or keyframes
Keys for painting Toggle Paint panel background color and foreground colors X X Set Paint panel foreground color to black and background color to white D D Set foreground color to the color currently under any paint tool pointer Alt-click Option-click Set foreground color to the average color of a 4 x 4 area under any paint tool pointer Alt + Shift-click Option + Shift-click Set a paint tool s brush size Ctrl-drag Command-drag Set a paint tool s brush hardness Ctrl-drag, then release Ctrl while dragging Command-drag, then release Command while dragging Append a straight paint stroke to the last stroke Shift + Click Shift + Click Set starting sample point to color currently under Clone Stamp tool pointer Alt-click Option-click Select Last Stroke Only option in Paint panel for Eraser tool Ctrl + Shift Command + Shift Change aligned Clone Stamp tool s Offset value or change unaligned Clone Stamp tool s Source Position value Alt + Shift-drag Option + Shift-drag Duplicate a Clone Stamp tool preset in Paint panel Alt-click the preset Option-click the preset Reduce a painting tool s opacity 10% at a time Press the corresponding digit on numeric keypad (9=90%, 1=10%)* Press the corresponding digit on numeric keypad (9=90%, 1=10%)*
Set a painting tool s flow to 100% Shift + decimal point (.) on numeric keypad* Shift + decimal point (.) on numeric keypad* Reduce a painting tool s flow to 10% at a time Press Shift + the corresponding digit on numeric keypad (9=90%, 1=10%)* Press Shift + the corresponding digit on numeric keypad (9=90%, 1=10%)* *Make sure Num Lock is on.
Keys for using text Align text left, center, or right Horizontal Type tool + Shift + Ctrl + L, C, or R Horizontal Type tool + Shift + Command +L,C,orR Align text top, center, or bottom Vertical Type tool + Shift + Ctrl + L, C, or R Vertical Type tool + Shift + Command + L, C, or R Select 1 character left/right, or 1 line down/up, or 1 word left/ right Shift + Left Arrow/Right Arrow, Shift + Down Arrow/Up Arrow, Shift + Ctrl + Left Arrow/Right Arrow Shift + Left Arrow/Right Arrow, Shift + Down Arrow/Up Arrow, Shift + Command + Left Arrow/Right Arrow Select characters from insertion point to mouse click point Shift + click Shift + click Move insertion point 1 character left/right, 1 line down/up, or 1 word left/right Left Arrow/Right Arrow, Down Arrow/ Up Arrow, Ctrl + Left Arrow/Right Arrow Left Arrow/Right Arrow, Down Arrow/Up Arrow, Command + Left Arrow/Right Arrow Select word, line, or paragraph Double-click, triple-click, quadrupleclick, or quintuple-click Double-click, triple-click, quadruple-click, or quintuple-click Toggle All Uppercase on/off Shift + Ctrl + K Shift + Command + K Toggle Small Caps on/off Shift + Ctrl + Alt + K Shift + Command + Option + K Toggle Superscript on/off Shift + Ctrl + + (plus) Shift + Command + + (plus) Toggle Subscript on/off Shift + Alt + Ctrl + + (plus) Shift + Option + Command + + (plus) Choose 100% horizontal scale Shift + Ctrl + X Shift + Command + X Choose 100% vertical scale Shift + Alt + Ctrl + X Shift + Option + Command + X Choose Auto leading Shift + Alt + Ctrl + A Shift + Option + Command + A Choose 0 for tracking Shift + Ctrl + Q Shift + Control + Command + Q
Justify paragraph; left aligns last line Shift + Ctrl + J Shift + Command + J Justify paragraph; forces last line Shift + Ctrl + F Shift + Command + F Decrease/increase type size of selected text 2 pts/px Shift + Ctrl + < or > Shift + Command + < or > Decrease/increase leading 2 pts/px Alt + Down Arrow/Up Arrow Option + Down Arrow/Up Arrow Decrease/increase baseline shift 2 pts/px Shift + Alt + Down Arrow/Up Arrow Shift + Option + Down Arrow/Up Arrow Decrease/increase kerning or tracking 20/1000 ems Alt + Left Arrow/Right Arrow Option + Left Arrow/Right Arrow
Keys for working with Adobe Bridge This is not a complete list of keyboard shortcuts. This table lists only those shortcuts that are not displayed in menu commands or tool tips. Open Adobe Bridge from other Creative Suite application Control + Alt + O, Control + Shift + O Command + Option + O, Command + Shift + O Switch to previous Bridge window Shift + Control + ~ Shift + Command + ~ Switches to the next view (As Thumbnails. As Filmstrip, As Details, or As Versions And Alternates) Control + \ Command + \ Switch to user-defined workspaces Control + F6 through Control + F12 Command + F6 through Command + F12 Switch to previous view Shift + Control + \ Shift + Command + \ Show all files Alt + Control + A Option + Command + A Show files with 1 or more stars Alt + Control + 1 Option + Command + 1 Show files with 2 or more stars Alt + Control + 2 Option + Command + 2 Show files with 3 or more stars Alt + Control + 3 Option + Command + 3 Show files with 4 or more stars Alt+Control+4 Option + Command + 4 Show files with 5 stars Alt + Control + 5 Option + Command + 5 Show files with label 1 (red) Alt + Control + 6 Option + Command + 6 Show files with label 2 (yellow) Alt + Control + 7 Option + Command + 7 Show files with label 3 (green) Alt + Control + 8 Option + Command + 8 Show files with label 4 (blue) Alt + Control + 9 Option + Command + 9 Mark selected Version Cue file as in use Shift + Control + M Shift + Command + M
Synchronize local view and server view of selected Version Cue file Shift + Control + B Shift + Command + B Make selected Version Cue files alternates of each other. Shift + Control + G Shift + Command + G Create saved version of selected Version Cue file Shift + Control + V Shift + Command + V Open Version Cue Versions dialog box Shift + Alt + Control + V Shift + Option + Command + V Return to last application that launched Bridge Alt + Control + O Option + Command + O Move up a folder (in folder view) or a row Up Arrow Up Arrow Move down a folder (in folder view) or a row Down Arrow Down Arrow Move up a level (in folder view) Control + Up Arrow Command + Up Arrow Move left one item Left Arrow Left Arrow Move right one item Right Arrow Right Arrow Move to the first item Home Home Move to the last item End End Add to selection (discontiguous) Control-click Command-click Refresh tree and thumbnail panes F5 F5 Add an item to the selection Shift + Right Arrow, Left Arrow, Up Arrow, or Down Arrow Shift + Right Arrow, Left Arrow, Up Arrow, or Down Arrow Rotate image clockwise Control + ] Rotate image counterclockwise Control + [ Launch File Bridge in maximized state and autohide palettes Control-click the Open Bridge icon in the options bar Open File Info dialog box Control + Alt + Shift + I Command + Option + Shift + I