Keyboard shortcuts in After Effects

KEY TOOL TIPS

Long commands assigned to keys are abbreviated. Hover over a key to view a tool tip containing
the full name of the command, and information whether it is an Application or Panel shortcut.

CONFLICTS AND RESOLUTIONS

CONFLICTS

A warning indicating a shortcut conflict appears when:

 An Application shortcut already in use by another Application shortcut.
 A Panel shortcut is already in use by another command in the same panel. 
 A Panel shortcut overrides an Application shortcut when that panel has focus.

RESOLUTION
 When you type a shortcut that is already in use with another command, a warning message is displayed at
the bottom of the editor.
 Undo and Clear buttons in the lower right corner are enabled.
 The command in conflict is highlighted in blue, and clicking this automatically selects the command in
the Command List.

SAVING CUSTOM KEYBOARD SHORTCUT SETS

You can modify the shortcuts and save them using the Save As button.

General

Result Windows Mac OS

Select all Ctrl+A Command+A

Deselect all F2 or Ctrl+Shift+A F2 or Command+Shift+A

Rename selected layer, composition, Enter on main keyboard Return
folder, effect, group, or mask

Open selected layer, composition, or Enter on numeric keypad Enter on numeric keypad
footage item

Move selected layers, masks, effects, or Ctrl+Alt+Down Arrow or Command+Option+Down Arrow

render items down (back) or up (forward) Ctrl+Alt+Up Arrow Command+Option+Up Arrow
in stacking order

Move selected layers, masks, effects, or Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Down Arrow Command+Option+Shift+Down

render items to bottom (back) or top or Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Up Arrow Command+Option+Shift+Up A
(front) of stacking order

Extend selection to next item in Project Shift+Down Arrow Shift+Down Arrow

panel, Render Queue panel, or Effect
Controls panel

Extend selection to previous item in Shift+Up Arrow Shift+Up Arrow

Project panel, Render Queue panel, or
Effect Controls panel

Duplicate selected layers, masks, effects, Ctrl+D Command+D

text selectors, animators, puppet meshes,
shapes, render items, output modules, or
compositions

Quit Ctrl+Q Command+Q

Undo Ctrl+Z Command+Z

Redo Ctrl+Shift+Z Command+Shift+Z

Purge All Memory Ctrl+Alt+/ (on numeric Command+Option+/ (on numeri

 keypad)

Interrupt running a script Esc Esc

Display filename corresponding to the frame Ctrl+Alt+E Command+Option+E

at the current time in the Info panel

Projects

Result Windows Mac OS

New project Ctrl+Alt+N Command+Option+N

Open project Ctrl+O Command+O

Open most recent project Ctrl+Alt+Shift+P Command+Option+Shift+P

New folder in Project panel Ctrl+Alt+Shift+N Command+Option+Shift+N

Open Project Settings dialog Ctrl+Alt+Shift+K Command+Option+Shift+K

box

Find in Project panel Ctrl+F Command+F

Cycle through color bit Alt-click bit-depth button at bottom of Option-click bit-depth button at bot
depths for project Project panel Project panel

Open Project Settings dialog Click bit-depth button at bottom of Click bit-depth button at bottom of
box Project panel panel
Preferences

Result Windows Mac OS

Open Preferences dialog Ctrl+Alt+; (semicolon) Command+Option+; (semicolon)

box

Restore default preferences Hold down Ctrl+Alt+Shift while Hold down Command+Option+Shift w
settings starting After Effects starting After Effects

Panels, viewers, workspaces, and windows

Note:
(Mac OS) Shortcuts involving function keys F9-F12 may conflict with shortcuts used by the operating system.
See Mac OS Help for instructions to reassign Dashboard & Expose shortcuts.

Result Windows Mac OS

Open or close Project panel Ctrl+0 Command+0

Open or close Render Queue panel Ctrl+Alt+0 Command+Option+0

Open or close Tools panel Ctrl+1 Command+1

Open or close Info panel Ctrl+2 Command+2

Open or close Preview panel Ctrl+3 Command+3

Open or close Audio panel Ctrl+4 Command+4

Open or close Effects & Presets panel Ctrl+5 Command+5

Open or close Character panel Ctrl+6 Command+6

Open or close Paragraph panel Ctrl+7 Command+7

Open or close Paint panel Ctrl+8 Command+8

Open or close Brushes panel Ctrl+9 Command+9

Open or close Effect Controls panel for selected layer F3 or Ctrl+Shift+T F3 or Command+Shift+

Open Flowchart panel for project flowchart Ctrl+F11 Command+F11

Switch to workspace Shift+F10, Shift+F11, Shift+F10, Shift+F11, o

or Shift+F12 Shift+F12

Close active viewer or panel (closes content first) Ctrl+W Command+W

Close active panel or all viewers of type of active Ctrl+Shift+W Command+Shift+W

viewer (closes content first). For example, if a Timeline
panel is active, this command closes all Timeline
panels.

Split the frame containing the active viewer and create a Ctrl+Alt+Shift+N Command+Option+Shi
viewer with opposite locked/unlocked state

Maximize or restore panel under pointer ` (accent grave) ` (accent grave)

Resize application window or floating window to fit Ctrl+\ (backslash) Command+\ (backslash
screen. (Press again to resize window so that contents
 fill the screen.)

Move application window or floating window to main Ctrl+Alt+\ (backslash) Command+Option+\ (b

monitor; resize window to fit screen. (Press again to
resize window so that contents fill the screen.)

Toggle activation between Composition panel and \ (backslash) \ (backslash)

Timeline panel for current composition

Cycle to previous or next item in active viewer (for Shift+, (comma) or Shift+, (comma) or Shif
example, cycle through open compositions) Shift+. (period) (period)

Cycle to previous or next panel in active frame (for Alt+Shift+, (comma) or Option+Shift+, (comma
example, cycle through open Timeline panels) Alt+Shift+. (period) Option+Shift+. (period)

Activate a view in a multi-view layout in the Click with middle Click with middle mous
Composition panel without affecting layer selection mouse button

Activate tools

Note:
You can activate some tools only under certain circumstances. For example, you can activate a camera tool
only when the active composition contains a camera layer.
Note:
To momentarily activate a tool with a single-letter keyboard shortcut, hold down the key; release the key to
return to the previously active tool. To activate a tool and keep it active, press the key and immediately release
it.

Result Windows Mac OS

Cycle through tools Alt-click tool button Option-click too

in Tools panel Tools panel
Activate Selection tool V V

Activate Hand tool H H

Temporarily activate Hand tool Hold down Hold down spac

spacebar or the middle mouse b
middle mouse
button

Activate Zoom In tool
Z Z

Activate Zoom Out tool
Alt (when Zoom In Option (when Z
tool is active) tool is active)

Activate Rotation tool
W W

Activate Roto Brush tool Alt+W Option+W

Activate Refine Edge tool Alt+W Option+W

Activate and cycle through Camera tools (Unified Camera, Orbit C C

Camera, Track XY Camera, and Track Z Camera)

Activate Pan Behind tool
Y Y

Activate and cycle through mask and shape tools (Rectangle, Q Q

Rounded Rectangle, Ellipse, Polygon, Star)

Activate and cycle through Type tools (Horizontal and Vertical)

Ctrl+T Command+T

Activate and cycle between the Pen and Mask Feather tools.

G G
(Note: You can turn off this setting in the Preferences dialog box.)
 Temporarily activate Selection tool when a pen tool is selected Ctrl Command

Temporarily activate Pen tool when the Selection tool is selected Ctrl+Alt Command+Opti
and pointer is over a path (Add Vertex tool when pointer is over a
segment; Convert Vertex tool when pointer is over a vertex)

Activate and cycle through Brush, Clone Stamp, and Eraser tools Ctrl+B Command+B

Activate and cycle through Puppet tools Ctrl+P Command+P

Temporarily convert Selection tool to Shape Duplication tool Alt (in shape layer) Option (in shape

Temporarily convert Selection tool to Direct Selection tool Ctrl (in shape layer) Command (in sh

Result Windows Mac OS

New composition Ctrl+N Command+N

Open Composition Settings dialog box for selected composition Ctrl+K Command+K

Set beginning or end of work area to current time B or N B or N

Set work area to duration of selected layers or, if no layers are selected, set work Ctrl+Alt+B Command+Option+B
area to composition duration

Open Composition Mini-Flowchart for active composition

Tab Tab

Activate the most recently active composition that is in the same composition Shift+Esc Shift+Esc
hierarchy (network of nested compositions) as the currently active composition

Trim Composition to work area Ctrl+Shift+ Command+Shift+X

 X

New Composition from selection Alt+\ Option+\

Compositions and the work area

Time navigation

Result Windows Mac OS

Go to specific time Alt+Shift+J Option+Shift+J

Go to beginning or end of work area Shift+Home or Shift+End Shift+Home or Shift+End

Go to previous or next visible item in time J or K J or K

ruler (keyframe, layer marker, work area
beginning or end)
(Note: Also goes to beginning, end, or base
frame of Roto Brush span if viewing Roto
Brush in Layer panel.)

Go to beginning of composition, layer, or Home or Ctrl+Alt+Left Home or Command+Option

footage item Arrow Arrow

Go to end of composition, layer, or footage End or Ctrl+Alt+Right Arrow End or Command+Option+R

item Arrow

Go forward 1 frame Page Down or Ctrl+Right Page Down or Command+R

Arrow
 Go forward 10 frames Shift+Page Down or Shift+Page Down or
Ctrl+Shift+Right Arrow Command+Shift+Right Arro

Go backward 1 frame Page Up or Ctrl+Left Arrow Page Up or Command+Left

Go backward 10 frames Shift+Page Up or Shift+Page Up or

Ctrl+Shift+Left Arrow Command+Shift+Left Arrow

Go to layer In point I I

Go to layer Out point O O

Go to previous In point or Out point Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Left Arrow Command+Option+Shift+L

Go to next In point or Out point Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Right Arrow Command+Option+Shift+R

Scroll to current time in Timeline panel D D

Previews

Result Windows Mac OS

Spacebar, 0 on numeric keypad, S

Start or stop preview Spacebar, 0 on numeric
numeric keypad
keypad, Shift+0 on numeric
keypad

Reset preview settings to replicate Alt-click Reset in Preview panel Option-click Reset in Preview panel
RAM Preview and Standard Preview
behaviors
Preview only audio, from current . (decimal point) on numeric . (decimal point) on numeric keyp
time keypad* Control+. (period) on main keybo

Preview only audio, in work area Alt+. (decimal point) on numeric Option+. (decimal point) on nume
keypad* keypad* or Control+Option+. (per
main keyboard

Manually preview (scrub) video Drag or Alt-drag current-time Drag or Option-drag current-time
indicator, depending on Live depending on Live Update setting
Update setting

Manually preview (scrub) audio Ctrl-drag current-time indicator Command-drag current-time indic

Preview number of frames Alt+0 on numeric keypad* Option+0 on numeric keypad* or

specified by Alternate Preview Control+Option+0 (zero) on main
preference (defaults to 5)

Toggle Mercury Transmit video / (on numeric keypad) / (on numeric keypad), Control+/
preview keyboard  

Take snapshot Shift+F5, Shift+F6, Shift+F7, or Shift+F5, Shift+F6, Shift+F7, or S

Shift+F8

Display snapshot in active viewer F5, F6, F7, or F8 F5, F6, F7, or F8

Purge snapshot Ctrl+Shift+F5, Ctrl+Shift+F6, Command+Shift+F5, Command+

Ctrl+Shift+F7, or Ctrl+Shift+F8 Command+Shift+F7, or Comman

Fast Previews > Off Ctrl+Alt+1 Command+Option+1

Fast Previews > Adaptive Resolution Ctrl+Alt+2 Command+Option+2

Fast Previews > Draft Ctrl+Alt+3 Command+Option+3

 Fast Previews > Fast Draft Ctrl+Alt+4 Command+Option+4

Fast Previews > Wireframe Ctrl+Alt+5 Command+Option+5

Note:
Some shortcuts are marked with an asterisk (*) to remind you to make sure that Num Lock is on when you use
the numeric keypad.

Views

Result Windows Mac OS

Turn display color management on or off for active Shift+/ (on numeric Shift+/ (on numeric keyp
view keypad)

Show red, green, blue, or alpha channel as grayscale Alt+1, Alt+2, Alt+3, Option+1, Option+2, Op
Alt+4 Option+4

Show colorized red, green, or blue channel Alt+Shift+1, Option+Shift+1, Option+

Alt+Shift+2, Option+Shift+3
Alt+Shift+3

Toggle showing straight RGB color Alt+Shift+4 Option+Shift+4

Show alpha boundary (outline between transparent and Alt+5 Option+5

opaque regions) in Layer panel

Show alpha overlay (colored overlay on transparent Alt+6 Option+6

regions) in Layer panel

Show Refine Edge X-ray Alt+X Option+X

Center composition in the panel Double-click Hand Double-click Hand tool
tool

Zoom-in in Composition, Layer, or Footage panel . (period) on main . (period) on main keybo
keyboard

Zoom-out in Composition, Layer, or Footage panel , (comma) , (comma)

Zoom to 100% in Composition, Layer, or Footage panel / (on main keyboard) / (on main keyboard)

Zoom to fit in Composition, Layer, or Footage panel Shift+/ (on main Shift+/ (on main keyboar
keyboard)

Zoom up to 100% to fit in Composition, Layer, or Alt+/ (on main Option+/ (on main keybo
Footage panel keyboard)

Set resolution to Full, Half, or Custom in Composition Ctrl+J, Ctrl+Shift+J, Command+J, Command+
panel Ctrl+Alt+J Command+Option+J

Open View Options dialog box for active Composition Ctrl+Alt+U Command+Option+U
panel

Zoom in time = (equal sign) on main = (equal sign) on main k

keyboard

Zoom out time - (hyphen) on main - (hyphen) on main keyb

keyboard

Zoom in Timeline panel to single-frame units (Press ; (semicolon) ; (semicolon)

again to zoom out to show entire composition duration.)

Zoom out in Timeline panel to show the entire Shift+; (semicolon) Shift+; (semicolon)
composition duration (Press again to zoom back in to
the duration specified by the Time Navigator.)

Prevent images from being rendered for previews in Caps Lock Caps Lock
viewer panels

Show or hide safe zones ' (apostrophe) ' (apostrophe)

Show or hide grid Ctrl+' (apostrophe) Command+' (apostrophe

Show or hide proportional grid Alt+' (apostrophe) Option+' (apostrophe)

Show or hide rulers Ctrl+R Command+R

Show or hide guides Ctrl+; (semicolon) Command+; (semicolon)

Turn snapping to grid on or off Ctrl+Shift+' Command+Shift+' (apos

(apostrophe)

Turn snapping to guides on or off Ctrl+Shift+; Command+Shift+; (semi

(semicolon)

Lock or unlock guides Ctrl+Alt+Shift+; Command+Option+Shift

(semicolon) (semicolon)

Show or hide layer controls (masks, motion paths, light Ctrl+Shift+H Command+Shift+H
and camera wireframes, effect control points, and layer
handles)
Footage

Result Windows Mac OS

Import one file or image sequence Ctrl+I Command+I

Import multiple files or image sequences Ctrl+Alt+I Command+Option+I

Open movie in an After Effects Footage Double-click the footage item in Double-click the footage it
panel the Project panel Project panel

Add selected items to most recently Ctrl+/ (on main keyboard) Command+/ (on main keyb
activated composition

Replace selected source footage for selected Ctrl+Alt+/ (on main keyboard) Command+Option+/ (on m
layers with footage item selected in Project keyboard)
panel

Replace source for a selected layer Alt-drag footage item from Option-drag footage item f
Project panel onto selected layer Project panel onto selected

Delete a footage item without a warning Ctrl+Backspace Command+Delete

Open Interpret Footage dialog box for Ctrl+Alt+G Command+Option+G

selected footage item

Remember footage interpretation Ctrl+Alt+C Command+Option+C

Edit selected footage item in application Ctrl+E Command+E

with which it’s associated (Edit Original)
 Replace selected footage item Ctrl+H Command+H

Reload selected footage items Ctrl+Alt+L Command+Option+L

Set proxy for selected footage item Ctrl+Alt+P Command+Option+P

Effects and animation presets

Result Windows Mac OS

Delete all effects from selected layers Ctrl+Shift+E Command+Shift+

Apply most recently applied effect to selected layers Ctrl+Alt+Shift+E Command+Optio

Apply most recently applied animation preset to selected layers Ctrl+Alt+Shift+F Command+Optio

Layers

Note:
Some operations do not affect shy layers.

Result Windows Mac OS

New solid layer Ctrl+Y Command+Y

New null layer Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Y Command+Option+Shift+Y

New adjustment layer Ctrl+Alt+Y Command+Option+Y

Select layer (1-999) by its number (enter 0-9 on numeric keypad* 0-9 on numeric keypad*
digits rapidly for two-digit and three-digit
numbers)

Toggle selection of layer (1-999) by its Shift+0-9 on numeric keypad* Shift+0-9 on numeric keypa
number (enter digits rapidly for two-digit
and three-digit numbers)

Select next layer in stacking order Ctrl+Down Arrow Command+Down Arrow

Select previous layer in stacking order Ctrl+Up Arrow Command+Up Arrow

Extend selection to next layer in stacking Ctrl+Shift+Down Arrow Command+Shift+Down Arr

order

Extend selection to previous layer in Ctrl+Shift+Up Arrow Command+Shift+Up Arrow

stacking order

Deselect all layers Ctrl+Shift+A Command+Shift+A

Scroll topmost selected layer to top of X X

Timeline panel

Show or hide Parent column Shift+F4 Shift+F4

Show or hide Layer Switches and Modes F4 F4

columns

Setting the sampling method for selected layers Alt+B Option+B

(Best/Bilinear)
Setting the sampling method for selected layers Alt+Shift+B Option+Shift+B
(Best/Bicubic)

Turn off all other solo switches Alt-click solo switch Option-click solo switch

Turn Video (eyeball) switch on or off for Ctrl+Alt+Shift+V Command+Option+Shift+V

selected layers

Turn off Video switch for all video layers Ctrl+Shift+V Command+Shift+V
other than selected layers

Open settings dialog box for selected solid, Ctrl+Shift+Y Command+Shift+Y

light, camera, null, or adjustment layer

Paste layers at current time Ctrl+Alt+V Command+Option+V

Split selected layers. (If no layers are Ctrl+Shift+D Command+Shift+D

selected, split all layers.)

Precompose selected layers Ctrl+Shift+C Command+Shift+C

Open Effect Controls panel for selected Ctrl+Shift+T Command+Shift+T

layers

Open layer in Layer panel (opens source Double-click a layer Double-click a layer
composition for precomposition layer in
Composition panel)

Open source of a layer in Footage panel Alt-double-click a layer Option-double-click a layer

(opens precomposition layer in Layer panel)

Reverse selected layers in time Ctrl+Alt+R Command+Option+R

Enable time remapping for selected layers Ctrl+Alt+T Command+Option+T

Move selected layers so that their In point or [ (left bracket) or ] (right [ (left bracket) or ] (right bra
Out point is at the current time bracket)

Trim In point or Out point of selected layers Alt+[ (left bracket) or Alt+] Option+[ (left bracket) or O
to current time (right bracket) (right bracket)

Add or remove expression for a property Alt-click stopwatch Option-click stopwatch

Add an effect (or multiple selected effects) Double-click effect selection in Double-click effect selection
to selected layers Effects & Presets panel & Presets panel

Set In point or Out point by time-stretching Ctrl+Shift+, (comma) or Command+Shift+, (comma)

Ctrl+Alt+, (comma) Command+Option+, (comm

Move selected layers so that their In point is Alt+Home Option+Home

at beginning of composition

Move selected layers so that their Out point Alt+End Option+End

is at end of composition

Lock selected layers Ctrl+L Command+L

Unlock all layers Ctrl+Shift+L Command+Shift+L

Set Quality to Best, Draft, or Wireframe for Ctrl+U, Ctrl+Shift+U, or Command+U, Command+S
selected layers Ctrl+Alt+Shift+U Command+Option+Shift+U

Cycle forward or backward through Shift+- (hyphen) or Shift+= Shift+- (hyphen) or Shift+=
blending modes for selected layers (equal sign) on the main sign) on the main keyboard
keyboard
 Find in Timeline panel Ctrl+F Command+F

Note:
Some shortcuts are marked with an asterisk (*) to remind you to make sure that Num Lock is on when you use
the numeric keypad.

Showing properties and groups in the Timeline panel

Note:
This table contains double-letter shortcuts (for example, LL). To use these shortcuts, press the letters in quick
succession.

Result Windows Mac OS

Find in Timeline panel Ctrl+F Command+F

Toggle expansion of selected layers to Ctrl+` (accent grave) Command+` (accent grav
show all properties

Toggle expansion of property group and all Ctrl-click triangle to the left of the Command-click triangle
child property groups to show all properties property group name of the property group nam

Show only Anchor Point property (for A A

lights and cameras, Point Of Interest)

Show only Audio Levels property L L

Show only Mask Feather property F F

Show only Mask Path property M M

Show only Mask Opacity property TT TT

Show only Opacity property (for lights, T T
Intensity)

Show only Position property P P

Show only Rotation and Orientation R R

properties

Show only Scale property S S

Show only Time Remap property RR RR

Show only instances of missing effects FF FF

Show only Effects property group E E

Show only mask property groups MM MM

Show only Material Options property group AA AA

Show only expressions EE EE

Show properties with keyframes U U

Show only modified properties UU UU

Show only paint strokes, Roto Brush PP PP

strokes, and Puppet pins

Show only audio waveform LL LL

 Show only selected properties and groups SS SS

Hide property or group Alt+Shift-click property or group Option+Shift-click prope

name group name

Add or remove property or group from set Shift+property or group shortcut Shift+property or group s
that is shown

Add or remove keyframe at current time Alt+Shift+property shortcut Option+property shortcut

Showing properties in the Effect Controls panel

Result Windows Mac OS

Toggle expansion of selected effects to show Ctrl+` (accent grave) Command+` (accent grav
all properties

Toggle expansion of property group and all Ctrl-click triangle to the left of Command-click triangle
child property groups to show all properties the property group name of the property group nam

Modifying layer properties

Result Windows Mac OS

Modify property value by default Drag property value Drag property value
increments

Modify property value by 10x default Shift-drag property value Shift-drag property value
increments

Modify property value by 1/10 default Ctrl-drag property value Command-drag property value
increments

Open Auto-Orientation dialog box for Ctrl+Alt+O Command+Alt+O

selected layers

Open Opacity dialog box for selected Ctrl+Shift+O Command+Shift+O

layers

Open Rotation dialog box for selected Ctrl+Shift+R Command+Shift+R

layers

Open Position dialog box for selected Ctrl+Shift+P Command+Shift+P

layers

Center-selected layers in view (modifies Ctrl+Home Command+Home

Position property to place anchor points
of selected layers in center of current
view)

Center anchor point in the visible content Ctrl+Alt+Home Command+Option+Home

Move selected layers 1 pixel at current Arrow key Arrow key

magnification (Position)

Move selected layers 10 pixels at current Shift+arrow key Shift+arrow key

magnification (Position)

Move selected layers 1 frame earlier or Alt+Page Up or Alt+Page Option+Page Up or Option+Pag

later Down
Move selected layers 10 frames earlier or Alt+Shift+Page Up or Option+Shift+Page Up or
later Alt+Shift+Page Down Option+Shift+Page Down

Increase or decrease Rotation (Z + (plus) or - (minus) on + (plus) or - (minus) on numeric

Rotation) of selected layers by 1° numeric keypad

Increase or decrease Rotation (Z Shift++ (plus) or Shift+- Shift++ (plus) or Shift+- (minus
Rotation) of selected layers by 10° (minus) on numeric keypad numeric keypad

Increase or decrease Opacity (or Intensity Ctrl+Alt++ (plus) or Control+Option++ (plus) or

for light layers) of selected layers by 1% Ctrl+Alt+- (minus) on Control+Option+- (minus) on n
numeric keypad keypad

Increase or decrease Opacity (or Intensity Ctrl+Alt+Shift++ (plus) or Control+Option+Shift++ (plus)

for light layers) of selected layers by 10% Ctrl+Alt+Shift+- (minus) on Control+Option+Shift+- (minus
numeric keypad numeric keypad

Increase Scale of selected layers by 1% Ctrl++ (plus) or Alt++ (plus) Command++ (plus) or Option++
on numeric keypad numeric keypad

Decrease Scale of selected layers by 1% Ctrl+- (minus) or Alt+- Command+- (minus) or Option+
(minus) on numeric keypad on numeric keypad

Increase Scale of selected layers by 10% Ctrl+Shift++ (plus) or Command+Shift++ (plus) or

Alt+Shift++ (plus) on numeric Option+Shift++ (plus) on nume
keypad

Decrease Scale of selected layers by 10% Ctrl+Shift+- (minus) or Command+Shift+- (minus) or

Alt+Shift+- (minus) on Option+Shift+- (minus) on num
numeric keypad keypad

Modify Rotation or Orientation in 45° Shift-drag with Rotation tool Shift-drag with Rotation tool
increments
 Modify Scale, constrained to footage Shift-drag layer handle with Shift-drag layer handle with Sel
frame aspect ratio Selection tool

Reset Rotation to 0° Double-click Rotation tool Double-click Rotation tool

Reset Scale to 100% Double-click Selection tool Double-click Selection tool

Scale and reposition selected layers to fit Ctrl+Alt+F Command+Option+F

composition

Scale and reposition selected layers to fit Ctrl+Alt+Shift+H Command+Option+Shift+H

composition width, preserving image
aspect ratio for each layer

Scale and reposition selected layers to fit Ctrl+Alt+Shift+G Command+Option+Shift+G

composition height, preserving image
aspect ratio for each layer

3D layers

Note:
(Mac OS) Shortcuts involving function keys F9-F12 may conflict with shortcuts used by the operating system.
See Mac OS Help for instructions to reassign Dashboard & Expose shortcuts.

Result Windows Mac OS

Switch to 3D view 1 (defaults to Front) F10 F10

Switch to 3D view 2 (defaults to Custom View 1) F11 F11

Switch to 3D view 3 (defaults to Active Camera) F12 F12

 Return to previous view Esc Esc

New light Ctrl+Alt+Shift+ Command+Optio

L

New camera Ctrl+Alt+Shift+ Command+Optio

C

Move the camera and its point of interest to look at selected 3D layers Ctrl+Alt+Shift+\ Command+Optio

With a camera tool selected, move the camera and its point of interest F F
to look at selected 3D layers

With a camera tool selected, move the camera and its point of interest Ctrl+Shift+F Command+Shift+
to look at all 3D layers

Turn Casts Shadows property on or off for selected 3D layers Alt+Shift+C Option+Shift+C

Keyframes and the Graph Editor

Note:
(Mac OS) Shortcuts involving function keys F9-F12 may conflict with shortcuts used by the operating system.
See Mac OS Help for instructions to reassign Dashboard & Expose shortcuts.

Result Windows Mac OS

Toggle between Graph Editor and layer bar modes Shift+F3 Shift+F3

Select all keyframes for a property Click property name Click property name
Select all visible keyframes and properties Ctrl+Alt+A Command+Option+A

Deselect all keyframes, properties, and property Shift+F2 or Shift+F2 or

groups Ctrl+Alt+Shift+A Command+Option+Shift

Move keyframe 1 frame later or earlier Alt+Right Arrow or Option+Right Arrow or

Alt+Left Arrow Option+Left Arrow

Move keyframe 10 frames later or earlier Alt+Shift+Right Arrow or Option+Shift+Right Arro

Alt+Shift+Left Arrow Option+Shift+Left Arrow

Set interpolation for selected keyframes (layer bar Ctrl+Alt+K Command+Option+K

mode)

Set keyframe interpolation method to hold or Auto Ctrl+Alt+H Command+Option+H

Bezier

Set keyframe interpolation method to linear or Ctrl-click in layer bar mode Command-click in layer
Auto Bezier

Set keyframe interpolation method to linear or hold Ctrl+Alt-click in layer bar Command+Option-click
mode mode

Easy ease selected keyframes F9 F9

Easy ease selected keyframes in Shift+F9 Shift+F9

Easy ease selected keyframes out Ctrl+Shift+F9 Command+Shift+F9

Set velocity for selected keyframes Ctrl+Shift+K Command+Shift+K

 Add or remove keyframe at current time. For
Alt+Shift+property shortcut Option+property shortcu
property shortcuts, see Showing properties and
groups in the Timeline panel (keyboard shortcuts).

Text

Result Windows Mac OS

New text layer Ctrl+Alt+Shift+T Command+Option+Shift+T

Align selected horizontal Ctrl+Shift+L, Ctrl+Shift+C, or Command+Shift+L, Command+Shift+

text left, center, or right Ctrl+Shift+R Command+Shift+R

Align selected vertical text Ctrl+Shift+L, Ctrl+Shift+C, or Command+Shift+L, Command+Shift+

top, center, or bottom Ctrl+Shift+R Command+Shift+R

Extend or reduce selection Shift+Right Arrow or Shift+Left Shift+Right Arrow or Shift+Left Arrow
by one character to right or Arrow
left in horizontal text

Extend or reduce selection Ctrl+Shift+Right Arrow or Command+Shift+Right Arrow or

by one word to right or left Ctrl+Shift+Left Arrow Command+Shift+Left Arrow
in horizontal text

Extend or reduce selection Shift+Up Arrow or Shift+Down Shift+Up Arrow or Shift+Down Arrow
by one line up or down in Arrow
horizontal text

Extend or reduce selection Shift+Right Arrow or Shift+Left Shift+Right Arrow or Shift+Left Arrow
by one line to right or left in Arrow
vertical text
Extend or reduce selection Ctrl+Shift+Up Arrow or Command+Shift+Up Arrow or
one word up or down in Ctrl+Shift+Down Arrow Command+Shift+Down Arrow
vertical text

Extend or reduce selection Shift+Up Arrow or Shift+Down Shift+Up Arrow or Shift+Down Arrow
by one character up or down Arrow
in vertical text

Select text from insertion Shift+Home or Shift+End Shift+Home or Shift+End

point to beginning or end of
line

Move insertion point to Home or End Home or End

beginning or end of line

Select all text on a layer Double-click text layer Double-click text layer

Select text from insertion Ctrl+Shift+Home or Ctrl+Shift+End Command+Shift+Home or Command+

point to beginning or end of
text frame

To mouse-click point, select Shift-click Shift-click

text from insertion point

In horizontal text, move Left Arrow or Right Arrow; Up Left Arrow or Right Arrow; Up Arrow
insertion point one character Arrow or Down Arrow; Ctrl+Left Arrow; Command+Left Arrow or
left or right; one line up or Arrow or Ctrl+Right Arrow; or Command+Right Arrow; or Command
down; one word left or right; Ctrl+Up Arrow or Ctrl+Down Arrow or Command+Down Arrow
or one paragraph up or down Arrow

In vertical text, move Up Arrow or Down Arrow; Left Up Arrow or Down Arrow; Left Arrow
insertion point one character Arrow or Right Arrow; Ctrl+Up Arrow; Command+Up Arrow or
up or down; one left or right; Arrow or Ctrl+Down Arrow; or Command+Down Arrow; or Comman
one word up or down; or one Ctrl+Left Arrow or Ctrl+Right Arrow or Command+Right Arrow
paragraph left or right Arrow
Select word, line, paragraph, Double-click, triple-click, Double-click, triple-click, quadruple-c
or entire text frame quadruple-click, or quintuple-click quintuple-click with Type tool
with Type tool

Turn All Caps on or off for Ctrl+Shift+K Command+Shift+K

selected text

Turn Small Caps on or off Ctrl+Alt+Shift+K Command+Option+Shift+K

for selected text

Turn Superscript on or off Ctrl+Shift+= (equal sign) Command+Shift+= (equal sign)

for selected text

Turn Subscript on or off for Ctrl+Alt+Shift+= (equal sign) Command+Option+Shift+= (equal sig
selected text

Set horizontal scale to 100% Ctrl+Shift+X Command+Shift+X

for selected text

Set vertical scale to 100% Ctrl+Alt+Shift+X Command+Option+Shift+X

for selected text

Auto leading for selected Ctrl+Alt+Shift+A Command+Option+Shift+A

text

Reset tracking to 0 for Ctrl+Shift+Q Command+Shift+Control+Q

selected text

Justify paragraph; left align Ctrl+Shift+J Command+Shift+J

last line

Justify paragraph; right align Ctrl+Alt+Shift+J Command+Option+Shift+J

last line
Justify paragraph; force last Ctrl+Shift+F Command+Shift+F
line

Decrease or increase font Ctrl+Shift+, (comma) or Command+Shift+, (comma) or

size of selected text by 2 Ctrl+Shift+. (period) Command+Shift+. (period)
units

Decrease or increase font Ctrl+Alt+Shift+, (comma) or Command+Option+Shift+, (comma) o

size of selected text by 10 Ctrl+Alt+Shift+. (period) Command+Option+Shift+. (period)
units

Increase or decrease leading Alt+Down Arrow or Alt+Up Arrow Option+Down Arrow or Option+Up A
by 2 units

Increase or decrease leading Ctrl+Alt+Down Arrow or Command+Option+Down Arrow or

by 10 units Ctrl+Alt+Up Arrow Command+Option+Up Arrow

Decrease or increase Alt+Shift+Down Arrow or Option+Shift+Down Arrow or Option+

baseline shift by 2 units Alt+Shift+Up Arrow Arrow

Decrease or increase Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Down Arrow or Command+Option+Shift+Down Arrow

baseline shift by 10 units Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Up Arrow Command+Option+Shift+Up Arrow

Decrease or increase kerning Alt+Left Arrow or Alt+Right Arrow Option+Left Arrow or Option+Right A
or tracking 20 units (20/1000
ems)

Decrease or increase kerning Ctrl+Alt+Left Arrow or Command+Option+Left Arrow or

or tracking 100 units Ctrl+Alt+Right Arrow Command+Option+Right Arrow
(100/1000 ems)

Toggle paragraph composer Ctrl+Alt+Shift+T Command+Option+Shift+T

Masks

Result Windows Mac OS

New mask Ctrl+Shift+N Command+Shift+N

Select all points in a mask Alt-click mask Option-click mask

Select next or previous mask Alt+` (accent grave) or Alt+Shift+` Option+` (accent grave) or Option+
(accent grave) (accent grave)

Enter free-transform mask Double-click mask with Selection tool Double-click mask with Selection
editing mode or select mask in Timeline panel and select mask in Timeline panel and
press Ctrl+T Command+T

Exit free-transform mask Esc Esc

editing mode

Scale around center point in Ctrl-drag Command-drag

Free Transform mode

Move selected path points 1 Arrow key Arrow key

pixel at current magnification

Move selected path points 10 Shift+arrow key Shift+arrow key

pixels at current magnification

Toggle between smooth and Ctrl+Alt-click vertex Command+Option-click vertex

corner points

Redraw Bezier handles Ctrl+Alt-drag vertex Command+Option-drag vertex

 Invert selected mask Ctrl+Shift+I Command+Shift+I

Open Mask Feather dialog Ctrl+Shift+F Command+Shift+F

box for selected mask

Open Mask Shape dialog box Ctrl+Shift+M Command+Shift+M

for selected mask

Subtract mode S S

Darken mode D D

Difference mode F F

Add mode A S

Intersect mode I I

None N N

Paint tools

Result Windows Mac OS

Swap paint background color and foreground colors X X

Set paint foreground color to black and background D D

color to white
Set foreground color to the color currently under Alt-click Option-click
any paint tool pointer

Set foreground color to the average color of a 4- Ctrl+Alt-click Command+Option-click

pixel x 4-pixel area under any paint tool pointer

Set brush size for a paint tool Ctrl-drag Command-drag

Set brush hardness for a paint tool Ctrl-drag, then release Command-drag, then rele
Ctrl while dragging Command while dragging

Join current paint stroke to the previous stroke Hold Shift while Hold Shift while beginnin
beginning stroke

Set starting sample point to point currently under Alt-click Option-click

Clone Stamp tool pointer

Momentarily activate Eraser tool with Last Stroke Ctrl+Shift Command+Shift

Only option

Show and move overlay (change Offset value

Alt+Shift-drag with Clone Option+Shift-drag with C
of aligned Clone Stamp tool or change Source
Stamp tool tool
Position value of unaligned Clone Stamp tool)

Activate a specific Clone Stamp tool preset 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 on the main 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 on the main
keyboard

Duplicate a Clone Stamp tool preset in Paint panel Alt-click the button for Option-click the button fo
the preset

Set opacity for a paint tool Digit on numeric keypad Digit on numeric keypad
(for example, 9=90%, example, 9=90%, 1=10%
1=10%)*
 Set opacity for a paint tool to 100% . (decimal) on numeric . (decimal) on numeric ke
keypad*

Set flow for a paint tool Shift+ a digit on numeric Shift+ a digit on numeric
keypad (for example, (for example, 9=90%, 1=1
9=90%, 1=10%)*

Set flow for a paint tool to 100% Shift+. (decimal) on Shift+. (decimal) on num
numeric keypad* keypad*

Move earlier or later by number of frames specified Ctrl+Page Up or Command+Page Up or

for stroke Duration Ctrl+Page Down (or 1 or Command+Page Down (o
2 on the main keyboard) the main keyboard)

Note:
Some shortcuts are marked with an asterisk (*) to remind you to make sure that Num Lock is on when you use
the numeric keypad.

Shape layers

Result Windows Mac OS

Group selected shapes Ctrl+G Command+G

Ungroup selected shapes Ctrl+Shift+G Command+Shift+G

Enter free-transform path editing mode Select Path property in Select Path property in Ti
Timeline panel and press panel and press Command
Ctrl+T

Increase star inner roundness Page Up when dragging to Page Up when dragging t
create shape shape
 Result Windows Mac OS

Decrease star inner roundness Page Down when dragging to Page Down when draggin
create shape shape

Increase number of points for star or polygon; Up Arrow when dragging to Up Arrow when dragging
increase roundness for rounded rectangle create shape shape

Decrease number of points for star or polygon; Down Arrow when dragging Down Arrow when dragg
decrease roundness for rounded rectangle to create shape create shape

Reposition shape during creation Hold spacebar when dragging Hold spacebar when drag
to create shape create shape

Set rounded rectangle roundness to 0 (sharp Left Arrow when dragging to Left Arrow when draggin
corners); decrease polygon and star outer create shape shape
roundness

Set rounded rectangle roundness to maximum; Right Arrow when dragging Right Arrow when draggi
increase polygon and star outer roundness to create shape create shape

Constrain rectangles to squares; constrain Shift when dragging to create Shift when dragging to cr
ellipses to circles; constrain polygons and stars shape
to zero rotation

Change outer radius of star Ctrl when dragging to create Command when dragging
shape shape

Markers

Result Windows Mac OS

 Set marker at current time (works during * (multiply) on * (multiply) on numeric keypad or C
preview and audio-only preview) numeric keypad main keyboard

Set marker at current time and open marker Alt+* (multiply) on Option+* (multiply) on numeric keyp
dialog box numeric keypad Control+Option+8 on main keyboard

Set and number a composition marker (0-9) Shift+0-9 on main Shift+0-9 on main keyboard
at the current time keyboard

Go to a composition marker (0-9) 0-9 on main keyboard 0-9 on main keyboard

Display the duration between two layer Alt-click the markers Option-click the markers or keyframe
markers or keyframes in the Info panel or keyframes

Remove marker Ctrl-click marker Command-click marker

Motion tracking

Result Windows Mac OS

Move feature region, search region, and attach point 1 pixel at current Arrow key Arrow key
magnification

Move feature region, search region, and attach point 10 pixels at Shift+arrow key Shift+arrow k
current magnification

Move feature region and search region 1 pixel at current magnification Alt+arrow key Option+arrow

Move feature region and search region 10 pixels at current Alt+Shift+arrow Option+Shift
magnification key
Saving, exporting, and rendering

Result Windows Mac OS

Save project Ctrl+S Command+S

Increment and save project Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S Command+Option+Shif

Save As Ctrl+Shift+S Command+Shift+S

Add active composition or selected items to render Ctrl+Shift+/ (on main Command+Shift+/ (on ma
queue keyboard)

Add current frame to render queue Ctrl+Alt+S Command+Option+S

Duplicate render item with same output filename as Ctrl+Shift+D Command+Shift+D

original

Add a composition to the Adobe Media Encoder Ctrl+Alt+M Cmd+Option+M

encoding queue

Note:
On Mac OS, some keyboard commands used to interact with the operating system conflict with keyboard
commands for interacting with After Effects. Select Use System Shortcut Keys in the General preferences to
override the After Effects keyboard command sometimes in which there’s a conflict with the Mac OS
keyboard command.