Adobe After Effects Keyboard Shortcuts Guide (Updated 2025)

Motion graphics and visual effects software

76 essential keyboard shortcuts to boost your productivity
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Adobe After Effects Keyboard Shortcuts

Adobe After Effects File Shortcuts

New composition
Ctrl + NClick to copy
Open project
Ctrl + OClick to copy
Save project
Ctrl + SClick to copy
Save as
Ctrl + Alt + SClick to copy
Import file
Ctrl + IClick to copy
Add to render queue
Ctrl + MClick to copy
Add to Adobe Media Encoder queue
Ctrl + Shift + /Click to copy

Adobe After Effects Edit Shortcuts

Undo
Ctrl + ZClick to copy
Redo
Ctrl + Shift + ZClick to copy
Cut
Ctrl + XClick to copy
Copy
Ctrl + CClick to copy
Copy Merged
Ctrl + Shift + CClick to copy
Paste
Ctrl + VClick to copy
Paste in Place
Ctrl + Shift + VClick to copy
Paste Into
Ctrl + Alt + VClick to copy
Paste Outside
Ctrl + Shift + Alt + VClick to copy
Select all
Ctrl + AClick to copy
Deselect
Ctrl + DClick to copy
Inverse Selection
Ctrl + Shift + IClick to copy
Refine Edge
Ctrl + Alt + RClick to copy
Reselect
Ctrl + Shift + DClick to copy

Adobe After Effects Tools Shortcuts

Move Tool
VClick to copy
Marquee Tool
MClick to copy
Lasso Tool
LClick to copy
Magic Wand Tool
WClick to copy
Crop Tool
CClick to copy
Eyedropper Tool
IClick to copy
Healing Brush Tool
JClick to copy
Brush Tool
BClick to copy
Clone Stamp Tool
SClick to copy
History Brush Tool
YClick to copy
Eraser Tool
EClick to copy
Gradient Tool
GClick to copy
Dodge Tool
OClick to copy
Pen Tool
PClick to copy
Type Tool
TClick to copy
Path Selection Tool
AClick to copy
Rectangle Tool
UClick to copy
Hand Tool
HClick to copy
Rotate View Tool
RClick to copy
Zoom Tool
ZClick to copy
Default Colors
DClick to copy
Switch Colors
XClick to copy
Quick Mask Mode
QClick to copy

Adobe After Effects View Shortcuts

Screen Modes
FClick to copy
Show/Hide Panels
TabClick to copy
Show/Hide Panels except Toolbox
Shift + TabClick to copy
Zoom In
Ctrl + +Click to copy
Zoom Out
Ctrl + -Click to copy
Fit on Screen
Ctrl + 0Click to copy
Actual Pixels
Ctrl + 1Click to copy
Print Size
Ctrl + Alt + 0Click to copy
Show/Hide Extras
Ctrl + HClick to copy
Show/Hide Target Path
Ctrl + Shift + HClick to copy
Show/Hide Rulers
Ctrl + RClick to copy
Show/Hide Guides
Ctrl + ;Click to copy
Snap to Guides
Ctrl + Shift + ;Click to copy
Lock Guides
Ctrl + Alt + ;Click to copy
Show/Hide Grid
Ctrl + 'Click to copy
Snap to Grid
Ctrl + Shift + 'Click to copy

Adobe After Effects Layer Shortcuts

New Layer
Ctrl + Shift + NClick to copy
Duplicate Layer
Ctrl + JClick to copy
Cut to Layer
Ctrl + Shift + JClick to copy
Merge Down
Ctrl + EClick to copy
Merge Visible
Ctrl + Shift + EClick to copy
Stamp Visible
Ctrl + Alt + EClick to copy
Group Layers
Ctrl + GClick to copy
Ungroup Layers
Ctrl + Shift + GClick to copy
Bring Forward
Ctrl + ]Click to copy
Send Backward
Ctrl + [Click to copy
Bring to Front
Ctrl + Shift + ]Click to copy
Send to Back
Ctrl + Shift + [Click to copy
Select Bottom Layer
Alt + [Click to copy
Select Top Layer
Alt + ]Click to copy
Select Next Layer Down
Alt + Shift + [Click to copy
Select Next Layer Up
Alt + Shift + ]Click to copy

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What is Adobe After Effects?

Adobe After Effects is professional-grade software for motion graphics and visual effects. It supports animation, compositing, and video editing with high flexibility. Compatible with Windows and Mac, it integrates seamlessly with Adobe Creative Cloud and third-party plugins. With support for GPU acceleration and customizable settings, it delivers smooth previews and faster rendering. Its wide library of presets, templates, and effects makes it suitable for both beginners and professionals in film, design, and marketing.

How to Install or Use Adobe After Effects?

Installing Adobe After Effects is simple, but before downloading, you need to make sure your system meets the requirements. Adobe After Effects is powerful motion graphics and visual effects software, and it works best with a modern processor, at least 16GB of RAM, and a dedicated GPU for smooth rendering. To start, go to the official Adobe website or the Creative Cloud app. From there, search for Adobe After Effects and click on the install button. You may need to create or sign in with an Adobe account. If you are a new user, Adobe usually offers a free trial before you buy the subscription. Once the installation begins, the Creative Cloud app will download and set up the program automatically. When it’s finished, you can open After Effects from your desktop or start menu. For faster workflow, many users create a desktop shortcut to launch the software quickly. If your desktop shortcut icon is missing, you can right-click the application from the start menu and select “create shortcut.” After launching, you can set your project preferences. Many beginners immediately search for adobe after effects keyboard shortcuts pdf to learn the default commands. Having a shortcut list is useful because it helps you work faster, especially when learning actions like adobe after effects add keyframe shortcut, adobe after effects cut clip shortcut, adobe after effects cut shortcut, or even the adobe after effects marker shortcut. Another important step is to configure your scratch disks and GPU acceleration settings in the preferences menu. This ensures smoother previews and better rendering. If you’re installing on multiple machines, you may also want to export and import your preferences, including adobe after effects shortcut keys, so that your workspace feels consistent. In summary, installing Adobe After Effects is straightforward with the Creative Cloud app. Once installed, make sure you optimize your settings, download a list of adobe after effects shortcut keys pdf, and get familiar with commands like how to split clip in adobe after effects shortcut, adobe after effects set keyframe shortcut, and adobe after effects add to render queue shortcut. This setup will give you a smoother start and allow you to focus on creativity instead of technical issues.

Tips & Best Practices for Adobe After Effects

Mastering keyboard shortcuts in Adobe After Effects saves hours of work. Essential shortcuts include add keyframe, show keyframes, cut clip, cut video, and split clip. Many professionals keep a printed adobe after effects keyboard shortcuts pdf handy for quick reference. Organize layers using markers and keyframe layer markers for syncing animations with music. For performance, lower playback resolution, use proxies, and rely on the add to render queue shortcut or Adobe Media Encoder for exporting. Small projects like animating text or logo reveals help beginners practice. Shortcuts like move 1 frame or advance frame enable micro adjustments. Consistent use of adobe after effects best keyboard shortcuts builds speed, efficiency, and professional-level editing skills.

Use Cases of Adobe After Effects

Adobe After Effects is used across industries for motion graphics, VFX, marketing, and content creation. Designers create animated logos, kinetic typography, and social media visuals using add keyframe and opacity shortcuts. Filmmakers rely on marker and next frame shortcuts for effects and compositing. YouTubers use cut and split clip shortcuts for trimming and transitions, while agencies optimize workflow with shortcut guides like adobe after effects cc 2017 keyboard shortcuts pdf. Game developers and VFX studios use show keyframes and set keyframe shortcuts to control animations precisely. From film and advertising to YouTube and gaming, knowing shortcut keys makes projects faster, smoother, and more professional.

Benefits of Adobe After Effects

Benefits of Adobe After Effects is very extensive as it empowers creators to produce professional-quality motion graphics, advanced animations, and realistic visual effects such as fire, explosions, and weather elements, while also providing powerful tools for compositing multiple layers of footage, seamless green screen keying, camera and motion tracking, video stabilization, and both 2D and basic 3D animation; it further enhances workflow efficiency with keyframing, expressions for automation, and Dynamic Link integration with Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and Illustrator, along with massive support for third-party plugins and scripts that extend its capabilities into particle simulations, color grading, and AI-driven effects, making it an industry-standard software widely used in film, television, advertising, gaming, YouTube content creation, and digital marketing to transform raw footage into polished, cinematic, and visually engaging experiences.

Key Features of Adobe After Effects

  • Advanced motion graphics
  • Professional visual effects
  • Seamless integration with Premiere Pro & Photoshop
  • 2D and 3D animation support
  • Keyframing & expressions for automation

FAQs about Adobe After Effects

What is Adobe After Effects used for?

It is mainly used for motion graphics, visual effects, compositing, and creating cinematic animations.

Does After Effects have keyboard shortcuts?

Yes, adobe after effects keyboard shortcuts are built-in, and you can even export or download adobe after effects shortcut keys pdf for reference.

How do I cut a clip in After Effects?

You can use the adobe after effects cut shortcut or adobe after effects split clip shortcut to trim your clips quickly.

How can I add a keyframe in After Effects?

The adobe after effects add keyframe shortcut or adobe after effects set keyframe shortcut allows you to animate properties like position, scale, and opacity.

Can I customize shortcuts in After Effects?

Yes, you can customize shortcut keys for adobe after effects through the Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts panel.

Where can I download shortcut guides?

You can search for adobe after effects cs6 keyboard shortcuts pdf, adobe after effects 2015 keyboard shortcuts, or adobe after effects 2020 shortcut keys pdf depending on your version.

Is After Effects beginner friendly?

It has a learning curve, but beginners can start with simple projects and learn step by step using keyboard shortcuts to speed up the workflow.

Related Topics

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Master Adobe After Effects with These Essential Shortcuts

Boost your productivity with these 76 carefully curated Adobe After Effects keyboard shortcuts. Click any shortcut to copy it instantly. Perfect for beginners and professionals.

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