**Keyboard shortcuts** will help you **focus on creative choices** and **work faster** and **more efficiently**.
**Establishing a new habit** is a deliberate decision, but it reaps many benefits, so it is worth the effort.
We will learn these shortcuts as we work through each tutorial.
Here are three differing lists, each with more keyboard shortcuts than the next. Use the one that makes the most sense to you!
## The Video Shop - The 10 BEST Shortcuts for Beginners
| # | Shortcut keys (Windows) | Function / description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **Ctrl + Alt + Shift + T** | New text layer |
| 2 | **Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Y** | New null object layer for parenting |
| 3 | **A** | Reveal Anchor Point property |
| | **P** | Reveal Position property |
| | **S** | Reveal Scale property |
| | **R** | Reveal Rotation property |
| | **T** | Reveal Opacity property |
| | **Shift + (A/P/S/R/T)** | Add additional transform properties to the selection |
| 4 | **F9** | Apply Easy Ease to selected keyframes |
| 5 | **Page Up / Page Down** | Move playhead backward/forward 1 frame |
| | **Ctrl + Left Arrow / Right Arrow** | Move playhead backward/forward 1 frame (alternative) |
| | **Shift + (Page Up / Page Down)** | Move playhead backward/forward 10 frames |
| | **Shift + Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow** | Move playhead backward/forward 10 frames (alternative) |
| 6 | **Shift + / (forward slash)** | Fit comp window to viewer (reset comp view) |
| | **, (comma)** | Zoom out in comp viewer |
| | **. (period)** | Zoom in in comp viewer |
| 7 | **U** | Reveal all keyframes on selected layer |
| | **U U (double-tap U)** | Reveal all modified properties on selected layer |
| 8 | **B** | Set beginning of work area to current time |
| | **N** | Set end of work area to current time |
| | **E** | Reveal Effects properties on selected layer (mentioned side note) |
| 9 | **Numpad 0** | Preview work area from start with audio (RAM preview) |
| | **Shift + Numpad 0** | Preview skipping every other frame (faster preview) |
| 10 | **Spacebar** | Temporarily activate Hand tool for panning panels |
| 11 | **Ctrl + M** | Add current comp to Render Queue for export |
| 12 | **Ctrl + Alt + Home** | Center anchor point in the selected layer |
| 13 | **Ctrl + Home** | Center selected layer in the comp (after centering anchor) |
| 14 | **J** | Move playhead to previous keyframe |
| 15 | **K** | Move playhead to next keyframe |
## Cinecom.net - TOP 17 SHORTCUTS in AFTER EFFECTS (must know)
| # | Shortcut keys (Windows) | Function / description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **P** | Reveal Position property on selected layer |
| 2 | **R** | Reveal Rotation property |
| 3 | **T** | Reveal Opacity property (O does not work) |
| 4 | **(Other first letters, e.g., S)** | Reveal other transform properties (e.g., Scale) |
| 5 | **Shift + (property key)** | Add additional property to those shown (show multiple at once) |
| 6 | **Ctrl + Shift + F9** | Apply Easy Ease Out to selected keyframes |
| 7 | **Shift + F9** | Apply Easy Ease In to selected keyframes |
| 8 | **Ctrl + click keyframe** | Reset Bezier keyframe interpolation back to linear |
| 9 | **U** | Reveal all animated (keyframed) properties on selected layer |
| 10 | **Alt + drag selected keyframes** | Scale timing (spread/compress) of keyframes proportionally |
| 11 | **Ctrl + Left Arrow** | Move playhead one frame backward |
| 12 | **Ctrl + Right Arrow** | Move playhead one frame forward |
| 13 | **Page Up** | Move playhead one frame backward (alternative) |
| 14 | **Page Down** | Move playhead one frame forward (alternative) |
| 15 | **Ctrl + Shift + D** | Split selected layer at current playhead position |
| 16 | **Shift + drag layer/trim edge** | Snap layer start/end or trim to playhead |
| 17 | **Ctrl + R** | Toggle rulers in the composition viewer |
| 18 | **Drag from rulers** | Create guides in the composition viewer |
| 19 | **Shift + drag element** | Snap element to guides |
| 20 | **G** | Activate Pen tool to draw masks |
| 21 | **V** | Activate Selection tool |
| 22 | **Y** | Activate Anchor Point (Pan Behind) tool |
| 23 | **Ctrl + drag anchor point** | Snap anchor point to center of element |
| 24 | **H** | Activate Hand tool for panning the canvas |
| 25 | **Return (Enter)** | Rename selected layer or project item |
## School of Motion - 30+ Essential Keyboard Shortcuts in After Effects
### 1\. Navigation & timeline control
These help you move around the comp viewer and timeline quickly.
| Purpose | Mac keys | Windows keys |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hand tool / pan | **Space (hold)** | **Space (hold)** |
| Zoom timeline in | **+** | **+** |
| Zoom timeline out | **–** | **–** |
| Zoom comp in | **. (period)** | **. (period)** |
| Zoom comp out | **, (comma)** | **, (comma)** |
| Fit comp to viewer | **Shift + /** | **Shift + /** |
| Go to previous keyframe | **J** | **J** |
| Go to next keyframe | **K** | **K** |
| Go to layer In point | **I** | **I** |
| Go to layer Out point | **O** | **O** |
| Move one frame back | **Page Up** | **Page Up** |
| Move one frame forward | **Page Down** | **Page Down** |
| Preview (RAM preview) | **Numpad 0** | **Numpad 0** |
| Skip‑frame preview | **Shift + Numpad 0** | **Shift + Numpad 0** |
| Playhead to start of work area | **Home** | **Home** |
| Playhead to end of work area | **End** | **End** |
| Jump to timeline search | **Command + F** | **Ctrl + F** |
| Maximize panel under mouse | **`~` (Tilde)** | **`~` (Tilde)** |
---
### 2\. Animation, keyframes & playback
Everything directly tied to animation properties and keyframes.
| Purpose | Mac keys | Windows keys |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Show Anchor Point | **A** | **A** |
| Show Position | **P** | **P** |
| Show Scale | **S** | **S** |
| Show Rotation | **R** | **R** |
| Show Opacity | **T** | **T** |
| Add another transform property | **Shift + (A/P/S/R/T)** | **Shift + (A/P/S/R/T)** |
| Add transform keyframe | **Option + (A/P/S/R/T)** | **Alt + (A/P/S/R/T)** |
| Show all keyframes | **U** | **U** |
| Show modified properties | **U, U (double‑tap)** | **U, U (double‑tap)** |
| Easy Ease | **F9** | **F9** |
| Ease In | **Shift + F9** | **Shift + F9** |
| Ease Out | **Command + F9** | **Ctrl + F9** |
| Jump between keyframes | **J / K** | **J / K** |
| Split layer at playhead | **Command + Shift + D** | **Ctrl + Shift + D** |
| Select layer above | **Command + Up Arrow** | **Ctrl + Up Arrow** |
| Select layer below | **Command + Down Arrow** | **Ctrl + Down Arrow** |
| Open/expand Graph Editor “hood” | **Shift + F3** | **Shift + F3** |
---
### 3\. Layer, comp & layout operations
Shortcuts that change layer timing, precomps, fitting, replacement, and view overlays.
| Purpose | Mac keys | Windows keys |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pre‑compose selection | **Command + Shift + C** | **Ctrl + Shift + C** |
| Move layer In to playhead | **\[** | **\[** |
| Move layer Out to playhead | **\]** | **\]** |
| Fit layer to comp | **Command + Option + F** | **Ctrl + Alt + F** |
| Fit layer to comp width | **Command + Option + Shift + H** | **Ctrl + Alt + Shift + H** |
| Fit layer to comp height | **Command + Option + Shift + G** | **Ctrl + Alt + Shift + G** |
| Replace selected layer with another | **Option + drag new layer over old** | **Alt + drag new layer over old** |
| Toggle layer controls (overlays) | **Command + Shift + H** | **Ctrl + Shift + H** |
| Center anchor point in layer | **Option + Command + Home** | **Alt + Ctrl + Home** |
| Toggle grid | **Command + ' (apostrophe)** | **Ctrl + ' (apostrophe)** |
---
### 4\. Guides, rulers & snapping
View/align tools for layout precision.
| Purpose | Mac keys | Windows keys |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Toggle rulers | **Command + R** | **Ctrl + R** |
| Toggle guides | **Command +;** | **Ctrl +;** |
| Toggle snap to guides | **Command + Shift +;** | **Ctrl + Shift +;** |
| Lock/unlock guides | **Command + Option + Shift +;** | **Ctrl + Alt + Shift +;** |
---
### 5\. Resolution & rendering
Controlling preview quality and sending stills to clients.
| Purpose | Mac keys | Windows keys |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Set resolution to Full | **Command + J** | **Ctrl + J** |
| Set resolution to Half | **Command + Shift + J** | **Ctrl + Shift + J** |
| Set resolution to Quarter | **Command + Option + Shift + J** | **Ctrl + Alt + Shift + J** |
| Send current frame to Render Q | **Command + Option + S** | **Ctrl + Alt + S** |
---
### 6\. Markers & annotation
For timing to music and adding notes.
| Purpose | Mac keys | Windows keys |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Add marker at playhead | **Numpad \*** | **Numpad \*** |
| Add marker with comment dialog | **Option + Numpad \*** | **Alt + Numpad \*** |
---
### 7\. Typography
Shortcuts specifically impacting type/kerning.
| Purpose | Mac keys | Windows keys |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Adjust kerning | **Option + Left/Right Arrow** | **Alt + Left/Right Arrow** |