Layers
Everything in a composition is a layer, and layers stack. The one at the top of the tree draws last.
Layer types
| Type | What it is |
|---|---|
| Shape | Vector geometry — rectangles, ellipses, polygons, stars, lines, drawn paths |
| Text | Type, with per-glyph animators available |
| Image | A still bitmap |
| Video | A video file. Seeks frame-accurately during export, and can frame-blend |
| Audio | Sound, with a waveform on the timeline and mixed into video exports |
| Solid | A single-colour rectangle the size of the composition |
| Null | An invisible transform, used as a parent to drive other layers |
| Camera | A one- or two-node camera. See Cameras |
| Light | Colour, intensity, cone angle, shadows |
| Adjustment layer | Applies its effects to everything beneath it |
| Particle emitter | A deterministic emitter. See Particles |
| 3D primitive | Cube, sphere, plane, cylinder |
| 3D text | Extruded type |
| Pre-comp | A nested composition. See Compositions |
Per-layer switches
Every layer carries:
| Switch | Effect |
|---|---|
| Blend mode | All 38 of After Effects’ modes |
| Track / alpha matte | Use another layer as a matte, optionally inverted |
| Preserve Underlying Transparency | Draw only where the composite beneath is already opaque |
| Parent | Inherit another layer’s transform |
| Motion blur | Per-layer, gated by the composition-level switch |
| Quality | Draft or full |
| Shy | Hide from the timeline without hiding from the render |
| Solo | Render this layer only |
| Guide | Visible while you work, excluded from every export |
| Lock | Prevent selection and editing |
| Label colour | The AE palette. Also colours the layer’s outline on canvas, and one command selects every layer sharing it |
| Layer styles | Drop Shadow, Outer Glow, Inner Shadow, Inner Glow, Satin, Bevel, Colour/Gradient Overlay, Stroke, Glass — all keyframeable |
| 3D | Adds Z position, X rotation, Y rotation |
Three of these get confused with each other:
- Shy affects the timeline only — the layer still renders.
- Solo affects the render — everything else stops drawing.
- Guide affects the output — the layer draws on your canvas and in no export, which is what makes it right for reference frames, safe margins and alignment guides you never want to remember to hide.
Creating layers
| Route | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| The toolbar | Shapes, text, paths, masks |
| Layer → New | Text, Solid, Camera, Light, Null, Adjustment Layer |
| The Insert menu | The above plus Audio, Particles, Image Sequence, Lottie, 3D primitives, 3D Text, Composition instance |
| Drag and drop | Media from the OS, or anything from the libraries |
| The command palette | Anything registered, including commands with no menu item |
Ordering
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl/⌘ + ] | Bring forward |
| Ctrl/⌘ + [ | Send backward |
| Ctrl/⌘ + Shift + ] | Bring to front |
| Ctrl/⌘ + Shift + [ | Send to back |
Or drag in the layer tree.
In a 3D composition, draw order and depth order are different things. Layer order still decides stacking for 2D layers, but 3D layers are Z-sorted. See 3D layers.
Adjustment layers
An adjustment layer has no content of its own. Whatever effects you put on it apply to everything rendered beneath it in the stack. Use one to grade a whole scene, or to blur everything behind a title.
Nulls
A null renders nothing but has a full transform. Parent several layers to a null and you can move, rotate and scale them as a group — while keeping each layer’s own animation intact underneath.
Selection
Selection is shared three ways: the layer tree, the canvas and the timeline all show and drive the same selection. Shift-click adds; marquee on canvas rubber-bands; Ctrl/⌘ + A selects all; Esc deselects.