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 17 of AE’s |
| Track / alpha matte | Use the layer above as a matte, optionally inverted |
| 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 |
| Lock | Prevent selection and editing |
| Label colour | The AE palette, for organisation |
| Layer styles | Drop Shadow, Outer Glow |
| 3D | Adds Z position, X rotation, Y rotation |
Shy and Solo are the two that surprise people: shy affects the timeline only, solo affects the render.
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.