adobe effect shortcuts keys for windows

ctrl + a ===== select all
f2/ctrl + shift + a  ===== deselect all
ctrl + q  ===== quit
ctrl + z  ===== undo
ctrl + shift + z  ===== redo
ctrl + alt + / (num keypad)  ===== purge all
enter  ===== effect, group, composition, folder, selected layer, mask rename 
enter (num keypad)  ===== selected composition, layer, footage item open
ctrl + d  ===== selected layers, masks, puppet meshes, shapes, render items, output modules, effects, text selectors, animators,  compositions duplicate
ctrl + alt + down arrow/up arrow  ===== selected layers, masks, effects, up (forward) in stacking order, render items down (back) move
ctrl + alt + shift + down arrow/up arrow  ===== selected effects, render items to bottom (back), layers, masks, top (front) of stacking order move
shift + down arrow  ===== selection to next item in project panel, effect controls panel, render queue panel extend 
shift + up arrow  ===== selection to previous item in project panel, effect controls panel, render queue panel extend 

general key command_2 (projects)

ctrl + alt + n ===== new 
ctrl + o  ===== open 
ctrl + alt + shift + p  ===== most recent project open 
ctrl + alt + shift + n  ===== in project panel new folder
ctrl + alt + shift + k/ click on bit-depth button at bottom of project panel ===== project settings dialog box open 
ctrl + f  ===== find/search
alt + click on bit-depth button at bottom of project panel  ===== cycling through color bit depths

general key command_3 (preferences, panels, viewers, work spaces,  windows)

ctrl + 0 ===== project panel open/close 
ctrl + alt + 0  ===== render queue panel open/close
ctrl + 1  ===== tools panel open/close
ctrl + 2  ===== info panel open/close
ctrl + 3  ===== preview panel open/close
ctrl + 4  ===== audio panel open/close
ctrl + 5  ===== effects & presets panel open/close
ctrl + 6  ===== character panel open/close
ctrl + 7  ===== paragraph panel open/close
ctrl + 8  ===== paint panel open/close
ctrl + 9  ===== brushes panel open/close
ctrl + w  ===== active viewer/panel close 
ctrl + shift + w  ===== active panel/all viewers of type of active viewer close ctrl + alt + ; (semicolon) ===== preferences dialog box open
hold down on ctrl + alt + shift while starting after effects  ===== preferences settings restore default
f3/ctrl + shift + t  ===== effect controls panel for selected layer open/close
ctrl + f11  ===== flowchart panel open 
shift + f10/f11/f12  ===== switching to workspace
ctrl + alt + shift + n  ===== split the frame containing the active viewer 
` (accent)  ===== under pointer maximize/restore panel 
ctrl + \ (backslash)  ===== re-size floating window to fit screen/application window
ctrl + alt + \ (backslash)  ===== move floating window to main monitor/application window/re-size window to fit screen
\ (backslash)  ===== toggling activation between timeline panel & composition panel for current composition
shift + , (comma)/. (period)  ===== cycling to next/previous item in active viewer 
alt + shift + , (comma)/. (period)  ===== cycling to next/previous panel in active frame
click + press middle mouse button  ===== activate a view in a multi-view layout 

general key command_4 (activating tools)

c ===== camera tools (unified camera/orbit camera/track xy camera/track z camera)
g  ===== pen/add vertex/delete vertex/convert vertex tool
h  ===== hand tool 
q  ===== mask and shape tools (rectangle/rounded rectangle/ ellipse/polygon/star)
v  ===== selection tool 
w  ===== rotation tool
y  ===== pan behind tool
z  ===== zoom in tool
alt + click on tool button in tools panel  ===== cycling through tools
spacebar/middle mouse button  ===== temporarily hand tool
alt (when zoom in tool selected)  ===== zoom out tool
ctrl + t  ===== type tools (horizontal/vertical)
ctrl  ===== when a pen tool is selected temporarily activate selection tool
ctrl + alt  ===== when the selection tool is selected and pointer is over a path temporarily activate pen tool 
ctrl + b  ===== cycling through brush/clone stamp/eraser tools
ctrl + p  ===== cycling through puppet tools & activate 
alt (in shape layer)  ===== convert selection tool to shape duplication tool temporarily 
ctrl (in shape layer)  ===== convert selection tool to direct selection tool temporarily 

general key command_5 (compositions and the work area)

ctrl + n ===== new composition
ctrl + k  ===== selected composition open composition with settings dialog box
ctrl + shift + b  ===== set background color
b/n  ===== set end/beginning of work area to current time
ctrl + alt + b  ===== set work area to duration of selected layers/set work area to composition duration
tap + shift  ===== composition mini-flowchart open
shift + esc  ===== activate the most recently active composition

general key command_6 (time navigation)

alt + shift + j ===== go to specific time
shift + home or shift + end  ===== go to end/beginning of work area
j/k  ===== go to next/previous visible item in time ruler (work area beginning/end, keyframe, marker)
home/ctrl + alt + left arrow  ===== go to beginning of composition, footage, layer item
end/ctrl + alt + right arrow  ===== go to end of composition, footage, layer item
page down/ctrl + right arrow  ===== 1 frame go forward
shift + page down/ctrl + shift + right arrow  ===== 10 frames go forward
page up/ctrl + left arrow  ===== 1 frame go backward
shift + page up/ctrl + shift + left arrow  ===== 10 frames go backward
i  ===== go to layer in point
o  ===== go to layer out point
ctrl + alt + shift + left arrow  ===== go to previous in/out point
ctrl + alt + shift + right arrow  ===== go to next in/out point
d  ===== in timeline panel scroll to current time

general key command_7 (previews)

spacebar ===== standard preview start/stop
0 (num keypad)  ===== ram preview
shift + 0 (num keypad)  ===== with alternate settings ram preview
press ctrl + 0 (num keypad)/ ctrl + click on ram preview button ===== ram preview save
press ctrl + shift + 0 (num keypad)/ ctrl + shift + click on ram preview button ===== with alternate settings save ram preview
. (decimal point) num keypad  ===== from current time, preview only audio
alt + . (decimal point) num keypad  ===== in work area, preview only audio
drag/alt + drag on current-time indicator, depending on live update setting  ===== (scrub) video manually preview
ctrl + drag on current-time indicator  ===== (scrub) audio manually preview
alt + 0 (num keypad)  ===== wireframe preview
alt + shift + 0 (num keypad)  ===== wireframe preview
/ (num keypad)  ===== on video preview device, show current frame
ctrl + / (num keypad)  ===== toggling output device preference between  video preview device & desktop only
shift + f5/f6/f7/f8  ===== take snapshot
f5/f6/f7/f8  ===== in active viewer, display snapshot
ctrl + shift + f5/f6/f7/f8  ===== purge snapshot

general key command_8 (views)

alt + 1/2/3/4 ===== show alpha channel/red, green, blue as grayscale
alt + shift + 1/2/3  ===== show colorized blue/red, green channel
alt + shift + 4  ===== toggle showing straight rgb color
shift + / (num keypad)  ===== on/off turn display color management for active view
double-click on hand tool  ===== reset view in the composition panel
. (period) main keyboard  ===== zoom in in footage, composition, layer panel
, (comma)  ===== zoom out in footage, composition, layer panel
/ (main keyboard)  ===== zoom to 100% in footage, composition, layer panel
= (equal) main keyboard  ===== zoom in time
- (hyphen) main keyboard  ===== zoom out time
shift + / (main keyboard)  ===== zoom to fit in footage, composition, layer panel
alt + / (main keyboard)  ===== zoom up to 100% to fit in footage, composition, layer panel
ctrl + j/ctrl + shift + j/ctrl + alt + j  ===== set resolution to custom, full, half in composition panel
ctrl + alt + u  ===== active composition panel, open view options dialog box
; (semicolon)  ===== zoom in timeline panel to single-frame units/zoom out 
caps lock  ===== image updates suspend
' (apostrophe)  ===== safe zones show/hide 
ctrl + ' (apostrophe)  ===== grid show/hide 
alt + ' (apostrophe)  ===== proportional grid show/hide 
ctrl + r  ===== rulers show/hide 
ctrl + ; (semicolon)  ===== guides show/hide 
ctrl + shift + ' (apostrophe)  ===== turn snapping to grid off/on
ctrl + shift + ; (semicolon)  ===== turn snapping to guides off/on
ctrl + alt + shift + ; (semicolon)  ===== guides lock/unlock 
ctrl + shift + h  ===== layer controls show/hide

general key command_9 (footage)

ctrl + / (main keyboard) ===== most recently activated composition, add selected items
ctrl + alt + / (main keyboard)  ===== replace selected source footage
alt + drag footage item from project panel onto selected layer  ===== replace source
ctrl + i  ===== import image sequence/one file 
ctrl + alt + i  ===== import image sequences/multiple files 
alt + double-click  ===== in an after effects footage panel, open movie
ctrl + backspace  ===== without a warning delete a footage item
ctrl + alt + g  ===== open interpret footage dialog box 
ctrl + alt + c  ===== footage interpretation remember
ctrl + e  ===== in application with which it’s associated, edit selected footage item
ctrl + h  ===== selected footage item replace
ctrl + alt + l  ===== selected footage items reload 
ctrl + alt + p  ===== set proxy 

general key command_10 (effects and animation presets & layers)

ctrl + y ===== new solid layer
ctrl + alt + shift + y  ===== new null layer
ctrl + alt + y  ===== new adjustment layer
ctrl + shift + e  ===== from selected layers delete all effects 
ctrl + alt + shift + e  ===== apply most recently applied effect 
ctrl + alt + shift + f  ===== apply most recently applied animation preset 
0-9 (num keypad)  ===== select layer (1-999) 
shift + 0-9 (num keypad)  ===== toggling selection of layer (1-999) 
ctrl + down arrow  ===== in stacking order, select next layer 
ctrl + up arrow  ===== in stacking order, select previous layer 
ctrl + shift + down arrow  ===== in stacking order, extend selection to next layer 
ctrl + shift + up arrow  ===== in stacking order, extend selection to previous layer 
ctrl + shift + a  ===== all layers deselect 
x  ===== timeline panel's scroll topmost selected layer to top
shift + f4  ===== parent column show/hide
f4  ===== layer switches & modes columns show/hide
alt + click on solo switch  ===== all other solo switches, turn off 
ctrl + alt + shift + v  ===== selected layers, turn video switch on/off
ctrl + shift + v  ===== for all video layers other than selected layers, turn off video switch 
ctrl + shift + y  ===== open settings dialog box for selected camera, null, solid, light, adjustment layer
ctrl + alt + v  ===== current time, paste layers
ctrl + shift + d  ===== split selected layers
ctrl + shift + c  ===== selected layers pre-compose 
ctrl + shift + t  ===== selected layers's open effect controls panel
double-click on a layer  ===== open layer in layer panel 
alt + double-click on a layer  ===== open source of a layer in footage panel 
ctrl + alt + r  ===== selected layers in time reverse 
ctrl + alt + t  ===== enable time remapping 
[/] (bracket)  ===== move out/in point of selected layers to current time
alt + [/] (bracket)  ===== trim out/in point of selected layers to current time
alt + click on stopwatch  ===== for a property, add/remove expression
double-click on effect selection in effects & presets panel  ===== add one/multiple selected effects to selected layers
ctrl + shift + , (comma)/ctrl + alt + ,  ===== set out/in point by time-stretching
alt + home  ===== beginning of composition, move in point of selected layers
alt + end  ===== end of composition, move out point of selected layers
ctrl + l  ===== selected layers lock 
ctrl + shift + l  ===== all layers unlock 
ctrl + u/ctrl + shift + u/ctrl + alt + shift + u  ===== set quality to wireframe, best, draft for selected layers
shift +  - (hyphen)/= (equal) main keyboard  ===== cycle backward/forward through blending modes for selected layers
ctrl + f  ===== timeline panel find 

general key command_11 (showing properties and groups in the timeline panel)

ctrl + ` (accent grave) ===== toggling expansion of selected layers
a  ===== only anchor point property show 
l  ===== only audio levels property show 
f  ===== only mask feather property show 
m  ===== only mask path property show 
tt  ===== only mask opacity property show 
t  ===== only opacity property show 
p  ===== only position property show 
r  ===== only rotation and orientation properties show 
s  ===== only scale property show 
rr  ===== only time remap property show 
ff  ===== only instances of missing effects show 
e  ===== only effects property group show 
mm  ===== only mask property groups show 
aa  ===== only material options property group show 
ee  ===== only expressions show 
uu  ===== only modified properties show 
pp  ===== only paint strokes and puppet pins show 
ll  ===== only audio waveform show 
u  ===== only properties with expressions/keyframes show 
ss  ===== only selected properties and groups show 
alt + shift + click on property/group name  ===== property/group hide
shift + property or group shortcut  ===== add/remove property/group from set 
alt + shift + property shortcut  ===== at current time, add/remove keyframe 

general key command_12 (showing properties in the effect controls panel, modifying layer properties)

ctrl + ` (accent grave) ===== toggling expansion of selected effects 
drag on property value  ===== default increments, modify property value
shift + drag on property value  ===== 10x default increments, modify property value
ctrl + drag on property value  ===== 1/10 default increments, modify property value
ctrl + alt + o  ===== for selected layers, open auto-orientation dialog box 
ctrl + shift + o  ===== for selected layers, open opacity dialog box 
ctrl + shift + r  ===== for selected layers, open rotation dialog box 
ctrl + shift + p  ===== for selected layers, open position dialog box 
ctrl + home  ===== center selected layers in view 
arrow key  ===== at current magnification, move selected layers 1 pixel 
shift + arrow key  ===== at current magnification, move selected layers 10 pixels 
alt + page up/page down  ===== later/earlier move selected layers 1 frame 
alt + shift + page up/page down  ===== later/earlier move selected layers 10 frames 
 +  (plus)/- (minus) on numeric keypad ===== z rotation decrease/increase rotation of selected layers by 1°
shift + + (plus)/- (minus) on numeric keypad  =====  z rotation decrease/increase  rotation of selected layers by 10°
ctrl + alt + + (plus)/- (minus) on numeric keypad  =====  decrease/increase  opacity/intensity for light layers of selected layers by 1%
ctrl + alt + shift + + (plus)/- (minus) on numeric keypad  =====  decrease/increase opacity/intensity for light layers of selected layers by 10%
ctrl/alt + + (plus) on numeric keypad  ===== 1% increase scale of selected layers
ctrl/alt + - (minus) on numeric keypad  ===== 1% decrease scale of selected layers
ctrl/alt + shift + +  (plus) on numeric keypad  ===== 10% increase scale of selected layers
ctrl/alt + shift + - (minus) on numeric keypad  ===== 10% decrease scale of selected layers
shift + drag with rotation tool  ===== orientation/rotation in 45° increments modify 
shift + drag on layer handle with selection tool  ===== modify constrained, scale to footage frame aspect ratio
double-click on rotation tool  ===== rotation to 0° reset
double-click on selection tool  ===== scale to 100% reset
ctrl + alt + f  ===== re-position & scale selected layers to fit composition
ctrl + alt + shift + h  =====  re-position & scale selected layers to preserving image aspect ratio/fit composition width for each layer
ctrl + alt + shift + g  =====  re-position & scale selected layers to preserving image aspect ratio/fit composition height for each layer

general key command_13 (3d layers, keyframes and the graph editor)

ctrl + alt + shift + l ===== new light
ctrl + alt + shift + c  ===== new camera
f10  ===== defaults to front, switching to 3d view 1 
f11  ===== defaults to custom view 2, switching to 3d view 2 
f12  ===== defaults to active camera, switching to 3d view 3 
esc  ===== return to previous view
ctrl + alt + shift + \  ===== move its point of interest/camera to look at selected 3d objects
alt + shift + c  ===== for selected 3d layers, turn casts shadows property off/on
shift + f3  ===== toggling between layer bar modes & graph editor
click on property name  ===== for a property, select all keyframes
ctrl + alt + a  ===== visible keyframes and properties select all 
shift + f2/ctrl + alt + shift + a  ===== keyframes, property groups & properties deselect all
alt + right arrow/left arrow  ===== later/earlier move keyframe 1 frame 
alt + shift + right arrow/left arrow  ===== later/earlier move keyframe 10 frames 
ctrl + alt + k  ===== for selected keyframes, set interpolation 
ctrl + alt + h  ===== set keyframe interpolation method to auto/hold bezier
ctrl + click in layer bar mode  ===== set keyframe interpolation method to auto/linear bezier
ctrl + alt + click in layer bar mode  ===== set keyframe interpolation method to hold/linear
f9  ===== selected keyframes easy ease
shift + f9  ===== selected keyframes in, easy ease
ctrl + shift + f9  ===== selected keyframes out, easy ease
ctrl + shift + k  ===== for selected keyframes, set velocity 
alt + shift + property shortcut  ===== at current time add/remove keyframe

general key command_14 (text)

ctrl + alt + shift + t ===== new text layer
ctrl + shift + l/ctrl + shift + c/ctrl + shift + r  ===== selected horizontal text left/right/center align
ctrl + shift + l/ctrl + shift + c/ctrl + shift + r  ===== selected vertical text bottom/top/center align
shift + right arrow/left arrow  ===== selection by one character/right or left in horizontal text, extend/reduce
ctrl + shift + right arrow/left arrow  ===== selection by one word to right/left in horizontal text, extend/reduce
shift + up arrow/down arrow  ===== selection by one line up/down in horizontal text, extend/reduce
shift + right arrow/left arrow  ===== selection by one line to right/left in vertical text, extend/reduce
ctrl + shift + up arrow/down arrow  ===== selection one word up/down in vertical text, extend/reduce
shift + up arrow/down arrow  ===== selection by one character up/down in vertical text, extend/reduce
shift + end/ home ===== select text from insertion point to end/beginning of line
end/ home ===== move insertion point to  end/beginning of line
double-click on text layer  ===== text on a layer select all
ctrl + shift + end/home  ===== select text from insertion point to  end/beginning  of text frame
shift + click  ===== to mouse click point, select text from insertion point
right/ left/down/up arrow, ctrl + left arrow/right arrow, ctrl + up arrow/down arrow ===== in horizontal text, move insertion point one character right/left; one line down/up; one word right/left; one paragraph up/down
down/ up arrow, right/left arrow; ctrl + down/up arrow; ctrl + right/left arrow ===== in vertical text, move insertion point one character down/up; one right/left; one word down/up; one paragraph right/left
double/triple/quadruple/quintuple click with type tool  ===== select line, paragraph, word, entire text frame
ctrl + shift + k  ===== for selected text, turn all caps off/on
ctrl + alt + shift + k  ===== for selected text, turn small caps off/on 
ctrl + shift + = (equals)  ===== for selected text, turn superscript off/on 
ctrl + alt + shift + = (equals)  ===== for selected text, turn subscript off/on
ctrl + shift + x  ===== for selected text, set horizontal scale to 100% 
ctrl + alt + shift + x  ===== for selected text, set vertical scale to 100% 
ctrl + alt + shift + a  ===== auto leading 
ctrl + shift + q  ===== reset tracking to 0
ctrl + shift + j  ===== left align last line, justify paragraph
ctrl + alt + shift + j  ===== right align last line, justify paragraph
ctrl + shift + f  ===== force last line, justify paragraph
ctrl + shift + , (comma)/. (period)  ===== decrease/increase font size by 2 units
ctrl + alt + shift + , (comma)/. (period)  =====  decrease/increase font size by 10 units
alt + down/up arrow  =====  decrease/increase leading by 2 units
ctrl + alt + down/up arrow  =====  decrease/increase leading by 10 units
alt + shift + down/up arrow  =====  decrease/increase baseline shift by 2 units
ctrl + alt + shift + down/up arrow  =====  decrease/increase baseline shift by 10 units
alt + left/right arrow  =====  decrease/increase kerning/tracking 20 units 
ctrl + alt + left/right arrow  =====  decrease/increase kerning/tracking 100 units 
ctrl + alt + shift + t  ===== toggling paragraph composer

general key command_15 (masks)

ctrl + shift + n ===== new mask
alt-click mask  ===== all points in a mask select 
alt/shift + ` (accent grave)  ===== select previous/next mask
double-click mask with selection tool/select mask in timeline panel & ctrl + t  ===== free-transform mask editing mode enter
esc  ===== free-transform mask editing mode exit 
ctrl + drag  ===== in free transform mode, scale around center point
arrow key  ===== at current magnification, move selected path points 1 pixel 
shift + arrow key  ===== at current magnification, move selected path points 10 pixels
ctrl + alt + click on vertex  ===== toggling between corner & smooth points
ctrl + alt + drag on vertex  ===== bezier handles redraw
ctrl + shift + i  ===== selected mask invert 
ctrl + shift + f  ===== for selected mask, open mask feather dialog box
ctrl + shift + m  ===== for selected mask, open mask shape dialog box 

general key command_16 (paint tools)

x ===== swap paint foreground & background colors
d  ===== set paint foreground color to background & black color to white
alt + click  ===== to the color currently under any paint tool pointer, set foreground color 
ctrl + alt + click  ===== to the average color of a 4-pixel x 4-pixel area under any paint tool pointer, set foreground color 
ctrl + drag  ===== for a paint tool, set brush size 
ctrl + drag, then release ctrl while dragging  ===== for a paint tool, set brush hardness
hold shift while beginning stroke  ===== to the previous stroke, join current paint stroke
alt + click  ===== to point currently under clone stamp tool pointer, set starting sample point
ctrl + shift  ===== with last stroke only option, momentarily activate eraser tool
alt + shift + drag with clone stamp tool  ===== move & show overlay 
3, 4, 5, 6, 7 on main keyboard  ===== specific clone stamp tool preset activate
alt + click button for the preset  ===== in paint panel, duplicate a clone stamp tool preset
digit on num keypad  ===== for a paint tool, set opacity
. (decimal) on num keypad  ===== for a paint tool to 100%, set opacity
shift + a digit on num keypad ===== for a paint tool, set flow
shift + . (decimal) on num keypad  ===== for a paint tool to 100%, set flow
ctrl + page up/page down  ===== for stroke duration, move later/earlier by number of frames specified 

general key command_17 (shape layers)

ctrl + g ===== group
ctrl + shift + g  ===== ungroup 
select path property in timeline panel & ctrl + t  ===== free-transform path editing mode enter
page up when dragging to create shape  ===== star inner roundness increase
page down when dragging to create shape  ===== star inner roundness decrease 
up arrow when dragging to create shape  ===== increase number of points for star or polygon; increase roundness for rounded rectangle
down arrow when dragging  to create shape  ===== decrease decrease roundness for rounded rectangle; number of points for star/polygon
hold spacebar when dragging to create shape  ===== during creation, reposition shape 
left arrow when dragging to create shape  ===== set decrease polygon and star outer roundness; rounded rectangle roundness to 0 (sharp corners)
right arrow when dragging to create shape  ===== set increase polygon and star outer roundness; rounded rectangle roundness to maximum
shift when dragging to create shape  ===== constrain constrain polygons and stars to zero rotation; rectangles to squares; constrain ellipses to circles
ctrl when dragging to create shape  ===== outer radius of star change 

general key command_18 (markers, motion tracking)

* (asterisk) on num keypad ===== works during ram preview and audio-only preview, set marker at current time
alt + * ( asterisk) on num keypad ===== set marker at open marker dialog box & current time 
shift + 0-9 on main keyboard  ===== at the current time, set and number a composition marker (0-9) 
0-9 on main keyboard  ===== go to a composition marker (0-9)
alt + click on markers/keyframes  ===== display the duration between two layer markers
ctrl + click on marker  ===== marker remove 
arrow key  ===== at current magnification, move feature search region, region, attach point 1 pixel 
shift + arrow key  ===== at current magnification, move search region, feature region, attach point 10 pixels 
alt + arrow key  ===== at current magnification, move search region & feature region 1 pixel 
alt + shift + arrow key  ===== at current magnification, move search region & feature region 10 pixels 

general key command_19 (saving, exporting, and rendering)

ctrl + s ===== save
ctrl + alt + shift + s  ===== increment and save
ctrl + shift + s  ===== save as
ctrl + shift + / (on main keyboard)  ===== add selected items & active composition to render queue
ctrl + alt + s  ===== to render queue, add current frame 
ctrl + shift + d  ===== with same output filename as original, duplicate render item