Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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In this lesson, you will explore the After Effects Home Screen (optional window) and main interface. The interface tour covers the top menus, toolbars, main panels, search bar, navigation tips and how to view panels in full-screen mode.

Exercise Files:
https://dub.sh/aeugfiles

1. Home Screen (optional)
1. Opens automatically when launching After Effects
2. Useful “Learn" section with in-app and web browser tutorials
3. Can be disabled in Settings/Preferences
4. Close Home Screen to go to After Effects Interface
2. Main Interface
1. Top Menu Bar
1. Click on Menus at the top and browse
2. Hover cursor over Panel Names & icons
2. Toolbar
1. Click & Hold to expand tools
3. Main Panels
1. Project Panel
1. Media file and asset organization
2. Composition Panel
1. Main window for building and previewing animations
3. Timeline Panel
1. Layers Panel
2. Timeline editor
4. Nested Panels
1. Properties
2. Effects & Presets
3. Align Panel
3. Search Bars
1. Search relevant to panel
2. Located in the Help Menu & Top-Right corner
4. Interface Navigation Tips
1. Click to highlight active panels
2. Project name and save status indicator (located at the top)
3. Hamburger menus for additional settings
4. Right-click/Control-click for contextual menus
5. Bottom panel buttons and tools
6. Timeline zoom slider
5. Full Screen Mode
1. Hover cursor over any panel
2. Tap Grave (`) or Tilde (~) key in the top left of keyboard to go full-screen