Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In this lesson, you will learn how to create, open, manage, save and close new projects in After Effects.
Exercise Files:
https://dub.sh/aeugfiles
1. Lesson Overview
1. How to get started with a new project in After Effects
2. Create, save, open and manage new projects in After Effects
2. Home Screen Overview
1. Purpose and functions of the After Effects home screen
2. How to start a new project from the home screen
3. How to open an existing project from the home screen
4. Creating a New Project
1. Clicking the "New Project" button to start a new project
2. Home Screen Closes
3. After Effects interface opens
3. Project Titles
1. New projects will be titled "Untitled Project" at the top of interface
4. Active Projects
1. Only one project open at a time in After Effects
2. If you click ‘New Project’ in an unsaved project, nothing will happen
3. If you click ‘New Project’ in a project with unsaved changes, you will be first prompted to Save existing project before a new project will open
5. Saving Projects
1. Best practice to Save New Projects immediately
2. Go To File Menu
1. Select Save As
2. Navigating to the project folder
3. Enter Name of the new project
4. Project Files saved with ..aep (After Effects Project) file extension
6. Project Titles & Unsaved Indicator
1. Look at the top of AE Interface for Project Name
2. Asterisks (*) indicate Unsaved Changes
3. To Save Unsaved Changes
1. File...Save
2. Keyboard Shortcut: Command/Ctrl + S
7. Close a project
1. File...Close Project (without closing After Effects)
8. Reopening Projects
1. File ...Open
2. Navigate to the project folder
3. Select the .aep file
4. Double-click .aep file to open it from the project folder
5. Drag .aep file on After Effects Application Icon (Macs)
In this lesson, you will learn how to create, open, manage, save and close new projects in After Effects.
Exercise Files:
https://dub.sh/aeugfiles
1. Lesson Overview
1. How to get started with a new project in After Effects
2. Create, save, open and manage new projects in After Effects
2. Home Screen Overview
1. Purpose and functions of the After Effects home screen
2. How to start a new project from the home screen
3. How to open an existing project from the home screen
4. Creating a New Project
1. Clicking the "New Project" button to start a new project
2. Home Screen Closes
3. After Effects interface opens
3. Project Titles
1. New projects will be titled "Untitled Project" at the top of interface
4. Active Projects
1. Only one project open at a time in After Effects
2. If you click ‘New Project’ in an unsaved project, nothing will happen
3. If you click ‘New Project’ in a project with unsaved changes, you will be first prompted to Save existing project before a new project will open
5. Saving Projects
1. Best practice to Save New Projects immediately
2. Go To File Menu
1. Select Save As
2. Navigating to the project folder
3. Enter Name of the new project
4. Project Files saved with ..aep (After Effects Project) file extension
6. Project Titles & Unsaved Indicator
1. Look at the top of AE Interface for Project Name
2. Asterisks (*) indicate Unsaved Changes
3. To Save Unsaved Changes
1. File...Save
2. Keyboard Shortcut: Command/Ctrl + S
7. Close a project
1. File...Close Project (without closing After Effects)
8. Reopening Projects
1. File ...Open
2. Navigate to the project folder
3. Select the .aep file
4. Double-click .aep file to open it from the project folder
5. Drag .aep file on After Effects Application Icon (Macs)
