Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In this lesson, you will learn how to create and manage Layers and the basics of using the Layers & Timeline Panel.
Exercise Files:
https://dub.sh/aeugfiles
1. Introduction to Layers
1. Layers allow you to organize and manipulate different media elements.
2. Similar to layers in Photoshop and other graphic editors.
3. Add Solids, Shapes, Text, Image, Video, PSD, AI, 3D
4. Add Logo & Texture File from CC Libraries
2. Creating Layers
1. Dragging Footage:
2. Drag footage onto the Layers panel or Composition window to create new layers.
3. Use the same footage file for multiple layers, treating each instance differently.
4. Layer Menu Options:
5. Add videos, graphics, still images, audio files, text, solids, lights, cameras, null objects, shape layers, and adjustment layers from the Layer menu.
3. Pre-Compositions (Pre-Comps)
1. Creating Pre-Comps:
2. Select layers, right-click, and choose 'Pre-compose' to group them into a new composition.
3. Editing Pre-Comps:
1. Double-click the pre-comp to open and edit it.
2. Changes in the pre-comp update in the main composition.
4. Managing Pre-Comps:
1. Remove from composition by selecting and deleting.
2. Drag pre-comp back into the composition to recreate a layer.
4. Timeline and Duration
1. Current Time Indicator (CTI):
1. Scrub through the timeline using the CTI.
2. Changing Layer Duration:
1. Click and drag the end of a layer to adjust duration.
2. Select multiple layers to adjust their durations simultaneously.
3. Offsetting Layers:
1. Drag layers in the timeline to control timing.
4. Splitting Layers:
1. Select layer, use Edit ... Split Layer
2. Keyboard Shortcut:
1. Shift+Command/Control+D
5. Composition Settings
1. Extend timeline duration via Composition Settings.
2. Keyboard Shortcut:
1. Cmd/Ctrl + D (Comp Settings)
6. Interpret Footage
1. Still Footage:
1. Extend duration indefinitely for graphics, PNGs, JPEGs, vector files.
2. Video Files:
1. Limited to the original duration of the video file.
2. Looping footage by right-clicking, choosing 'Interpret Footage,' and increasing the loop count.
7. Layer Panel
1. Stacking Order
1. Adjust the order of layers to control visibility and overlap.
2. Visibility Toggles:
1. Click the 'eyeball' icon to toggle layer visibility.
2. Solo layers by clicking the box under the circle to isolate them.
3. Lock layers using the padlock icon.
3. Header Column:
1. Right-click to hide/show columns.
4. Switches and Modes:
1. Toggle switches and modes for advanced options.
2. Expand transfer controls pane for blend modes and track matte.
5. Naming and Coloring Layers
1. Renaming Layers:
1. Select layer, tap Enter/Return, and type a new name.
2. Changing Label Colors:
1. Click color swatch to change color for single or multiple layers.
3. 9. Layer Properties
6. Viewing Properties:
1. Twirl open a layer to see properties and effects.
2. Use the search field to quickly find specific properties.
7. Duplicating Layers:
1. Right-click…Duplicate layer
2. Keyboard Shortcut:
1. Command/Control+D
8. Moving Layers:
1. Keyboard Shortcut:
1. Move Layers Up: Cmd/Ctrl + Left Bracket: [
2. Move Layers Down: Cmd/Ctrl +Right Bracket ]
9. Deselecting Layers:
1. Keyboard Shortcut:
1. F2 key to quickly deselect all layers.
10. Full Screen Panel:
1. Keyboard Shortcut:
1. Press the Grave (`) key to toggle full screen for any panel.
11. Select All Layers:
1. Keyboard Shortcut:
1. Command/Control+A to select all layers.
12. Expand/Collapse Layers:
1. Shift+Click the arrow next to any selected layer to expand/collapse.
2. Command/Control+Click the arrow to expand/collapse all properties.
13. Adding Footage Quickly:
1. Select footage in the project panel and then press
2. Keyboard Shortcut:
1. Command/Control+Forward Slash to add it to the Layers panel.
In this lesson, you will learn how to create and manage Layers and the basics of using the Layers & Timeline Panel.
Exercise Files:
https://dub.sh/aeugfiles
1. Introduction to Layers
1. Layers allow you to organize and manipulate different media elements.
2. Similar to layers in Photoshop and other graphic editors.
3. Add Solids, Shapes, Text, Image, Video, PSD, AI, 3D
4. Add Logo & Texture File from CC Libraries
2. Creating Layers
1. Dragging Footage:
2. Drag footage onto the Layers panel or Composition window to create new layers.
3. Use the same footage file for multiple layers, treating each instance differently.
4. Layer Menu Options:
5. Add videos, graphics, still images, audio files, text, solids, lights, cameras, null objects, shape layers, and adjustment layers from the Layer menu.
3. Pre-Compositions (Pre-Comps)
1. Creating Pre-Comps:
2. Select layers, right-click, and choose 'Pre-compose' to group them into a new composition.
3. Editing Pre-Comps:
1. Double-click the pre-comp to open and edit it.
2. Changes in the pre-comp update in the main composition.
4. Managing Pre-Comps:
1. Remove from composition by selecting and deleting.
2. Drag pre-comp back into the composition to recreate a layer.
4. Timeline and Duration
1. Current Time Indicator (CTI):
1. Scrub through the timeline using the CTI.
2. Changing Layer Duration:
1. Click and drag the end of a layer to adjust duration.
2. Select multiple layers to adjust their durations simultaneously.
3. Offsetting Layers:
1. Drag layers in the timeline to control timing.
4. Splitting Layers:
1. Select layer, use Edit ... Split Layer
2. Keyboard Shortcut:
1. Shift+Command/Control+D
5. Composition Settings
1. Extend timeline duration via Composition Settings.
2. Keyboard Shortcut:
1. Cmd/Ctrl + D (Comp Settings)
6. Interpret Footage
1. Still Footage:
1. Extend duration indefinitely for graphics, PNGs, JPEGs, vector files.
2. Video Files:
1. Limited to the original duration of the video file.
2. Looping footage by right-clicking, choosing 'Interpret Footage,' and increasing the loop count.
7. Layer Panel
1. Stacking Order
1. Adjust the order of layers to control visibility and overlap.
2. Visibility Toggles:
1. Click the 'eyeball' icon to toggle layer visibility.
2. Solo layers by clicking the box under the circle to isolate them.
3. Lock layers using the padlock icon.
3. Header Column:
1. Right-click to hide/show columns.
4. Switches and Modes:
1. Toggle switches and modes for advanced options.
2. Expand transfer controls pane for blend modes and track matte.
5. Naming and Coloring Layers
1. Renaming Layers:
1. Select layer, tap Enter/Return, and type a new name.
2. Changing Label Colors:
1. Click color swatch to change color for single or multiple layers.
3. 9. Layer Properties
6. Viewing Properties:
1. Twirl open a layer to see properties and effects.
2. Use the search field to quickly find specific properties.
7. Duplicating Layers:
1. Right-click…Duplicate layer
2. Keyboard Shortcut:
1. Command/Control+D
8. Moving Layers:
1. Keyboard Shortcut:
1. Move Layers Up: Cmd/Ctrl + Left Bracket: [
2. Move Layers Down: Cmd/Ctrl +Right Bracket ]
9. Deselecting Layers:
1. Keyboard Shortcut:
1. F2 key to quickly deselect all layers.
10. Full Screen Panel:
1. Keyboard Shortcut:
1. Press the Grave (`) key to toggle full screen for any panel.
11. Select All Layers:
1. Keyboard Shortcut:
1. Command/Control+A to select all layers.
12. Expand/Collapse Layers:
1. Shift+Click the arrow next to any selected layer to expand/collapse.
2. Command/Control+Click the arrow to expand/collapse all properties.
13. Adding Footage Quickly:
1. Select footage in the project panel and then press
2. Keyboard Shortcut:
1. Command/Control+Forward Slash to add it to the Layers panel.
