15 After Effects Tricks Most Pros Don't Know

These 15 Advanced After Effects tips & tricks will level up your workflow for motion graphics, VFX, and navigating the software to help you create your motion graphics.

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Thanks to the wonderful Andrew Marston for helping write and edit this one. :)

[DylanReeve]

It's rare that I see a "tips you didn't know" video that is actually almost entirely tips I didn't know, but there you go.

[NickJGraves]

My tip I learned from Visionary Fire youtube channel:

If you have ever needed to draw a 2D mask on a layer that has a 3D effect like CC Cylinder (or Trapcode Particular), or a distortion effect like Polar Coordinates, the mask will get distorted along with the effects.

However, if you add a "Fill" effect to the end of your effects stack, set it's opacity to 0%, and then scroll down in the "Fill" effect's panel in the timeline you can click the "+" icon next to "Compositing Options" which will add a mask to the "Fill" effect ONLY. This effectively circumvents the distortion issue. I like to rename the Fill effect to something like "MASK" to make it extra clear what it's purpose is for.

[AxelOil]

One that really saved me lots of time when I learned about it was "x" to reveal the selected layer on the layers panel. It's probably a well known shortcut, but I have no idea, so I thought I'd share it just in case.

Also on the project panel moving one file on top of another while pressing "alt" replaces all instances of one file for the other on every comp and stuff. Also probably well known but super handy

[CinecomCrew]

Wow Ben, these tips are gold, GOLD I tell you!

[Dudenstein]

Press NUMPAD + / - to rotate a selected layer/shape by 1%. Hold SHIFT to increase the amount by 10 %
Press NUMPAD + / - and CTRL to scale a layer/shape by 1%. Hold SHIFT to increase the amouny by 10%

[adriansemones]

This is wonderful stuff, Ben. You're one of the most consistently informative people on YT. I love both your deep dives into specific effects, and the short tooltip/shortcut stuff no one knows about because why would they unless they grew up with the software as it was being added. Thank you for being generous with your craft and sharing so openly.

[marxoliva]

I'm so glad to know your channel! Thanks a lot! I'm watching every video from now to the past

[madebydbm]

Worked in AE daily for nearly 10 years so smugly thought I'd know all of these. Not smug any more 😀 Not only were they new to me but they're also really useful! Many thanks 👍

[RimantasAnimation]

Your updated and refreshed sense of humor is the best thing on the internet right now :D Love your new style

[andrewbui]

Amazing tips!! The most helpful tips I recent found out is right click on project files/files in comp and reveal it in composition/explorer. It's super helpful for a billion layers!

[DaveHuxtableLanguages]

Wow. Some absolute gems in there. Most “tips you don’t know” videos are either tips I do know, or things I can’t imagine wanting to do. This, on the other hand, is super useful. Thanks Ben!

[ashleyreid]

Your videos are really kicking it up a notch! I cant see the effort Ben, very nice bud!
Keep up the fantastic work!

[citrustrail]

Great tips, thank you. And thank you for allowing these techniques to know what it's like to feel joy.

[bobbihansel]

I worship the ground you walk on, once again you have made my day-to-day life so much easier! Thank you Ben!

[dacugna]

What an absolute legend! Been working on after effects every day for the past 3 years and didn't know any of this ahahah
Thank you Ben ❤❤❤

[leomazzei]

I love that you can toggle between blending modes using Shift + "+" and Shift + "-"

[matthewdupreez]

Ben Marriott. You. Are. Awesome.

Appreciate the quality content you put out👍

[gustavosaliola]

For this 15 Tricks i just knew 5! So i'm 300% Grateful! Thanks Ben!

[BLT-s]

Love it. LOVE I almost said wow on every one of these. Thank you!!

[sirhumbleproductions]

And you told us all of this information for free? You’re a gem!