Timeline Panel
Control animation timing, keyframes, and layer properties. The heart of After Effects where you build your motion graphics.
Composition
Shortcut: No shortcutBeginner8 min readQuick Reference
Timeline Panel
Adobe After EffectsKeyboard Shortcut
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Where to Find
The Timeline Panel sits at the bottom of the default After Effects workspace. If missing, go to Window > Timeline or pre
Best Used For
- ▸Building animations with keyframes
- ▸Organizing layers and compositions
- ▸Previewing motion graphics in real-time
- ▸Trimming and adjusting layer timing
Beginner-Friendly⏱ 15-30 minutes to master
Key Settings
Work Area: Drag blue handlesFrame Rate: 24/25/30/60 fpsResolution: Full / Half / Third
The Timeline Panel is the central hub of After Effects where all your animation work happens. Every layer, keyframe, effect, and transition is controlled from this panel. Understanding the Timeline is essential for any motion graphics workflow.
Where to Find
The Timeline Panel sits at the bottom of the default After Effects workspace. If missing, go to Window > Timeline or press Ctrl+Shift+T (Mac: Cmd+Shift+T).
How to Use
- Layers: Each row represents a layer in your composition
- Keyframes: Click the stopwatch icon next to any property to enable keyframing
- Time Indicators: Drag the blue current time indicator to navigate frames
- In/Out Points: Drag layer edges to trim start and end times
- Solo: Click the speaker icon to solo audio layers
Pro Tips
- Press U to show all keyframed properties for selected layers
- Press E to show effects only, P for position, S for scale, R for rotation, T for opacity
- Hold Shift while moving layers to snap to nearest keyframe or edit point
- Use the "Columns" dropdown to customize which properties are displayed