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Animate quickly using the After Effects Properties panel

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  1. After Effects User Guide
  2. Beta releases
    1. Beta Program Overview
    2. After Effects Beta Home
  3. Getting started
    1. Get started with After Effects
    2. What's new in After Effects 
    3. Release Notes | After Effects
    4. After Effects system requirements
    5. Keyboard shortcuts in After Effects
    6. Supported File formats | After Effects
    7. Hardware recommendations
    8. After Effects for Apple silicon
    9. Planning and setup
  4. Workspaces
    1. General user interface items
    2. Get to know After Effects interface
    3. Workflows
    4. Workspaces, panels, and viewers
  5. Projects and compositions
    1. Projects
    2. Composition basics
    3. Precomposing, nesting, and pre-rendering
    4. View detailed performance information with the Composition Profiler
    5. CINEMA 4D Composition Renderer
  6. Importing footage
    1. Preparing and importing still images
    2. Importing from After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro
    3. Importing and interpreting video and audio
    4. Preparing and importing 3D image files
    5. Importing and interpreting footage items
    6. Working with footage items
    7. Detect edit points using Scene Edit Detection
    8. XMP metadata
  7. Text and Graphics
    1. Text
      1. Formatting characters and the Character panel
      2. Text effects
      3. Creating and editing text layers
      4. Formatting paragraphs and the Paragraph panel
      5. Extruding text and shape layers
      6. Animating text
      7. Examples and resources for text animation
      8. Live Text Templates
    2. Motion Graphics
      1. Work with Motion Graphics templates in After Effects
      2. Use expressions to create drop-down lists in Motion Graphics templates
      3. Work with Essential Properties to create Motion Graphics templates
      4. Replace images and videos in Motion Graphics templates and Essential Properties
      5. Animate faster and easier using the Properties panel
  8. Drawing, Painting, and Paths
    1. Overview of shape layers, paths, and vector graphics
    2. Paint tools: Brush, Clone Stamp, and Eraser
    3. Taper shape strokes
    4. Shape attributes, paint operations, and path operations for shape layers
    5. Use Offset Paths shape effect to alter shapes
    6. Creating shapes
    7. Create masks
    8. Remove objects from your videos with the Content-Aware Fill panel
    9. Roto Brush and Refine Matte
  9. Layers, Markers, and Camera
    1. Selecting and arranging layers
    2. Blending modes and layer styles
    3. 3D layers
    4. Layer properties
    5. Creating layers
    6. Managing layers
    7. Layer markers and composition markers
    8. Cameras, lights, and points of interest
  10. Animation, Keyframes, Motion Tracking, and Keying
    1. Animation
      1. Animation basics
      2. Animating with Puppet tools
      3. Managing and animating shape paths and masks
      4. Animating Sketch and Capture shapes using After Effects
      5. Assorted animation tools
      6. Work with Data-driven animation
    2. Keyframe
      1. Keyframe interpolation
      2. Setting, selecting, and deleting keyframes
      3. Editing, moving, and copying keyframes
    3. Motion tracking
      1. Tracking and stabilizing motion
      2. Face Tracking
      3. Mask Tracking
      4. Mask Reference
      5. Speed
      6. Time-stretching and time-remapping
      7. Timecode and time display units
    4. Keying
      1. Keying
      2. Keying effects
  11. Transparency and Compositing
    1. Compositing and transparency overview and resources
    2. Alpha channels and masks
    3. Track Mattes and Traveling Mattes
  12. Adjusting color
    1. Color basics
    2. Color management
    3. Color Correction effects
    4. OpenColorIO and ACES color management
  13. Effects and Animation Presets
    1. Effects and animation presets overview
    2. Effect list
    3. Effect Manager
    4. Simulation effects
    5. Stylize effects
    6. Audio effects
    7. Distort effects
    8. Perspective effects
    9. Channel effects
    10. Generate effects
    11. Time effects
    12. Transition effects
    13. The Rolling Shutter Repair effect
    14. Blur and Sharpen effects
    15. 3D Channel effects
    16. Utility effects
    17. Matte effects
    18. Noise and Grain effects
    19. Detail-preserving Upscale effect
    20. Obsolete effects
  14. Expressions and Automation
    1. Expressions
      1. Expression basics
      2. Understanding the expression language
      3. Using expression controls
      4. Syntax differences between the JavaScript and Legacy ExtendScript expression engines
      5. Editing expressions
      6. Expression errors
      7. Using the Expressions editor
      8. Use expressions to edit and access text properties
      9. Expression language reference
      10. Expression examples
    2. Automation
      1. Automation
      2. Scripts
  15. Immersive video, VR, and 3D
    1. Construct VR environments in After Effects
    2. Apply immersive video effects
    3. Compositing tools for VR/360 videos
    4. Advanced 3D Renderer
    5. Import and add 3D models to your composition
    6. Import 3D models from Creative Cloud Libraries
    7. Image-Based Lighting
    8. Extract and animate lights and cameras from 3D models
    9. Tracking 3D camera movement
    10. Cast and accept shadows
    11. Embedded 3D model animations
    12. Shadow Catcher
    13. 3D depth data extraction
    14. Modify materials properties of a 3D layer
    15. Work in 3D Design Space
    16. 3D Transform Gizmos
    17. Do more with 3D animation
    18. Preview changes to 3D designs real time with the Mercury 3D engine
    19. Add responsive design to your graphics 
  16. Views and Previews
    1. Previewing
    2. Video preview with Mercury Transmit
    3. Modifying and using views
  17. Rendering and Exporting
    1. Basics of rendering and exporting
    2. H.264 Encoding in After Effects
    3. Export an After Effects project as an Adobe Premiere Pro project
    4. Converting movies
    5. Multi-frame rendering
    6. Automated rendering and network rendering
    7. Rendering and exporting still images and still-image sequences
    8. Using the GoPro CineForm codec in After Effects
  18. Working with other applications
    1. Dynamic Link and After Effects
    2. Working with After Effects and other applications
      1. Export After Effects project as Premiere Pro project
    3. Sync Settings in After Effects
    4. Creative Cloud Libraries in After Effects
    5. Plug-ins
    6. Cinema 4D and Cineware
  19. Collaboration: Frame.io, and Team Projects
    1. Collaboration in Premiere Pro and After Effects
    2. Frame.io
      1. Install and activate Frame.io
      2. Use Frame.io with Premiere Pro and After Effects
      3. Frequently asked questions
    3. Team Projects
      1. Get Started with Team Projects
      2. Create a Team Project
      3. Collaborate with Team Projects
  20. Memory, storage, performance
    1. Memory and storage
    2. How After Effects handles low memory issues while previewing    
    3. Improve performance
    4. Preferences
    5. GPU and GPU driver requirements for After Effects
  21. Knowledge Base
    1. Known issues
    2. Fixed issues
    3. Frequently asked questions
    4. After Effects and macOS Ventura
    5. How After Effects handles low memory issues while previewing

Create motion graphics quickly and easily using the Properties panel in Adobe After Effects.

New to motion design?

If you use Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, you'll feel right at home with the Properties panel displaying controls where you expect to find them.

Already an After Effects pro?

You can cut down on your twirl time by quickly accessing the properties you need right away by simply selecting a layer.

The Properties panel is designed to help you animate faster and easier

A handy panel

The Properties panel lives next to your composition window, enabling you to work with properties and transforms.

Animate faster

With the Properties panel, there is no need to twirl open multiple-layer hierarchies or open different panels during your animation workflow.

Simplified workflow

Quickly add animation to your text, shapes, and layers without changing the timeline view.

Easy accessibility 

Easy, contextual access to the important properties and controls for your selected layer or layers.

Make the most out of the Properties panel in After Effects

Play this video to learn how to use the Properties panel in After Effects and speed up your animation workflow.

How to use the Properties panel

After Effects Properties panel is a contextual panel that can be moved and stacked over other panels. To enable this panel, select Window > Properties.

  1. Select any layer in the Timeline or Composition panel to display the related controls in the Properties panel. Additional properties are shown for Text or Shape layers.

  2. The Layer Transform section will be displayed for all layer types at the top of the Properties panel. You can extend the panel or scroll down to view the controls.

  3. If you want to reveal a property in the Timeline, double-click it in the Properties panel or right-click on the property and select Reveal in Timeline.

Use the Properties panel for Text layers

You can use the Properties panel to access and animate text layers, edit text and paragraph properties, and add text animations.

  1. Select the Text layer in the Timeline or Composition panel.

  2. In the Properties panel, use the Layer Transform to work with controls such as Position, Scale, Rotation, Opacity, and so on.

  3. Use the Text and Paragraph sections to work with text and paragraph properties or styles.

  4. You can also use Add Animator under the Text Animation section to add other animator properties to the selected text layer.

Note:

If the Auto-Open Panel is enabled for the Type   tools in the toolbar, selecting them will open the Properties panel if it isn't already open.

Use the Properties panel for Shape layers

The Properties panel allows quick and easy access to selected Shape layer properties without having to work with multiple layer hierarchies in the Timeline panel. 

  1. Select the Shape layer in the Timeline or Composition panel.

  2. In the Properties panel, use the Layer Transform to work with controls such as Position, Scale, Rotation, Opacity, and so on.

  3. Use the Shape Properties and Shape Transform sections to work with shape properties or transform controls.

Note:

If the Auto-Open Panel is enabled for the Shape   or Pen   tools in the toolbar, selecting them will open the Properties panel if it isn't already open.

Use the Properties panel for layers with Essential Properties

The Properties panel displays Essential Properties when a layer with Essential Properties is selected. You can use the exposed controls to modify properties without having to worry about the complexity of multiple-layer hierarchies in the Timeline panel.

  1. Select the layer with Essential Properties in the Timeline or Composition panel.

  2. In the Properties panel, use the exposed controls under Essential Properties to work with properties.

Tip:

Essential Properties in the Properties panel also give you access to font controls that are not available in the Timeline view of Essential Properties. Use Edit Properties for Source Text in the Essential Graphics panel to enable custom font selection, size adjustment, and styles.

Use the Properties panel for layers with Camera and Light properties

Camera and Light layers are crucial for creating visually compelling animations. Camera layers allow you to create depth and perspective in your compositions to match real-world camera parameters such as Focal Length, Angle of View, Zoom, and more. And, the Light layers allow you to set light types to cast shadows, create highlights, and add depth to your scenes to enhance the realism of your compositions.

When working with the Camera and Light layers, you can use the Properties panel as a central control section to quickly adjust the layer's Transform properties and settings options without navigating to the timeline.

Use the Properties panel for a Camera layer

  1. Select the Camera layer in the Timeline panel.

  2. In the Properties panel, use the Layer Transform options to adjust its attributes.

    Point of Interest

    Adjust it to change the direction in which the camera is pointing while keeping its position fixed.

    Position

    Adjust the camera location in the composition by moving the camera along the X, Y, and Z axes.

    Orientation

    Adjust the camera's rotation along the X, Y, and Z axes to change its viewing angle.

    X Rotation

    Rotate the camera around the X-axis, which runs horizontally from left to right. 

    Y Rotation

    Rotate the camera around the Y-axis, which runs vertically from bottom to top.

    Z Rotation

    Rotate the camera around the Z-axis – counterclockwise or clockwise.

  3. Under Camera options, use the available options and Camera Settings to control how the camera behaves and captures the elements within your scene.

    The Properties panel shows the Layer Transform and Camera Options of the selected Camera layer. There are multiple options to specify the layer transforms and camera settings.
    Layer Transform and Camera Options in the Properties panel when a Camera layer is selected in a composition using the Classic 3D renderer.

Use the Properties panel for a Light layer

  1. Select the Light layer in the Timeline panel.

  2. In the Properties panel, use the Layer Transform options to adjust the position, scale, rotation, and anchor point of the Light layer.

  3. You can use the Light Options section to control the appearance and behavior of light in your compositions. 

    The Properties panel shows the Layer Transform and Light Options of the selected Light layer. There are multiple options to specify the layer transforms and light settings.
    Use the Layer Transform and Light Options in the Properties panel to work with the selected Light layer.

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If you wish to ask questions and be a part of community discussions around this feature, visit our After Effects Community.

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