How To Create A Shape Mask In After Effects

After Effects Shortcuts

Overview of After Effects Shortcuts

Adobe After Effects can be defined as a program application designed for producing special effects and motion graphics utilized in the content, which is available online, video, and in presentations. Although after Effects shortcut is available on both Windows and Mac OS platforms, it is broadly utilized for digital post-production of movies, television, DVDs, video, animation, and the production of special effects after Effects forms the part of the Adobe Creative Cloud.

It comes with an extensive set of 2D and 3D tools that can be used for animation, effects, and compositing that visual effects artists, motion graphics professionals, movies and video professionals, and web designers require. In addition, while using any software, shortcut keys help you in saving time, thereby increasing the efficiency and speed. Many shortcut keys are provided by After Effects.

Keyboard Shortcuts Keys for After Effects

Results	Shortcut Keys
Basic Shortcut Keys
Allows you to choose all	CtrlA
Allows you to deselect all.	F2/CtrlShiftA
Allows you to make a duplicate of the chosen masks, layers, effects, etc	CtrlD
To quit the tool	CtrlQ
Rename the chosen folder, layer, etc.	Enter
Open chosen composition, layer or footage item	numeric keypad
Move chosen layers or other elements forward or backward in an arranging order.	CtrlAltArrow Up
Elements forward or backward in an arranging order	CtrlAltShiftArrow UpArrow Down
You can open the preferences dialog box with this.	CtrlAlt;
Transform Properties
Used for point of interest, lights, and cameras, etc.	A
The position property is revealed using this key.	P
The scale property is revealed using this key	S
The opacity property is revealed for intensity and lights using this key	T
The audio level's property can be shown using this key.	L
The mask feather property can be shown using this key	F
The mask path property can be shown using this key	M
Effects property group can be shown using this key	E
Properties only with expressions or keyframes are shown using this key	U
It helps you to hide group or property.	ShiftH
Shortcuts for Workspaces, Viewers, Windows, and Panels
This opens or closes the project panel.	Ctrl0
This opens or closes the render queue panel.	CtrlAlt0
This opens or closes the tools panel.	Ctrl1
This opens or closes the info panel.	Ctrl2
This opens or closes the preview panel	Ctrl3
This opens or closes the audio panel	Ctrl4
This opens or closes the presets and effects panel	Ctrl5
This opens or closes the character panel	Ctrl6
This opens or closes the paragraph panel	Ctrl7
This opens or closes the paint panel	Ctrl8
This opens or closes the brushes panel	Ctrl9
This opens the flowchart panel to be used for the project flowchart	CtrlF11
This closes the active panel or viewer	CtrlW
Swift Access To The Hand Tool
Choosing the hand tool, you can just hold the spacebar and drag	Space bar
Zoom In-to The Timeline
You can zoom into or out of the vital areas on your timeline by pressing + or –	+-
Work Area And Compositions
This opens a new composition	CtrlN
B sets the beginning, and N sets the end of the work region to the present time.	BN
This opens the composition settings dialog box for the chosen composition	CtrlK
This opens the composition mini flowchart for composition that is active	Tab
Tool Activation
This helps you to cycle through the tools	Alt-click tool button in the tools panel
This helps in the activation of the selection tool.	V
This helps in the activation of the hand tool	H
This helps in the activation of the rotation tool	W
This helps in the activation of the root brush tool	AltW
This helps in the activation and to move through the camera tools	C
This helps in the activation of the pan behind the tool	Y
This helps in the activation and to move through the mask and shape tools.	Q
This helps in the activation and to move through the type tools	CtrlT
This helps in the activation and to move between the pen and mask feather tools.	G
This helps in the activation and to move through the clone stamp, brush, and eraser tools.	CtrlB
This helps in the activation and to move through the puppet tools.	CtrlP
Time Navigation Shortcut Keys
If you want to reach out to a particular time, then you can use this shortcut.	AltShiftJ
It helps in reaching out to the beginning or the ending of the work region.	ShiftHomeShiftEnd
It helps to reach out to the previous item in the time ruler.	J
It helps to reach out to the next item that is visible in the time ruler	K
Helps to reach out to the layer Out-Point	O
Helps to reach out to the layer In-Point	I
It helps to reach out to the present time in the timeline panel	D
Shortcuts For Layers
It helps to create a new solid layer	CtrlY
It helps to create a new adjustment layer	CtrlAltY
Helps in deselecting all the layers	CtrlShiftA
It helps to create a new null layer	CtrlAltShiftY
It helps you to move to the uppermost chosen layer present	X
3-Dimensional Layers
This switches to the 3D view 1	F10
This switches to the 3D view 2	F11
This switches to the 3D view 3	F12
It helps you to come back to the previous view	Esc
It helps in creating a new light.	CtrlAltShiftL
Helps in creating a new camera	CtrlAltShift C

Conclusion

After Effects serves many purposes such as 3D tracking, 2D tracking, masking, keying, compositing, visual effects, animation, etc., to perform these tasks efficiently and save time, you can use the shortcut keys. Instead of using the mouse constantly, you can use these important shortcut keys to speed through the tasks at hand.