Create a composition.
Last updated on
Mar 3, 2026
- After Effects User Guide
- Beta releases
- Getting started
- Workspaces
- Projects and compositions
- Importing footage
- Preparing and importing still images
- Importing from After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro
- Importing and interpreting video and audio
- Preparing and importing 3D image files
- Importing and interpreting footage items
- Import SVG files
- Working with footage items
- Detect edit points using Scene Edit Detection
- XMP metadata
- Text and Graphics
- Text
- Motion Graphics
- Work with Motion Graphics templates in After Effects
- Use expressions to create drop-down lists in Motion Graphics templates
- Work with Essential Properties to create Motion Graphics templates
- Replace images and videos in Motion Graphics templates and Essential Properties
- Animate faster and easier using the Properties panel
- Variable Font Axes
- Drawing, Painting, and Paths
- Overview of shape layers, paths, and vector graphics
- Paint tools: Brush, Clone Stamp, and Eraser
- Taper shape strokes
- Shape attributes, paint operations, and path operations for shape layers
- Use Offset Paths shape effect to alter shapes
- Creating shapes
- Create masks
- Remove objects from your videos with the Content-Aware Fill panel
- Roto Brush and Refine Matte
- AI-powered Object Matte
- Create Nulls for Positional Properties and Paths
- Layers, Markers, and Camera
- Animation, Keyframes, Motion Tracking, and Keying
- Animation
- Keyframe
- Motion tracking
- Keying
- Transparency and Compositing
- Adjusting color
- Effects and Animation Presets
- Effects and animation presets overview
- Effect list
- Effect Manager
- Simulation effects
- Stylize effects
- Audio effects
- Distort effects
- Perspective effects
- Channel effects
- Generate effects
- Time effects
- Transition effects
- The Rolling Shutter Repair effect
- Blur and Sharpen effects
- 3D Channel effects
- Utility effects
- Matte effects
- Noise and Grain effects
- Detail-preserving Upscale effect
- Obsolete effects
- Cycore plugins
- Expressions and Automation
- Expressions
- Expression basics
- Understanding the expression language
- Using expression controls
- Syntax differences between the JavaScript and Legacy ExtendScript expression engines
- Editing expressions
- Expression errors
- Using the Expressions editor
- Use expressions to edit and access text properties
- Expression language reference
- Expression examples
- Automation
- Expressions
- Immersive video, VR, and 3D
- Construct VR environments in After Effects
- Apply immersive video effects
- Compositing tools for VR/360 videos
- Advanced 3D Renderer
- Import and add 3D models to your composition
- Import 3D models from Creative Cloud Libraries
- Create parametric meshes
- Image-Based Lighting
- Animated Environment Lights
- Enable lights to cast shadows
- Extract and animate lights and cameras from 3D models
- Tracking 3D camera movement
- Adjust Default Camera Settings for 3D compositions
- Cast and accept shadows
- Embedded 3D model animations
- Shadow Catcher
- 3D depth data extraction
- Modify materials properties of a 3D layer
- Apply Substance 3D materials
- Work in 3D Design Space
- 3D Transform Gizmos
- Single 3D Gizmo for multiple 3D layers
- Do more with 3D animation
- Preview changes to 3D designs real time with the Mercury 3D engine
- Stereoscopic 3D in After Effects
- Add responsive design to your graphics
- Views and Previews
- Rendering and Exporting
- Basics of rendering and exporting
- H.264 Encoding in After Effects
- Export an After Effects project as an Adobe Premiere Pro project
- Converting movies
- Multi-frame rendering
- Automated rendering and network rendering
- Rendering and exporting still images and still-image sequences
- Using the GoPro CineForm codec in After Effects
- Working with other applications
- Collaboration: Frame.io, and Team Projects
- Memory, storage, performance
- Knowledge Base
Learn how to use Quick Apply to search for and instantly apply any effect, animation preset, or menu command in After Effects.
Use new beta features
Quick Apply is now available for testing and feedback. Try it now in After Effects (beta).
Quick Apply overview
Quick Apply in the latest version of After Effects (Beta) is a simple search box that helps you quickly find any effect, animation preset, or menu command. Everything you need is in one place. Instead of clicking through multiple panels and menus, just type a few letters to see matching results right away. When you find what you’re looking for, select it and apply or run it instantly—whether you’re adding an effect to a layer, applying an animation preset, or choosing a menu command.
Effects
Search by name or category to apply it to the selected layer, or create a new Solid or Adjustment Layer with the effect already applied.
Animation Presets
Search for text presets and other animation presets to apply them to a selected layer, or add them to a new layer or Adjustment layer.
Menu Commands
Search for and run any top-level menu command, including blending modes, installed scripts, and Preferences.
Search and apply using Quick Apply
-
-
Select one or more layers to apply the effect, preset, or run a command on specific layers.
You can also create a new layer when applying an effect or animation preset using the Quick Apply dialog box.
-
Use one of the following ways to open the Quick Apply dialog box:
- In the menu bar, select Edit and then Quick Apply.
- Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Enter (Windows) or Cmd+Return (macOS). You can customize this shortcut in the Keyboard Shortcuts settings.
- Use the Quick Apply icon in the Timeline panel.
Open Quick Apply instantly by clicking the lightning bolt icon in the Timeline panel.
Open Quick Apply instantly by clicking the lightning bolt icon in the Timeline panel. When the dialog opens, the search box is automatically active, so you can start typing your search right away.
-
Use the search bar to find items by name, menu, or category. Results update as you type.
Start typing to search and press Enter to apply or run the selected result instantly.
Start typing to search and press Enter to apply or run the selected result instantly. -
If you want to choose which result categories appear in your search, use the Settings icon and select from the following:
- Effects
- Menu Commands
- Animation Presets
Filter search results by categories such as Effects, Menu Commands, or Animation Presets.
Filter search results by categories such as Effects, Menu Commands, or Animation Presets. You can also refine your search by typing one of the following at the beginning:
- e: Show only effects
- p: Show only presets
- m: Show only menu commands
Use e: to filter and quickly find effects such as Unmult or Unsharp Mask.
Use e: to filter and quickly find effects such as Unmult or Unsharp Mask. TipYou can enable the Show at Mouse Location option if you want the Quick Apply dialog to appear next to your mouse. If this is not enabled, the dialog box opens in its last used location.
-
Select an item from the list, then press Enter, select Apply/Run next to the selected result, or double-click it to apply or run it.
Search for menu commands by typing m: followed by the command name.
Search for menu commands by typing m: followed by the command name. When you apply effects or presets, or run menu commands, you can apply them to the selected layer(s), create a new layer, or add them as an adjustment layer.
You can also use modifiers when applying effects or presets from the Quick Apply dialog. When an effect or preset is selected, the available modifier options appear as hints at the bottom of the dialog.
- Hold Ctrl (Windows) / Cmd (macOS) and press Enter to create a new solid or layer with the effect or preset applied.
- Hold Ctrl+Alt (Windows) / Cmd+Option (macOS) and press Enter to create a new adjustment layer.
Join the conversation about Quick Apply in the After Effects community.
