User Guide

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ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS 5.0
User Guide
• To move the layer to the bottom of the composition, choose Layer > Send to Back.
Selecting a layer by position number
After Effects automatically numbers all layers in a composition. The number reflects the
position of that layer in the stacking order. When the stacking order changes, After Effects
changes all numbers accordingly.
Select a layer by its number by pressing the layer number on the numeric keypad. If the
layer number has more than one digit, type the numbers quickly so that After Effects can
recognize them as a unit.
Aligning and distributing layers in space
Use the Align palette to line up or evenly space selected layers across a composition. You
can align or distribute layers along the vertical or horizontal axes of selected objects.
When you align and distribute selected layers, keep the following in mind:
• An alignment option aligns selected layers to the object that most closely represents the
new alignment. For example, for right-edge alignment, all selected layers align to the
selected object that is farthest to the right.
• A distribution option evenly spaces selected layers between the two most extreme layers.
For example, for a vertical distribution option, the selected layers are distributed between
the highest and lowest selected objects.
• When you distribute layers of different sizes, the spaces between layers may not be
uniform. For example, distributing layers by their centers will create equal space between
the centers—but different-sized layers will extend by different amounts into the space
between layers.
• Locked layers cannot be moved by alignment or distribution options.
• Text alignment is not affected by the Align palette. For information on aligning Basic
Text, see online Help.
To align or distribute layers:
1 Select the layers you want to align or distribute.
Note: To align, you must select two or more layers; to distribute, you must select three or more
layers.
UG.book Page 131 Wednesday, February 21, 2001 12:05 PM