User Guide

CHAPTER 5
160
Animating Layers
To expand a layer outline heading:
1 Click the triangle to the left of the layer name so that it points downward.
2 Click the triangle to left of Masks, Effects, or Transform to further expand the outline.
To collapse a layer outline heading:
Click the triangle to the left of the layer name so that it points to the right.
To expand or collapse all layer outline headings:
Select the layer and then press the grave accent (`) key.
Understanding keyframes
After Effects uses keyframes to create and control animation. (After Effects can also use
expressions to create and control animation. See “Using expressions” on page 309.) A
keyframe marks the point in time in a composition where you specify a value for a layer
property. Animation using keyframes requires at least two keyframes. After Effects creates
animation between keyframes by interpolating transition frames between each keyframe
using intermediate values based on the changing property values from one keyframe to the
next. A keyframe contains information on the type and speed of change between the
adjacent intermediate values.
UG.book Page 160 Wednesday, February 21, 2001 12:05 PM