Viewing layer properties in the Timeline window

As you add layers to a composition, they appear in the layer outline in the Timeline window. You can expand the layer outline to display layer properties and change property values.

Keyboard shortcuts can help you quickly display a layer property, hide others, and save space in the Timeline window. For a list of Keyboard shortcuts, see the After Effects Keyboard Shortcut appendix.

To expand a layer outline heading:

1. Click the triangle to the left of the layer name so that it points downward.

Collapsed layer (left), expanded layer (right)
2. Click the triangle to the left of a property group such as 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.