# layering and timeline The Timeline is the most important part of After Effects. It is where you arrange your different elements, such as videos, text, images, etc. It is a powerful and complicated beast with lots of buttons and knobs and sliders. There’s also a ton of hidden information you can reveal and conceal as needed. I am only covering a basic introduction on this page. More detailed notes on specific tools and concepts will be included as we go along. ### _this stuff is complicated - i will help_ OK, the Timeline panel can be extremely scary when you first start using it. Please be brave and explore a bit at a time. You will not be expected to figure it all out immediately. It takes a long time to really grasp how to use these tools. Over the duration of this course, we will slowly open up the features and tools with each assignment. Take baby steps and soon enough you will gain confidence. The internet is full of good resources and tips. I will share the ones I find with the best information and will write up clearer notes for you when we hit snags or we can’t find better resources. If you want deeper information on a specific topic or tool, please let me know and I will build it for you. > [!info]- overview references > - This [YouTube video from Tutorials Point](https://youtu.be/MqVQcn5C7xM) covers the basics of the layering side of the Timeline in five minutes. > - The [video on this page from photofocus](https://photofocus.com/software/mastering-the-timeline-in-after-effects/)is wonderful 25 minute overview that covers things in much better detail. > - This [tutorial from gareth david studio](https://garethdavidstudio.com/tutorials/layers-the-timeline-panel-in-adobe-after-effects/#) is a solid 20 minute introduction > - [Working with Layers from Adobe Help](https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/selecting-arranging-layers.html) > - [Animation Basics from Adobe Help](https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/animation-basics.html) --- ## layers ==**Big Animation Concept: Each object that is going to move or change or somehow alter over time needs its own layer so it can be manipulated independently.**== Layers are found on the left side of the panel. Think of the layer as a folder. Even though you might have a simple single element on a layer, there is actually a ton of information and controls hidden away. Press the little arrow next to the color block on a layer and it will open up options. There will be even more sub-menus for more specific options. Open and close as needed to get to whatever controls you need. This example is a single text element… ![[Pasted image 20221027104753.png]] Notice that many of these controls have little stopwatch icons and blue-linked numbers. These are things that can be manipulated and animated over time. As you add effects and other adjustments, this list will grow. Go deeper on [[keyframe animation]]. As you make changes to your elements in the Comp, the numbers will update here. Conversely, sometimes it is easier to change the numbers here and see the visual update in the Comp. They both represent the same information. ### even more hidden stuff At the bottom of the Timeline panel, underneath the layers is a set of icons that can open up even more settings for each layer. Explore them if you will or hide them if you don’t need them. We will get to a few of them over the course. ![[Pasted image 20221027110956.png]] ### layers stack up A simple concept, but important. The layer stack is similar to sheets of paper stacked up. Layers at the top of the stack are going to appear above and over layers lower on the stack. You can easily click the and drag layers to rearrange the stack. ### hide and lock On the left side of the layer name are several columns of checkboxes. Here are two important ones to be aware of… The column with the eyeball allows you to hide individual layers. This is good for removing distracting elements from view when your working area is getting cluttered. Simply toggle the eyeball on or off as needed. The column with the padlock allows you to lock individual layers. It is extremely easy to accidentally grab the wrong element and move it when working. The problem is increased when moving around your timeline. It is a hassle to go back and find and delete a random keyframe you inadvertently added when working on something else. So lock and unlock layers as needed to save yourself headaches. --- ## timeline ==**Big Animation Concept: Animation is simply making something move from point A to point B over time. That’s it. That’s all it takes. If you want it to happen fast, then take less time to make it happen. If you want it slower, then take longer. This works for moving something or making it change size or rotate or fade out or whatever effect you are going for.**== If you want to have more complicated animation, then add more points so that you are moving from point A to point B to point C and so on. It is really that simple. Of course, animation is more complicated because you can have many things happening at once. Still, it all comes down to the basic idea of everything moving from point A to point B over time. Remember that and you will remain relatively sane. The timeline is found on the right side of the panel. It shows what is happening in the animation over time. This is where you can control where and when everything happens. ![[Pasted image 20221027115212.png]] The Timeline is a grid layout with layers stacking vertically and the timing of the animation going horizontally. The left side is the first frame and it flows to the right until the final frame. Individual elements can be turned on at certain times and turned off at certain times. [[keyframe animation|Keyframes]] are used to program things happening at certain times. Remember, point A to point B. --- tags: #aftereffects #animation #resources home: [[! after effects]]