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Keyframes

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Add Keyframes in After Effects

Jose Waller

If someone is just starting out in visual effects creation, they have probably come across the term “keyframe” quite frequently. Keyframes hold immense significance in any post-production workflow, serving as the foundation upon which various elements are built, ranging from animations to meticulous color correction.

This comprehensive guide aims to elucidate the fundamentals of keyframing in Adobe After Effects. It will shed light on what keyframes are, their purpose, and how they can be effectively employed in one’s upcoming project.

A keyframe, in essence, is a temporal marker that directs the effects program to alter a particular aspect. It could involve modifying size, position, opacity, color, or any other form of value adjustment. By incorporating keyframes and utilizing them to imbue new values into image elements, one can initiate the creation of captivating visual effects.

The question arises: Why does After Effects necessitate the presence of keyframes? In order for After Effects to execute changes over a specific duration, such as enlarging text gradually as a video clip plays, it requires information about the desired magnitude and the time span over which this transformation should occur. Keyframes provide After Effects with the necessary instructions regarding when and how a change should take place. These keyframes can be manually set within After Effects or, alternatively, one can employ certain auto-keyframing tools to generate them automatically.

In summary, as someone embarks on their journey in visual effects creation, the term “keyframe” will undoubtedly become a recurring theme. Keyframes serve as pivotal markers that guide an effects program like Adobe After Effects to implement desired changes over time. By grasping the concept and mastering the art of keyframing, one gains the power to craft mesmerizing visual effects in their projects.

person typing on a computer

Adding a Keyframe in After Effects

The process of incorporating new keyframes into After Effects is relatively straightforward. Once one becomes accustomed to it, keyframing becomes almost instinctive, seamlessly integrated into their visual effects workflow.

Here are the essential steps for adding a keyframe in After Effects:

Step 1

Begin by positioning the Current Time Indicator (CTI) precisely at the desired starting point where the keyframe effect is to take effect. This allows for precise timing and synchronization of the keyframe animation.

Step 2

Now, carefully select the specific property that you intend to work with in order to create the desired effect. You have a wide range of properties at your disposal, including scale, position, opacity, rotation, and many others. Choose the property that aligns with your creative vision.

Step 3

Direct your attention to the left of the layer name and locate the arrow symbol. Clicking on this arrow will reveal a convenient drop-down menu, providing you with essential options for further customization.

Step 4

Within the expanded drop-down menu, locate and explore the “Transform” section. This specialized section encompasses a plethora of transformative properties that can be keyframed, allowing for intricate control over your animation.

Step 5

With the property of your choice within the “Transform” section, set the initial keyframe by simply clicking on the stopwatch icon adjacent to the selected property. This signifies the starting point for your animation, establishing the basis for subsequent keyframe adjustments.

These initial steps lay the groundwork for your keyframe animation, empowering you to create captivating visual effects and bring your artistic vision to life. At this point, your timeline should display the addition of the first keyframe. Congratulations! The first keyframe has now been set. However, to achieve a desired animation effect, more than one keyframe is required. Therefore, let’s proceed to set a second keyframe to create the intended animation. For instance, we will make the word “Adventure” progressively increase in size over time.

Step 6

Move the CTI to the specific moment where you want the effect to conclude.

Step 7

Click on the diamond-shaped button located at the far left of the property, or use the keyboard shortcut (Option + the respective property shortcut, such as S in this case).

Step 8

Modify the value of the property at the second keyframe to achieve the desired final result.

In our example, we will increase the text size by 300% overall, so that value is entered.

Step 9

Return the CTI to its original position and press the spacebar to observe the text layer’s transformation between keyframes.

Voila! You have successfully created a gradually expanding text effect! By following these steps, you can add keyframes in After Effects and unleash your creativity to craft captivating animations and visual effects.

How to Remove or Move a Keyframe in After Effects

When the need arises to make adjustments to already placed keyframes, After Effects offers a straightforward solution.

To Remove a Single Keyframe:

  • Step 1: Identify the keyframe you wish to remove;
  • Step 2: Press the “delete” key to eliminate the selected keyframe.

To Remove All Keyframes for a Specific Effect:

  • Step 1: Navigate to the transform panel and locate the property to which the keyframes are attached;
  • Step 2: Click on the active stopwatch symbol to deactivate it, resulting in the removal of all associated keyframes.

At times, rather than deleting a keyframe, you may prefer to relocate it. Here’s how:

  • Step 1: Choose the keyframe you want to move;
  • Step 2: Utilize the pointer tool to click and drag the keyframe to its new position.

When dealing with multiple keyframes that need to be moved, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Click and drag across the timeline to create a marquee, selecting all the keyframes you intend to relocate;
  • Step 2: Move the selected keyframes together to their desired new position.

Furthermore, if you wish to extend the timespan covered by the keyframes while preserving their proportional spacing, you can achieve that too:

  • Step 1: Employ the aforementioned step one to select the keyframes you want to move;
  • Step 2: While dragging a keyframe with your mouse, hold down the Option/Alt key. This action will expand the keyframes across a lengthier timespan while maintaining their original spacing. Continue to experiment with keyframes to unlock countless visual effects possibilities.

In conclusion

Keyframes serve as the foundation of motion graphics, and as you grow more accustomed to utilizing them, your skills as an animator will flourish. Through keyframes, you can manipulate various properties of your videos and graphics, such as size, position, color, angle, and much more. If you’re seeking a superior method to bring your remote editing team closer together and enhance collaboration from a distance, consider exploring Evercast. Evercast enables you to stream your editing sessions in high-definition, facilitating video chatting and seamless note exchange within a unified platform. Because we firmly believe that collaboration is the enchanting essence behind remarkable movies.