Using the Tools palette

The first time you start the application, the Tools palette appears on the right side of the screen. Some tools in the palette have options that appear in the Tool Options section of the palette. Use the tools in the palette to select, edit, and view layers. You can edit layer properties, masks, and motion paths graphically, and you can change the magnification of a Footage, Layer, or Composition window.


Tools palette A. Selection B. Rotation C. Orbit Camera D. Track XY Camera E. Track Z Camera F. Brush G. Clone Stamp H. Eraser I. Local Axis Mode J. World Axis Mode K. View Axis Mode L. Hand M. Zoom N. Pan Behind O. Rectangular Mask P. Oval Mask Q. Horizontal Type R. Vertical Type S. Pen T. Add Vertex U. Delete Vertex V. Convert Vertex W. Auto Open Palettes X. Set [property] for 3D layers Y. RotoBezier

To display or hide the Tools palette:

Choose Window > Tools. A check mark indicates that the palette is showing.

To move the Tools palette:

Drag the palette's title bar to a new location.

To select a tool:

Do one of the following:

• Click the tool's icon. If the icon has a small triangle at its lower right corner, hold down the mouse button to view the hidden tools. Then, click the tool you want to select.
• Press the tool's keyboard shortcut. Positioning the pointer over a tool displays a tool tip with the tool's name and keyboard shortcut.

To cycle through hidden tools:

Hold down Shift and press the tool's shortcut key.

To momentarily change from one tool to another tool:

Hold down the shortcut key for the desired tool and perform an action. Release the shortcut key to return to the previous tool.

For information on changing tools using keyboard shortcuts, see the Shortcuts Appendix.

To display or hide tool tips:

1. Choose Edit > Preferences > General (Windows) or After Effects > Preferences > General (Mac OS).
2. Select or deselect Show Tool Tips.

To view optional palettes for a tool:

Click the desired tool icon, and then click the palette icon  if available.

Note: To automatically always open optional palettes for tools, select the Auto Open Palettes option in the Tools palette.