Creating composition-time markers

Composition-time markers appear on the time ruler in the Timeline window. After Effects automatically numbers them with a single digit that reflects the order in which you add them. You can place up to ten composition-time markers within a composition. If you remove a marker, the other markers remain numbered as they were.

To add a composition-time marker:

Do one of the following:

• Drag a composition-time marker from the Comp marker bin  to the desired point in the composition.

Dragging a composition time marker from the Comp marker bin.
• Move the current-time indicator to the position you want to mark and press Shift + a number key (0-9) on the main keyboard (not on the numeric keypad). A new composition-time marker appears at the current-time position, labeled with the number of the key you pressed.

Note: If the number you press is already used by another composition-time marker, After Effects does not create a new marker. Instead, it moves the existing marker with that number to the new position.

To move a composition-time marker:

Do one of the following:

• Drag the composition-time marker to another position in the Timeline window.
• Move the current-time indicator to the position you want, and then press Shift + the number (on the main keyboard, not the keypad) of the composition-time marker you want to move.

To snap the current-time indicator or layer duration bars to a marker:

Press Shift as you drag the current-indicator or a layer duration bar.

To remove a composition-time marker:

Drag the marker onto the Comp marker bin  on the Timeline window.

Note: To delete markers on a layer, right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac OS) on a marker and choose Delete This Marker or Delete All Markers from the menu that appears.