How to Filter Layers by Property in After Effects

Filtering layers by property type in Adobe After Effects streamlines your workflow by isolating specific controls across multiple layers in the Timeline panel. By entering dedicated property keywords into the timeline's search bar, you can instantly reveal only the attributes you need—such as position, opacity, effects, masks, or expressions—while hiding everything else. This guide explains how to access the timeline search tool and use specific property queries to navigate complex compositions quickly.

  1. Open your composition in After Effects.
  2. Click anywhere inside the Timeline panel to make it active.
  3. Locate the search field labeled with a magnifying glass icon at the top of the timeline. Alternatively, press Ctrl + F (Windows) or Cmd + F (macOS) to place your cursor directly into the search bar.

Filtering by Standard Transform Properties

To isolate basic transform attributes across all layers in your composition, type the name of the property into the search field:

  • Position: Type position to reveal all position tracks.
  • Scale: Type scale to reveal all scale tracks.
  • Rotation: Type rotation to view rotation and orientation properties.
  • Opacity: Type opacity to display transparency settings across layers.
  • Anchor Point: Type anchor point to reveal layer anchor point coordinates.

Filtering by Advanced Property Types

You can also filter for complex properties and components applied to your layers:

  • Effects: Type effect to display all applied effects across every layer, or type the specific name of an effect (such as Gaussian Blur or Curves) to isolate only that effect.
  • Masks: Type mask to reveal all mask paths, feathering, opacity, and expansion settings.
  • Expressions: Type expression to show only the properties that currently have active expressions attached to them.
  • Audio: Type audio or waveform to isolate audio levels and waveform displays.
  • Text Properties: Type source text or animator to reveal text layers containing animators or source data.
  • Time Remapping: Type time remap to view layers with remapping enabled.
  • Exclude Properties: Add a minus sign directly before a search term (for example, -position) to hide specific properties while displaying the rest.
  • Clear the Search: To return to the default layer view, click the small X icon on the right side of the search field, or press Esc while the search box is active.