Layer Settings Shortcut in Adobe After Effects

The shortcut to open layer settings in Adobe After Effects is an essential time-saver for motion designers and video editors. This guide outlines the exact keyboard shortcuts for accessing settings on various layer types—including solids, cameras, and lights—on both Windows and macOS, while explaining alternative methods and how to customize your workflow.

The Primary Layer Settings Shortcut

The universal keyboard shortcut to open the settings dialog for an existing layer in Adobe After Effects is:

  • Windows: Ctrl + Shift + Y
  • macOS: Cmd + Shift + Y

To use this shortcut, click on the layer in your timeline or composition panel to select it, then press the key combination.

Supported Layer Types

This shortcut works dynamically depending on the type of layer selected:

  • Solid Layers: Opens the Solid Settings dialog, allowing you to modify the layer's width, height, pixel aspect ratio, units, and color.
  • Adjustment Layers: Because adjustment layers are technically solid layers with an adjustment switch enabled, pressing Ctrl + Shift + Y (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + Y (macOS) allows you to resize the underlying solid.
  • Null Objects: Like adjustment layers, null objects are specialized solids and can be resized using this command.
  • Camera Layers: Opens the Camera Settings dialog, where you can adjust the camera type (one-node or two-node), preset, focal length, angle of view, and depth-of-field settings.
  • Light Layers: Opens the Light Settings dialog, enabling quick adjustments to light type (Parallel, Spot, Point, Ambient), color, intensity, cone angle, and shadow properties.

Note: This shortcut does not apply to pre-compositions, shape layers, or footage layers. For compositions, the equivalent settings shortcut is Ctrl + K (Windows) or Cmd + K (macOS).

Alternative Menu Navigation

If you prefer using the mouse or cannot use the keyboard shortcut, access layer settings through the top menu:

  1. Select your target layer in the timeline.
  2. Navigate to the top menu bar and click Layer.
  3. Choose the context-specific settings option at the top of the menu (e.g., Solid Settings..., Camera Settings..., or Light Settings...).

Customizing the Shortcut

If you wish to remap this function to a different key:

  1. Go to Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts (Windows) or After Effects > Keyboard Shortcuts (macOS).
  2. Type Layer Settings or Solid Settings into the search bar.
  3. Click the existing shortcut, press your preferred key combination, and click OK to save your changes.