What Is the Info Panel in Adobe After Effects?

The Info panel in Adobe After Effects is a dedicated utility panel that displays real-time, contextual data about your composition, cursor position, color values, and system performance. Rather than functioning as a creative tool, it operates as an informational readout that automatically updates based on your current actions and selections within the viewport. Understanding how to read this panel allows motion designers and compositors to work with technical precision, troubleshoot issues, and monitor project performance without digging through complex menus.

Pixel Color Data (RGBA)

When you hover your mouse pointer over the Composition, Layer, or Footage panels, the Info panel provides a live readout of the exact color values directly beneath the cursor. It displays the Red, Green, Blue, and Alpha (transparency) channels. Depending on your project settings, these values appear as 8-bit (0–255), 16-bit, or floating-point 32-bit numbers. This feature is essential for:

  • Verifying pure black or pure white values when pulling keys or creating mattes.
  • Ensuring brand colors match exact RGB values directly on screen.
  • Checking the opacity level of semi-transparent layers.

Spatial Coordinates and Transformations

The Info panel continuously tracks the X and Y spatial coordinates of your cursor relative to the active viewer. When you manipulate a layer directly in the Composition panel, the Info panel displays:

  • The current position coordinates of the layer.
  • The exact distance moved (Delta X and Delta Y).
  • The angle and distance of movement when dragging layers or anchor points.
  • Real-time scale and rotation percentages during manual transformations.

Playback and Preview Performance

During RAM previews, the Info panel acts as a diagnostic monitor for playback speed. It displays the real-time frame rate (frames per second) alongside the composition's native frame rate. If your system cannot play back a composition in real time, the Info panel indicates the dropped frames and the actual speed at which After Effects is rendering the preview.

Audio Level Monitoring

When previewing a composition that contains audio, the Info panel provides a numeric decibel (dB) readout for both the left and right audio channels. This helps you identify clipping (audio exceeding 0 dB) and maintain balanced sound levels without needing to keep a dedicated audio waveform panel open at all times.

Contextual Tool Feedback

The Info panel adapts its output depending on the active tool in your toolbar:

  • Paint and Eraser Tools: Displays the brush size, hardness, and opacity settings.
  • Clone Stamp Tool: Shows the source position and target coordinates for sampling.
  • Puppet Tools: Indicates the number of mesh triangles and coordinates of active pins.

To open the Info panel, select Window > Info from the top menu bar, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+2 (Windows) or Cmd+2 (macOS).