After Effects for Absolute Beginners: Compositions, Timelines, and Layer Fundamentals

What a Composition Is (and Why It’s Like a Sequence)

In After Effects, a composition (often called a comp) is the container where you build animation: it defines the frame size (like 1920×1080), frame rate (like 24/30 fps), duration, and it holds your layers over time in the Timeline.

If you’ve used an editor (Premiere Pro, Final Cut, Resolve), think of a comp as the After Effects equivalent of a sequence/timeline: you place elements in it, arrange them in time, and the comp outputs a moving picture. The key difference is that After Effects comps are designed for layer-based animation (motion graphics, VFX, titles) rather than primarily cutting clips.

Comps can contain other comps

A comp can be used as a layer inside another comp (often called precomposing). This is similar to nesting a sequence inside another sequence, but in After Effects it’s especially common for organizing complex animations and keeping timelines readable.

How Layers Stack Visually (and Why Order Matters)

In a comp, every item you see in the Timeline is a layer. Layers are stacked: the layer at the top of the Timeline is drawn in front of layers below it (like a pile of paper on a desk).

Visual stacking rule

• Higher in the layer stack = closer to the viewer (covers layers beneath).
• Lower in the layer stack = behind (can be hidden by layers above).

Practical: test layer order in 30 seconds

1. Create (or use) two layers that overlap (for example, a shape layer rectangle and a text layer).
2. Drag the text layer above the rectangle layer: the text appears on top.
3. Drag the rectangle above the text: the rectangle covers the text.

Layer order is one of the most common “why can’t I see my layer?” issues. Before troubleshooting anything else, check whether another layer is simply on top of it.

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Time vs. stack position

Two different concepts live in the Timeline:

• Layer stack order (vertical order): controls what’s in front/behind.
• Layer timing (horizontal bars): controls when a layer appears/disappears during the comp.

Transform Properties: The Core Controls You’ll Use Constantly

Almost every layer type (text, shape, footage, solids, precomps) has Transform properties. These are the foundation for motion graphics.

How to reveal Transform quickly

• Select a layer and press P (Position), S (Scale), R (Rotation), T (Opacity), A (Anchor Point).
• Press multiple letters to show multiple properties (for example PSR).
• Press the same key again to hide that property.

Anchor Point: The Secret to Natural Motion

The Anchor Point is the pivot around which Scale and Rotation happen. If you rotate a layer and it spins around an unexpected corner, it’s almost always because the anchor point is not where you expect.

Common beginner mistake: moving the layer instead of the anchor

If you change the Anchor Point values directly, the layer may appear to “jump.” That’s because you’re changing the pivot location inside the layer’s coordinate system, and the layer’s Position is still referencing where the anchor is in the comp.

Correct way to reposition an anchor point (without frustration)

1. Select the layer.
2. Choose the Pan Behind (Anchor Point) Tool (shortcut: Y).
3. In the Comp panel, drag the anchor point to the spot that should act like the pivot (for example, the left edge of a lower-third bar).
4. Switch back to the Selection tool (V).

This method is visual and predictable: you place the pivot where you want the motion to feel natural.

Practical examples of “natural” anchor placement

• Lower-third bar that grows from the left: anchor point on the left edge of the bar.
• Clock-hand rotation: anchor point at the base of the hand.
• Pop-in scale for a logo: anchor point centered on the logo (often already correct).

Anchor point vs. Position (mental model)

• Anchor Point = the pivot inside the layer.
• Position = where that pivot sits in the comp.

If you set the anchor point first, then animate scale/rotation, the motion usually looks intentional immediately.

Guided Build: A Simple Lower-Third (Clean Timeline Workflow)

You’ll build a basic lower-third: a background bar that slides in, plus text that fades in. Along the way you’ll practice layer order, transform properties, anchor points, and timeline organization tools (naming, shy, solo, lock).

Goal

• A rectangular bar enters from the left and settles near the bottom of frame.
• Name text appears on top of the bar.
• Timeline stays readable using naming, Solo/Lock, and Shy.

Step 1: Create the bar layer

1. Create a Shape Layer rectangle (a simple filled bar).
2. Place it near the bottom-left area of the frame.
3. Make sure the bar layer is below the text layer later (bar behind, text in front).

Tip: If you can’t see the bar, check that it’s not hidden behind another layer and that its timing bar overlaps the current time indicator.

Step 2: Name your layers immediately

Clean timelines start with names you can scan quickly.

• Rename the shape layer to BG Bar.
• When you add text, name it Name Text.

Good naming prevents mistakes like animating the wrong layer or hiding the wrong element.

Step 3: Set the bar’s anchor point for a natural “grow” or “slide”

Decide how you want the bar to animate:

• Slide in: animate Position (anchor point can stay centered).
• Grow from left: animate Scale X (anchor point should be on the left edge).

For a beginner-friendly lower-third, a “grow from left” is very readable and teaches anchor points well.

1. Select BG Bar.
2. Press Y (Pan Behind tool).
3. Drag the anchor point to the left edge of the bar, vertically centered.
4. Press V to return to Selection.

Step 4: Animate the bar (Scale + Position, minimal properties)

1. Select BG Bar and press S to reveal Scale.
2. At the start time (for example 00:00), set Scale to something like 0%, 100% (collapsed horizontally, full height).
3. Move forward about 10–15 frames.
4. Set Scale to 100%, 100%.

If the bar expands from the wrong side, your anchor point is not on the left edge. Fix the anchor point first, then re-check the animation.

Step 5: Add the text layer and ensure correct stacking

1. Create a text layer and type a name (e.g., “Alex Rivera”).
2. Position it on top of the bar with comfortable padding.
3. In the Timeline, make sure Name Text is above BG Bar so it renders in front.

Step 6: Animate the text (Opacity fade-in)

1. Select Name Text and press T to reveal Opacity.
2. Set Opacity to 0% at the start.
3. Move forward a few frames after the bar begins (so the text doesn’t appear before the bar exists).
4. Set Opacity to 100%.

This creates a simple, readable sequence: bar first, text second.

Step 7: Keep the timeline clean (Solo, Lock, Shy)

As comps grow, you’ll spend more time managing layers than animating. These three controls help you stay focused.

• Solo (dot icon): temporarily shows only the layers you solo. Use this to focus on the lower-third without distraction.
• Lock (padlock icon): prevents accidental moves/edits. Lock BG Bar once it’s placed correctly.
• Shy (little face icon): hides layers from the Timeline when Shy is enabled in the comp. Use this to hide helper layers or anything you don’t need to touch often.

Practical organization pass (30 seconds)

1. Lock BG Bar after you’re happy with its placement.
2. Solo BG Bar briefly to check the bar animation cleanly, then unsolo.
3. Solo Name Text briefly to confirm the fade timing, then unsolo.
4. If you have extra layers (guides, reference, etc.), mark them Shy and enable the comp’s Shy switch so your main layers stay visible.

Optional: a simple property view for readability

To avoid an overwhelming timeline, only reveal what you’re actively animating:

• Select BG Bar and press S (hide everything else).
• Select Name Text and press T.

This keeps you focused on the two properties that matter for this build: Scale for the bar, Opacity for the text.