How to Delete an Animation Preset in After Effects?

To delete an animation preset applied to a layer in After Effects, you need to select the preset in the Effect Controls panel and then remove it.

Animation presets are saved collections of properties and effects that can be applied to layers to quickly add complex animation or visual styles. If you've applied a preset and no longer need it, you can easily remove it.

Step-by-Step Guide to Deleting a Preset

Follow these simple steps to remove an animation preset from a layer:

1. Select the Layer: In your After Effects composition, select the layer that has the animation preset you want to delete.
2. Open Effect Controls: The Effect Controls panel automatically opens when you select a layer with effects or presets applied. If it's not visible, go to Window > Effect Controls.
3. Find the Preset: In the Effect Controls panel, locate the name of the animation preset you wish to remove. It will be listed just like any other effect or property group.
4. Select the Preset: Click directly on the name of the animation preset in the Effect Controls panel to select it.
5. Delete the Preset: With the preset selected, you can delete it using one of two methods:
   • Go to the “Edit” menu and select “Clear”.
   • Simply press the Delete key on your keyboard.

The animation and effects associated with that specific preset will be immediately removed from the layer.

Understanding Animation Presets vs. Keyframes

It's important to note the distinction:

• Animation Presets: Pre-configured combinations of effects and property values that you apply to a layer. Deleting the preset removes that entire package of effects/properties.
• Keyframe Animation: Animation created by setting keyframes on individual layer properties (like Position, Scale, Rotation, Opacity). Deleting keyframe animation involves selecting and deleting specific keyframes or property groups in the Timeline panel, which is a different process not covered by the provided reference.

This guide focuses specifically on deleting the animation preset as described in the reference.

Quick Deletion Methods

Here's a summary of the deletion methods:

Method	Action
Menu	Edit > Clear
Keyboard	Press the Delete key

Both methods achieve the same result: removing the selected animation preset from the layer.

Why Delete an Animation Preset?

You might need to delete an animation preset for several reasons:

• You applied the wrong preset.
• You want to build the animation manually instead.
• The preset is causing unexpected results.
• You need to clean up the effects applied to a layer.

Deleting unwanted presets helps keep your Effect Controls panel organized and your project manageable.