Trimming your composition in After Effects involves adjusting its total duration to match a specific section you've defined. The most common way to do this is by using the Work Area.
What is "Trim Comp to Work Area"?
After Effects allows you to define a "Work Area" within your timeline, marking a specific start and end point. The Trim Comp to Work Area command doesn't trim individual layers; instead, it changes the total duration of the entire composition to precisely match the length and position of your current Work Area. This is extremely useful for exporting specific sections or cleaning up the composition length before rendering.
How to Perform the Trim
To trim your composition to the Work Area, you have two main methods:
Using the Menu
- Set your Work Area: First, define the section of your timeline you want your composition to become. Drag the start and end points of the Work Area bar at the top of the timeline panel.
- Go to the Menu: Navigate to the main menu bar at the top of the After Effects window.
- Select the Command: Choose Edit > Trim Comp to Work Area.
Using the Keyboard Shortcut
This is a quicker method once you're familiar with it.
- Set your Work Area: Just like using the menu, define your desired composition duration using the Work Area bar.
- Use the Shortcut:
- On Mac: Press
Shift + Command + X - On Windows: Press
Shift + Alt + X
- On Mac: Press
| Action | Menu Command | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trim Comp to Work Area | Edit > Trim Comp to Work Area | Shift + Alt + X |
Shift + Command + X |
Using either the menu command or the keyboard shortcut will instantly adjust your composition's duration to match the in and out points of your Work Area. All layers within the composition will remain at their current positions relative to the new composition start time.
This process is essential for managing composition lengths efficiently, especially when working with complex projects or preparing sections for export.
