To quickly turn off wireframe and other visual controls in After Effects, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + H (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + H (macOS). This shortcut toggles the visibility of various layer controls, including light/camera wireframes, masks, motion paths, effect control points, and layer handles.
Turning off these controls provides a cleaner view of your composition, allowing you to see the final rendered output without distracting overlays.
Toggling Layer Controls Visibility
After Effects displays several visual aids by default to help you work with layers, masks, lights, and cameras. These aids, sometimes referred to collectively or individually as "wireframes" (especially for lights and cameras) or "controls," can clutter your preview window when you want to see the final result.
The Ctrl + Shift + H / Cmd + Shift + H shortcut is your primary tool for hiding or showing these elements.
What Does Ctrl + Shift + H Hide?
The shortcut specifically toggles the display of:
- Light/Camera Wireframes: Visual representations of light sources and camera cones.
- Masks: Outlines of mask shapes applied to layers.
- Motion Paths: Lines showing the animation path of a layer's position.
- Effect Control Points: Handles or indicators for manipulating certain effects directly in the Composition panel.
- Layer Handles: Selection boxes and transformation handles around layers.
Using this command doesn't affect the final render; it only changes what you see in the Composition, Layer, or Footage panels.
Shortcut Summary
| Action | Windows Shortcut | macOS Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Toggle Show/Hide Controls | Ctrl + Shift + H | Cmd + Shift + H |
Why Hide Controls?
Hiding layer controls is useful when you:
- Need a clean preview of your animation.
- Want to evaluate the composition without distracting overlays.
- Are preparing to take screenshots of your work.
- Are presenting your animation to others within After Effects.
Simply press the shortcut again to make the controls visible when you need them for further editing.
