Pasting keyframes in After Effects is a fundamental action for duplicating or moving animation across properties or compositions. You can quickly paste keyframes using either a keyboard shortcut or the Edit menu.
Easy Ways to Paste Keyframes
After copying keyframes from a layer property, you can paste them onto another compatible property. The placement of the pasted keyframes is determined by the current time indicator (playhead) position.
Here are the two primary methods based on the provided references:
1. Using the Keyboard Shortcut
This is the fastest and most common method used by After Effects professionals.
- Action: Press "Ctrl+V" on your keyboard.
This instantly pastes the copied keyframes onto the selected layer property at the playhead's current position.
2. Using the Edit Menu
If you prefer using the menu bar, you can access the paste command there.
- Action: Go to "Edit > Paste" in the top menu.
Selecting this option performs the same action as the keyboard shortcut, pasting the keyframes at the playhead.
Steps to Paste Keyframes
To successfully paste keyframes, follow these general steps:
- Select and Copy: Choose the layer and property containing the keyframes you want to duplicate. Select the desired keyframes (they will turn blue) and copy them (Ctrl+C or Edit > Copy).
- Navigate: Go to the composition, layer, and property where you want to paste the keyframes. The property type must be compatible (e.g., pasting copied Position keyframes onto another layer's Position property).
- Position Playhead: Move the current time indicator (playhead) to the exact time where you want the first pasted keyframe to appear.
- Paste: Use either of the methods described above:
- Press Ctrl+V on your keyboard.
- Go to the Edit > Paste menu.
The keyframes will appear starting at the playhead's position, maintaining their original timing relative to each other.
Summary Table
Here's a quick look at the methods:
| Method | How to Perform | Quick Access |
|---|---|---|
| Keyboard | Press Ctrl+V | Yes |
| Edit Menu | Go to Edit > Paste in the top menu | No |
By following these simple steps and using the provided methods, you can easily paste keyframes to duplicate or transfer animations within After Effects.
