How Do You Select All Layers Above in After Effects?

To select layers above a currently selected layer in After Effects, you use a keyboard shortcut that allows you to incrementally add layers above to your selection.

Understanding Layer Selection Above

After Effects provides a convenient keyboard shortcut specifically for selecting layers in the timeline relative to a layer you currently have highlighted.

According to the reference:

If you have a layer selected in the Timeline panel, this shortcut will let you select the layers above or below it. Repeatedly tapping the cursor keys will add further layers to the selection.

This means the shortcut focuses on the layer immediately above your current selection and allows you to extend that selection upwards.

How to Select Multiple Layers Above

While there isn't a single one-click command to select all layers above simultaneously, the designated shortcut allows you to achieve this by repeating the action.

• Start with a selected layer: Make sure you have the layer you want to select layers above of already highlighted in your Timeline panel.
• Use the shortcut: Press the keyboard combination for selecting layers above.
• Repeat to select more: Each subsequent tap of the shortcut key will add the next layer further up in the timeline to your current selection.

By repeating the shortcut, you effectively select layers incrementally upwards from your starting point, allowing you to select as many layers above as needed, including all of them if you continue until the top layer.

The Shortcut for Selecting Layers Above

The specific keyboard combination for selecting layers above in After Effects is:

Action	Shortcut (Windows)	Shortcut (macOS)
Select Layer Above	Ctrl+Shift+Up	Cmd+Shift+Up Arrow

Practical Steps to Select Layers Above

1. In the Timeline panel, click on the layer from which you want to select layers above.
2. Press and hold Ctrl+Shift (Windows) or Cmd+Shift (macOS).
3. Tap the Up Arrow key. This selects the layer immediately above your initial selection.
4. Continue tapping the Up Arrow key while holding Ctrl+Shift or Cmd+Shift. Each tap adds the next layer above to your selection.
5. Stop tapping when you have selected all the desired layers above your original selection.

Using this method, based on the provided shortcut, you can efficiently select one layer above, several layers above, or all layers above your current selection by simply repeating the action.