In After Effects, the shortcut provided for initiating the rendering process by adding a composition to the Render Queue is CMD+CTRL+M (on macOS). This action is the first step towards rendering your composition, including the area you intend to render.
While the term "render area" might sometimes refer to the Work Area (the portion of your timeline defined by the 'B' and 'N' keys) or a Region of Interest (ROI), the reference you provided specifically links the shortcut CMD+CTRL+M to the action of adding items to the Render Queue for rendering.
Understanding the CMD+CTRL+M Shortcut
The keyboard shortcut CMD+CTRL+M is a fundamental command in After Effects for preparing your work for export.
- Purpose: Adds the currently selected composition(s) to the Render Queue panel.
- Action: This doesn't immediately start rendering, but it sets up a render item with default or specified settings (like output location, format, and typically, the duration based on your composition's Work Area).
As stated in the reference:
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT CMD+CTRL+M
To render one file, make sure your composition window is selected; for multiple files, select the compositions in the Render Queue...
This highlights the practical application:
- Rendering a Single Composition: Select the composition's timeline or composition window, then press
CMD+CTRL+M. - Rendering Multiple Compositions: First, add them to the Render Queue (using the shortcut or menu command), then select them within the Render Queue panel before proceeding.
| Shortcut | Action | Note |
|---|---|---|
CMD+CTRL+M |
Add to Adobe Media Encoder Queue | Requires Adobe Media Encoder installed |
CMD+M |
Add to Render Queue | Standard After Effects Render Queue |
CMD+CTRL+M (as in the reference) |
Add to Render Queue | The reference implies this shortcut for adding to the After Effects Render Queue. In current versions, Cmd+M is standard for AE Queue, and Cmd+Opt/Alt+M for Media Encoder. However, the reference specifically states Cmd+Ctrl+M. |
Note: While the reference gives CMD+CTRL+M, the standard shortcut for adding to the After Effects Render Queue in recent versions is typically CMD+M (macOS) or CTRL+M (Windows). CMD+CTRL+M (macOS) or CTRL+ALT+M (Windows) is commonly used to add to the Adobe Media Encoder Queue. Always verify shortcuts in your specific After Effects version's Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts menu.
How This Relates to "Render Area"
While CMD+CTRL+M doesn't draw a box or set timeline markers, it's the key command to tell After Effects you're ready to render. Once the composition is in the Render Queue, you configure the render settings, which include specifying the duration (the "area" in time) you want to output. By default, this is often set to the Work Area.
Using CMD+CTRL+M is the gateway to configuring the render item where the actual "render area" (duration and output settings) is finalized before rendering begins.
