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How do you copy and paste frames in After Effects?

Published in After Effects 2 mins read

To copy and paste frames (more accurately referred to as keyframes) in Adobe After Effects, you use the standard copy and paste commands. Here's a breakdown of the process:

  1. Select the Keyframe(s): In the Timeline panel, select the keyframe(s) you want to copy. You can select multiple keyframes by holding down Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) while clicking.

  2. Copy the Keyframe(s): There are two ways to copy the selected keyframes:

    • Using the Edit Menu: Go to Edit > Copy.
    • Using Keyboard Shortcuts: Press Ctrl + C (Windows) or Command + C (Mac).

  3. Navigate to the Target Layer and Time: In the Timeline panel, select the target layer where you want to paste the keyframes. Then, position the current-time indicator (the playhead) at the exact frame where you want the copied keyframes to be pasted.

  4. Paste the Keyframe(s): There are two ways to paste the copied keyframes:

    • Using the Edit Menu: Go to Edit > Paste.
    • Using Keyboard Shortcuts: Press Ctrl + V (Windows) or Command + V (Mac).

Important Considerations:

  • Keyframe Properties: The pasted keyframes will be applied to the same property from which they were copied. For example, if you copied position keyframes, they will be pasted onto the position property of the target layer. If the target layer doesn't have that property (e.g., you try to paste position keyframes onto a layer that doesn't have a position property enabled), nothing will happen.
  • Multiple Properties: You can copy keyframes from multiple properties at the same time. Just select keyframes from different properties before copying.
  • Pasting to Different Properties (with Caution): While you can't directly paste position keyframes to rotation, for instance, you can use expressions to link properties together and essentially transfer the animation data. This is a more advanced technique.
  • Moving Keyframes: To simply move keyframes within the same layer (or to another layer), you can drag them with your mouse instead of copying and pasting.

By following these steps, you can easily copy and paste keyframes in After Effects, streamlining your animation workflow.

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