Preview Tool Reference
Preview Animation Menu Options
Use the Preview tool Animation menu options to view the behavior of various timelines.
| Animation Type | Keyboard Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|---|
| ‘In’ timeline
|
i | The ‘In’ animation plays forwards recursively |
| Shift + i | The ‘In’ animation plays in reverse recursively | |
| Alt + i | The ‘In’ animation plays forwards non-recursively | |
| Alt + Shift + i | The ‘In’ animation plays in reverse non-recursively | |
| ‘Out’ timeline
|
o | The ‘Out’ animation plays forwards recursively |
| Shift + o | The ‘Out’ animation plays in reverse recursively | |
| Alt + o | The ‘Out’ animation plays forwards non-recursively | |
| Alt + Shift + o | The ‘Out’ animation plays in reverse non-recursively | |
| ‘CascadeIn’ timeline
|
c | The ‘CascadeIn’ animation plays recursively |
| Alt + c | The ‘CascadeIn’ animation plays non-recursively | |
| ‘CascadeOut’ timeline
|
Shift + c | The ‘CascadeOut’ animation plays recursively |
| Alt + Shift + c | The ‘CascadeOut’ animation plays non-recursively | |
| Play timeline
|
Timeline no. (1, 2, 3,…) | Select one of nine timelines to play forwards recursively. If you press 1, the timeline labeled ‘Timeline 1’ plays; if you press 2, the timeline labeled ‘Timeline 2’ plays, and so on. |
| Shift + Timeline no. | The timeline plays in reverse recursively | |
| Alt + Timeline no. | The timeline plays forwards non-recursively | |
| Shift + Alt + Timeline no. | The timeline plays in reverse non-recursively | |
| Select timeline
|
‘-’ (hyphen) | Display the custom timeline selector dialog |
| 0 (zero) | The custom timeline plays forwards recursively | |
| Shift + 0 (zero) | The custom timeline plays in reverse recursively | |
| Alt + 0 (zero) | The custom timeline plays forwards non-recursively | |
| Alt + Shift + 0 (zero) | The custom timeline plays in reverse non-recursively | |
| Toggle loop timeline playback
|
l (lower case L) | The ‘loop’ animation starts/stops playing forwards |
| Shift + l | The ‘loop’ animation starts/stops playing in reverse | |
| Play/pause active timeline
|
Spacebar | The active timeline stops/starts playing forwards |
| Shift + Spacebar | The active timeline stops/starts playing in reverse | |
| Alt + Spacebar | The active timeline restarts playing forwards | |
| Alt + Shift + Spacebar | The active timeline restarts playing in reverse |
Pro tip
If there is no timeline available, the Play Timeline option is disabled by default.
Preview Content Menu Options
Use the Preview tool Content menu options to view the effects of changing images, altering backgrounds, randomizing text strings, or viewing outlines.
| Feature | Keyboard Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Background
|
b | Simulates a dynamic background. Press ‘b’ to cycle through different backgrounds. This way, you can select the best background for your purpose. |
| Shift + b | Select the previous background. | |
| Alt + b | Select the ‘Checkerboard’ background.Sets content in specified grid and alignment. Press ‘f’ to cycle through different grids and alignment aids. | |
| Overlay
|
f | Sets content in specified grid and alignment. Press ‘f’ to cycle through different grids and alignment aids. |
| Shift + f | Select the previous overlay. | |
| Alt + f | Select having no overlay. | |
| Outline
|
e | Displays bounding areas for items on screen. Press ‘e’ to cycle through different outline modes, each displaying bounding areas for items on screen. |
| Shift + e | Select the previous outline mode. | |
| Alt + e | Remove outlines. | |
| Sample image | p | Replaces a dynamic image node with a sample image. |
| Press ‘p’ to cycle through sample images.
|
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| Shift + p | Select the previous sample image. | |
| Alt + p | Select having no sample image. | |
| Clipping | x | Clips content visibility to the bounds of its container. |
| Press x to cycle through clipping modes.
|
||
| Shift + x | Select previous clipping mode. | |
| Alt + x | Use default from AE. | |
| Show magnets | m | Displays the magnet lines on the screen. |
| Text
|
t | Tests variable string length. Press ‘t’ to cycle through text samples. |
| Shift + t | Select the previous text sample. | |
| Alt + t | Use the default from AE. | |
| = | Decrease font size | |
| Shift + = | Increase font size | |
| Alt + = | Reset font size |
Preview Screen Menu Options
The Preview tool has various device resolutions built in, so that you can effectively test the look-and-feel of your designs with the appropriate screen sizes.
To preview your composition in different screen sizes:
- Open the Screen menu.
- Select Screen Profile.
- Select the desired screen size from the list.
The following table describes the functionality available in the Preview tool Screen menu.
| Type | Keyboard Shortcut | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Select Screen Profile | s | Displays the Screen profile/size selection screen. |
| Pick Best Screen Profile | Alt + s | The preview tool selects the closest profile in relation to the previewed composition. |
| Rotate Screen | r | Switches between landscape and portrait orientations. |
| Zoom in | z | |
| Zoom out | Shift + z | |
| Reset Zoom | Alt + z | |
| Load Assets from all Folders | k | Loads assets from Asset Locator folders. |
| Toggle UI Visibility | u | Show/hide user interface. |
| Toggle FPS Indicator Visibility | Show/hide the frame-per-second counter. | |
| Show Scene Tree Viewer | v | Displays a list of content and the inherited properties of each. |
| Show Assets Viewer | a | Browse assets found within the project. |