Learn how to navigate Adobe After Effects so you can organize your projects — including imported assets, precompositions, and timeline layers — and apply effects efficiently.

Working in After Effects can become overwhelming if things aren’t well organized. Use columns, labels, and search presets to find elements easily, and use precompose to gather layers into groups. No matter your skill level, you’ll benefit from these organization tips.

There are several ways to apply effects to layers in your projects. Whether you add effects directly to a layer, use adjustment layers, or apply layer solids and blend modes, you should understand how the order of operations affects your results.