Skip to main content
SteveKirby
Known Participant
September 28, 2022
Released

Add option for J K hotkeys to work with only selected layer(s)

  • September 28, 2022
  • 8 replies
  • 609 views
So J and K are potentially really useful keys but in practice there is often way too many keyframes on a timeline. How about adding the ability to add a modifier key, such as ALT, which would let J and K navigate to the next keyframe or marker ON SELECTED LAYERS ONLY. That would be most appreciated Mr. Adobe, thank-you.

    8 replies

    JohnColombo17100380
    Community Manager
    Community Manager
    October 18, 2022

    Hi everyone,

    We are very pleased to announce that After Effects 2023 (version 23.0) adds commands for navigating between keyframes on only selected layers or properties. By default, the new commands are mapped to Shift+J and Shift+K, but you are free to remap them to shortcuts that best fit your workflow.

     

    After Effects 2023 also adds other highly-requested improvements like Native H.264 Export, Selectable Track Mattes, new Composition Presets, and more. Full details are available here: https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/whats-new.html 

     

    Thanks again for adding your votes to this request,

    - John, After Effects Engineering Team

    JohnColombo17100380
    Community Manager
    Community Manager
    September 28, 2022
    Hello everyone,

    We are happy to announce that new commands to move the CTI between keyframes on only selected layers and properties are now available in After Effects (Beta). The commands are mapped to Shift+J and Shift+K by default, but they can be reassigned to your preferred keyboard shortcut.

    Check out this post on the Beta forums for more details: https://community.adobe.com/t5/after-effects-beta-discussions/feature-focus-new-shift-j-and-shift-k-keyboard-shortcuts-in-after-effects/m-p/13162330#M2273 ( https://community.adobe.com/t5/after-effects-beta-discussions/feature-focus-new-shift-j-and-shift-k-keyboard-shortcuts-in-after-effects/m-p/13162330#M2273 )

    Thanks so much for all your input, and please let us know how this feature is working for you in the Beta builds.

    Cheers,

    - John, After Effects Engineering Team
    SteveKirby
    Known Participant
    September 28, 2022
    Now I'm going to have to submit a lot more feature requests. Thanks AE Team. 👏
    Participant
    September 28, 2022
    I came here to post this same request! Would be extremely helpful when navigating the comp timeline to tweak keyframes.
    Warren Heaton
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    September 28, 2022
    Great idea!
    Participant
    September 28, 2022
    In the meantime there's this, it's great https://1resonant.com/navkeys
    Legend
    September 28, 2022
    This isn't about real-time playback. In AE, J & K moves the playhead to the previous/next keyframe, but it works globally, including in and out points of the composition, which makes it cumbersome to quickly navigate the keyframes of the currently selected layer. Having this tweak would be a very nice workflow upgrade.
    Inspiring
    September 28, 2022
    In a fast storage, faster process, high end system future, actual jkl real time playback is possible and preferable. If you sorry the cache problems out. What about ctrl alt arrow instead?