Why can't I see anything in my composition window?

[888Raz]

When I have created a composition, then for some reason I cannot see anything in my composition window. It is just BLACK.

When I first started following the instructions, from youtube, on how to create muzzle flashes, I could see my muzzleflash on top my chosen image in the

composition window. For some reason now it just shows black. Maybe I have changed some setting. I have tried to reinstall AE, but that did not help either.

HELP any advice?

PS Im a complete novice, so straight forward simple advice will be well received.

[Niutoseku]

Hey, maybe someone's still struggling, like me. Actually I tried everything, and nothing helped. To be clear: I tried everything in AE, but the Adobe Illustrator was the key problem here. I made a new workspace to create second text and Ctrl+S updated this in the AE immediately. So if you copied the text somewhere (I recommend to do every single graphics in new project in AI), then delete this workspace you made in original vector project. (or click Ctrl Z multiple times). It actually worked. I am glad to help anybody who still pull his hair out.

[nhatp87010557]

it's 9 years later since your original post but I've just experienced the same issue so I just would like to share.

By reading all the comments I can see there are different reasons that lead to a composition not showing up. In my case it was because I somehow, accidentally set the composition's preview time to negative. Instead of putting 0:00:10:10, I put -0:00:10:11. 

[ItsMeSdeep]

Why This is happening? Please give me a solution.

[Rameez_Khan]

Hi ItsMeSdeep,

I'm not sure what "this" is.

What are you referring to? Can you please elaborate?

Thanks,

Rameez

[ankita.mhatre@branch.sharekhan]

after effects compositing preview is black

compositing preview is black

[katieb23108983]

howdy -- 10 yrs later-- if you've see. little dot in one of your layer in the left part of your timeline (near all the eyeballs) unclick it. i read all these comments and nothing worked until i tried this in desparation and all my stuff came back (thank god!). i had accidentally clicked a shortcut key (i have no idea which key) and it turned this 'black screen on'. it was a brief nightmare.. but this was my eventual fix. hope this helps someone else! (maybe) if all the other stuff above fails.