In this chapter, we'll dive into the concept of **Shape Layers** in After Effects. 

Shape layers are **versatile containers** that hold paths, strokes, fills, and various other properties, making them fundamental for creating and animating shapes in your projects.

In this chapter, **you've learned**:
- What shape layers are and how to create them;
- How to manually add and adjust shapes within a shape layer;
- How grouping shapes affects their properties and behavior;
- How to apply and adjust fill, stroke, and other properties efficiently.

### Mentioned shortcuts


## Homework
Create a shape layer with a star with 15 peaks, a pink fill, and a brown dashed stroke.   
It must look as follows:

What happens when you press and hold the shape tool icon in After Effects?

What happens when you apply a stroke outside of grouped shapes in a shape layer?


This course provides a comprehensive introduction to Adobe After Effects, covering essential tools and techniques for animation, motion graphics, and visual effects. You'll engage in precise practice, learning to create full animations and advanced transitions in dedicated chapters. By the end, you'll have the skills to craft dynamic animations and high-quality video content through hands-on projects.

You'll explore the core interface and functionality of After Effects, learning how to navigate compositions, layers, and essential tools. You'll also learn how to organize your projects effectively and gain a strong understanding of basic transformations, laying the groundwork for more complex animation tasks.

This section focuses on mastering key animation principles, such as keyframing and easing, along with learning to create a complete animation on a real example in a dedicated chapter and making motion graphics transitions in another.

Now you'll explore more advanced features such as chroma keying with the Keylight effect, using masks for refining effects, Adjustment Layers for applying effects to multiple layers, and pre-composing for better project organization. Additionally, you'll practice creating professional transitions, perfecting techniques like zooms and whip pans, with an emphasis on precise execution.

Shape Layer

Mentioned shortcuts

Homework

1. What happens when you press and hold the shape tool icon in After Effects?

2. What happens when you apply a stroke outside of grouped shapes in a shape layer?