The **Timeline panel** is one of the most used features in After Effects. 

Here, you can add and arrange different layers and create animations. Each layer has basic parameters, which we'll explore in this chapter.
A solid layer is a basic color matte that is often used as a simple background in your animation.


In this chapter **you've learned**:
- Timeline panel and its importance;
- How to add, organize and manage layers;
- Basic controls for effective layer management.

### Mentioned shortcuts

What is the purpose of the Solo button in the Timeline panel?


How can you proportionally resize an image in the Preview panel?


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.

Timeline and Layers

Mentioned shortcuts

1. What is the purpose of the Solo button in the Timeline panel?

2. How can you proportionally resize an image in the Preview panel?