Most editors waste time doing things the long way. Here are 5 keyboard shortcuts and workflow tricks I use on every single project:

1. Pre-compose with Shift+Ctrl+C (Cmd+C on Mac)

Stop dragging layers around. Select what you need, pre-comp it, and keep your timeline clean. Name your pre-comps properly or you'll hate yourself later.

2. RAM Preview with Numpad 0, but set your resolution to Half

Full resolution preview is a trap unless you're on a beast machine. Drop to Half for speed — you're checking motion, not pixel quality.

3. U key to reveal only keyframed properties

When you're deep into an animation and your timeline looks like a spreadsheet, hit U. Instantly see only what's actually animated.

4. Hold Alt and click the stopwatch for expressions

Even basic expressions like loopOut("cycle") will save you from copy-pasting keyframes across your entire comp.

5. Ctrl+D to duplicate layers, then Ctrl+Shift+D to split

Duplicate keeps a copy. Split cuts at the playhead. Know the difference — it'll change how you build transitions.

These are basics, but I see editors with 2+ years of experience still not using them.

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