Let me show you some useful things you can do with Snapshots in Adobe After Effects. Let’s dive right in!
Step 1: Taking Snapshots in After Effects.
I am going to take a snapshot of my current After Effect composition by clicking on the snapshot icon below our canvas.
Next, I am going to move our logos around on the canvas like so.
Step 2: Snapshot History
I can see my snapshot history by LEFT-CLICK and HOLD on the snapshot icon.
You will be able to toggle back and forth by LEFT-CLICK and HOLD on the snapshot icon.
However, let me show you something new that you may not know.
Step 3: Blending Snapshots in After Effects
If you HOLD ALT + LEFT-CLICK on the snapshot icon on the PC or HOLD OPTION + LEFT-CLICK on a Mac, you will be able to blend both snapshots.
It is especially handy when aligning things up in Adobe After Effects.
How it works is simple, After Effects blends both snapshots with a Classic Difference Blending Mode.
Let me show you how to get to it manually.
Classic Difference Blending Mode
Select the [UM Logo 2017.ai] file in our timeline, then duplicate it with a keyboard shortcut CTRL+D on PC or COMMAND+D on Mac.
CLICK on blending mode dropdown menu and select Classic Difference.
That is what the snapshot does in the background when we HOLD ALT + LEFT-CLICK on the snapshot icon on the PC or HOLD OPTION + LEFT-CLICK on a Mac.
Multiple Snapshots in Adobe After Effects
You can also take more than one snapshot in After Effects. A lot of people don’t know about this one.
First Snapshot
To take the first snapshot of the canvas, you have to HOLD SHIFT+F5 on a Mac or PC.
Second Snapshot
HOLD SHIFT+F6 on a Mac or PC to take the second snapshot.
Third Snapshot
HOLD SHIFT+F7 on a Mac or PC to take the third snapshot.
Fourth and Last Snapshot
HOLD SHIFT+F8 on a Mac or PC to take the last snapshot.
We took four different snapshots of our canvas with the four keyboard shortcuts: SHIFT+F8, SHIFT+F7, SHIFT+F6, and SHIFT+F5.
Accessing Snapshots in After Effects
By doing so, we attached a snapshot to each F-number.
For example, we took the first snapshot with the SHIFT+F5 keyboard shortcut. That means our first snapshot is stored or attached to F5.
To access the first snapshot, we just have to press F5 on the keyboard. That simple!
The same thing applies to F6, F7, and F8.
Clearing Snapshots in After Effects
Clearing snapshots can also be done individually, much like storing them.
We can always override a snapshot by taking another snapshot over it, but to clear a snapshot individually, we have to HOLD CTRL+SHIFT+F6 on a PC or HOLD COMMAND+SHIFT+F6 on a Mac.
If you press F6, you will notice that nothing happens.
I hope you found this After Effects Snapshot Tip useful. You can check out all of our Tips on our website and make sure to subscribe to our email list.
Free Private Facebook Mentoring Group
Lastly, join our FREE Private Facebook Mentoring Group. It is our best FREE online resource. We have thousands of talented motion designers in this group. It is an excellent place to network and grow as a motion designer. See you in the group!
