The Align panel in After Effects works on static layers, but it breaks on animated layers. This article covers how the native panel works, why it adds a keyframe, and how Motion Studio's Align, Distribute, and Arrange move keyframed layers as a whole.
Aligning layers natively
Window > Align opens the Align panel. Set Align Layers to Composition or Selection, then click a horizontal or vertical alignment button. The Distribute buttons space three or more layers evenly between the outermost two. For static layout work the panel is fine, and it is fast.
The problem starts when a layer has Position keyframes. The panel writes a new Position value at the current time. If a keyframe sits under the CTI, that keyframe changes; if not, a new one is added. Either way the layer snaps to the aligned spot on that frame and returns to its old path everywhere else, and the animation can be broken. The usual workarounds are to align before animating, or to parent the animated layer to a null and align the null.
Distribution has its own limits as well. There is a three layer minimum with spacing derived from the outer two, and no way to set a fixed gap. There is also no grid layout.
Native alignment is a one-frame edit. Nothing in the panel can shift a whole animation to a new place, space layers by a set number of pixels, or lay a selection out in a grid.
How do I align keyframed layers without adding new keyframes?
Select the layers, open Motion Studio's Align, choose Composition or Selection, and click a target. Align moves the entire keyframed animation: every Position keyframe shifts by the same offset, so the motion path is intact and no keyframe is added.
There are two modes to choose from:
- Composition: aligns each layer to the edges and center of the composition. Turn on Group to treat the selection as a single block. The whole group will move to the chosen edge or center, with the layers' relative positions preserved
- Selection: aligns each layer to the combined bounds of the current selection. Turn on To First to lock the first selected layer in place and align every other layer to it
When at least one selected layer is 3D and Selection mode is active, the alignment grid becomes a cube with depth controls along Z: Front aligns to the frontmost edge of the selection, Center to its Z-center, Back to the backmost edge, and Z = 0 snaps layers to the composition's zero plane.
Click the save icon at any time to store the current parameters as the new defaults.
How do I space layers evenly?
Open Distribute, select three or more layers for Auto or two or more for Manual, and click the horizontal or vertical distribute target. Auto spaces the layers evenly between the first and last in the selection. Manual uses the Spacing value as a fixed pixel gap between each layer's bounds, which is the option the native panel does not have. Keyframed layers move as a whole here too.
How do I arrange layers in a grid?
Open Arrange, set the grid parameters, and click Apply. Arrange places the selected layers in rows and columns. Run Align with Group on afterwards to center the finished grid in the composition.
Full feature documentation: Align Guide.
Common Questions about Aligning Layers in After Effects
Why does the Align panel add a keyframe to my layer?
Because it sets Position at the current time, and Position is animated. With the stopwatch on, any value change at a frame without a keyframe creates one. Motion Studio's Align offsets every existing keyframe instead of setting a value at one frame.
How do I center a layer in the composition?
Natively, open the Align panel, set Align Layers to Composition, and click the horizontal and vertical center buttons. In Motion Studio, open Align in Composition mode and click the center target. A keyframed layer's whole animation shifts to the center.
How do I distribute layers with a fixed gap between them?
You can't do this natively in AE, as the Align panel only distributes between the outer two layers. In Motion Studio, you can set Distribute to Manual, enter the gap in Spacing, and click a distribute target.
How do I align layers to one specific layer?
Natively, the panel aligns to the selection's combined bounds, so you would move the reference layer last. In Motion Studio, use Selection mode with To First on: the first layer you selected stays put and the rest align to it.
Can I align 3D layers in depth?
Not with the native panel, which works in X and Y. Motion Studio's Align switches to a cube when a 3D layer is selected in Selection mode, with Front, Center, Back, and Z = 0 targets.
How do I arrange layers in a grid in After Effects?
In Motion Studio, select the layers, run Arrange with the rows, columns, and spacing you want, and center the result with Align.
Align, Distribute, and Arrange are available now as part of Motion Studio. Try Motion Studio free for 7 days, no credit card required.