Set a property value

If multiple layers are selected and you change a property for one layer, then the property is changed for all selected layers. Sliders, angle controls, and some other property controls are only available in the Effect Controls panel.

To change the units for a property, right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) the underlined value, choose Edit Value, and choose from the Units menu. The available units are different for different property types. You can’t change the units for some properties.
  • Place the pointer over the underlined value, and drag to the left or right.
  • Click the underlined value, enter a new value, and then press Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac OS).
    Note: You can enter simple arithmetic expressions for property values and other number entries. For example, you can enter 2*3 instead of 6, 4/2 instead of 2, and 2e2 instead of 200. Such entries can be especially useful when incrementing a value by a specific amount from its original value.
  • Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) the underlined value and choose Edit Value.
  • Drag the slider left or right.
  • Click a point inside the angle control  or drag the angle control line.
    Note: After you click inside the angle control, you can drag outside it for more precision.
  • To increase or decrease the property value by 1 unit, click the underlined value and press the Up Arrow or Down Arrow key. To increase or decrease by 10 units, hold Shift while pressing the Up Arrow or Down Arrow key. To increase or decrease by 0.1 units, hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac OS) while pressing the Up Arrow or Down Arrow key.
  • To reset properties in a property group to their default values, click Reset next to the property group name. To reset an individual property, right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) the property name (not the value) and choose Reset from the context menu.

    If the property contains keyframes, a keyframe is added at the current time with the default value.

Alan Shisko provides a video tutorial on his Motion Graphics 'n Such blog shows how to use label colors and multiple selections to rapidly change properties for multiple layers simultaneously.

Charles Bordenave (nab) provides a script on the After Effects Scripts website that sets the properties in the Transform group for selected layers to random values within constraints that you set.