Color labels for layers and footage items

You can use labels (colored boxes in the Label column) in the Project panel and Timeline panel to organize and manage footage items and layers. By default, different label colors indicate different kinds of footage items, but you can assign label colors to indicate whatever categories you choose. Layer handles and motion paths in the Composition and Layer panels display the label color of the layer.

Rename label groups to help you to organize and categorize layers and footage items. To see label names in the Label column, widen the column to greater than the default width.
  • To select all layers with the same label color, select a layer with that label color and choose Edit > Label > Select Label Group.
  • To change the color of a label for one layer, click the label in the Timeline panel and choose a color.
  • To change the color of a label for all layers with that label color, select one of the layers belonging to the label group, choose Edit > Label > Select Label Group, and choose Edit > Label > [color name].
  • To change the names and default colors for labels, choose Edit > Preferences > Label Colors (Windows) or After Effects > Preferences > Label Colors (Mac OS).
  • To change the default associations of label colors with source types, choose Edit > Preferences > Label Defaults (Windows) or After Effects > Preferences > Label Defaults (Mac OS).