How to fade in and fade out layers in After Effects

A fade is one of the simplest, most useful transitions you’ll use. Works for text, images, footage — everything.

Steps to fade in and fade out layers

Select your layer and press T to reveal Opacity.

Set a keyframe at 0% opacity, move forward in time, and set another keyframe at 100%. Boom — the animation is ready.

For a fade out, reverse it: start at 100% opacity and go to 0%. That’s it.

One more thing

Press F9 on your opacity keyframes to make the animation start and end smoother. It gives the transition a more natural feel instead of constant speed.

Related how-tos

How to add a new text layer in After Effects
How to use easing for smooth animation in After Effects
How to create a blur effect in After Effects

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