Adobe After Effects CC 2023: How To Use Non-Rendering Guide Layers

Description:
This tutorial will show you how to use non-rendering Guide Layers in Adobe After Effects CC 2023 which can be helpful for mockups and layouts.

What is a Guide Layer:
A non-rendering layer or Pre-Comp in After Effects that will not be rendered when exporting a Composition/Project in After Effects. Any layer can be made a Guide Layer (indicated by a colored grid # next to layer name) and there is no limit to how many guide layers are created in the Layers Panel.

Chapters:
00:00  Intro: About This Tutorial
00:12  What is a Guide Layer?
00:39  How To Make A Guide Layer
01:00  Storyboard Guide Example
01:33  Preview Mockup Animation
02:09  Render Settings in Render Queue
02:40 Outro: Guide Layers FTW

 

Software Used:
Adobe After Effects CC 2023 (Click To Try or Buy)

How To Create Guide Layers in After Effects:

  1. Select and Layer (Text, Shapes, Images, Videos, Pre-Comps)
  2. Right-Click
  3. Select ‘Guide Layer’ in the contextual menu
  4. Look for the colored # next to layer name indicating a Grid Layer.
  5. Right-Click and uncheck ‘Guide Layer’ to make a Grid Layer a layer that can be rendered.
  6. Guide Layers will be ignored when exporting using Render Queue or Media Encoder.