instant reveal
Instant Reveal is a streamlined navigation toolkit for Adobe After Effects—built around custom hotkeys and two lightweight utility scripts that eliminate the friction of finding where things actually live.
Some tools are simply native After Effects commands assigned to intentional keyboard shortcuts. Others are custom scripts designed to navigate complex comp hierarchies instantly. When mapped to hotkeys, everything becomes one-keystroke movements.
Native AE Commands (Hotkey-Assigned)
Reveal selected layer’s source in the Project panel
Reveal active composition in the Project panel
Reveal selected items in Finder
Reveal the active project file in Finder
These functions already exist in After Effects—but most people never assign them. Once they’re on hotkeys, project navigation becomes immediate.
Included Scripts (Downloads)
Reveal Parent Comps
Instantly selects and reveals all top-level parent comps of a selected or active comp.
Reveal Child Comps
Instantly selects and reveals all nested (descendant) precomps used inside a selected or active comp.
These scripts remove the need to manually trace precomp chains in large projects. One key press and you’re oriented.
Whether it saves you a second or a minute, those micro-delays add up. These ‘Instant Reveal’ functions keep you fast, focused, and in control—especially in large, layered, or constantly evolving projects.
Currently tested and working with After Effects 2024 and 2025.
This tool was developed with the assistance of ChatGPT.