Select Every Other Layer

What's New in SEOL 2.0

Select Every Other Layer 2.0 is a ground-up rewrite of the extension, with a focus on performance, reliability, and keyboard-driven control, provided as a free update. Key new features include:

• Significantly Improved Performance: The selection engine has been overhauled entirely. Readouts now react to changes in the number of layers, or selected layers, in real-time, and complex selection parameters targeting thousands of items now execute orders of magnitudes faster than before.
• Quick Selections: Rapidly select every layer, or every other layer, above or below the selected layer with new keyboard shortcuts.
• Progressive Quick Selections: Take a selection of layers in a composition, and iteratively narrow it down in steps by the N'th layer. Most 'every other' selection tasks can now be performed exclusively with keyboard shortcuts without the use of either panel. Both standard and progressive quick selections' behaviours are configurable.
• Centralised Help Popup: Detailed descriptions of each feature and setting are now collated and accessible from a single, unified help popup always accessible in the panel.
• All-new Mini Panel: The mini panel has been completely redesigned with a modern and animated implementation that more closely resembles the main panel.
• Configurable Feedback: Floating notifications provide instant feedback, and share the same system with Control Groups and other products that use the SBShortcutManager. Optional sound cues provide useful context without breaking flow, and are user-configurable. Nine complimentary sound effects from the Kalimba Bottle SFX soundboard are included.

Quick Selections

SEOL 2.0 introduces Quick Selections and Progressive Quick Selections — lightning-fast, keyboard-driven commands that transform how you work with layer selections in After Effects.

Directional Quick Select

When a single layer is selected, Quick Select operates in directional mode. Press a shortcut to instantly select alternating layers (or every layer) either upward or downward from your current selection.

Behaviours

• Begin on Selected Layer: Optionally include your starting layer in the first iteration, or begin alternating from the next layer.
• Select Every Layer: Toggle to select every layer in the direction rather than alternating, bypassing the 'N' setting.

Progressive Quick Select

When multiple layers are selected, Quick Select enters progressive mode. Each press refines your selection through incremental patterns (n=2, n=3, n=4...), progressively narrowing down to the most relevant layers through iterative refinement.

Behaviours

• Anchor to First Layer: When enabled, uses the first selected layer as a fixed anchor across all iterations. When disabled, the anchor shifts dynamically with each iteration, progressively excluding layers from the pattern.
• Use Shortcut Direction: When enabled, the UP/DOWN shortcut you press determines which boundary (top or bottom) to anchor from, ignoring selection order. When disabled, selection history determines the anchor. Works harmoniously with the anchoring setting above.

Together, these features enable most 'every other' selection tasks to be performed exclusively with keyboard shortcuts, without touching either panel.

Key Features

Configuration Methods

Every 'Nth' Layer

Effortlessly define layers to target for selection or deselection at regular intervals. For example:

• 2: Every other layer
• 5: Every fifth layer
• N+S: Every Nth layer starting at layer S (e.g. 3+5 targets layers 5, 8, 11, ...)
• N-S: Every Nth layer with a negative offset (e.g. 5-2 targets layers 3, 8, 13, ...)

Define With Ranges

Precisely select or deselect layers by specifying exact numbers, ranges, or multiple ranges. For example:

• 1,2,3: target layers 1, 2, and 3
• 12-44: target layers 12 through 44
• 4-7, 10, 18-20: target layers 4 through 7, layer 10, and layers 18 through 20

Use the up and down arrow keys to recall previous parameters instantly, making it effortless to iterate without retyping complex inputs.

Action Controls

The action buttons produce a contextual result based on the mode and configuration.

'Create' Action

Acts relative to the current active composition:

• Selection Mode: Creates a new selection of the defined target layers, replacing any existing selection.
• Deselection Mode: Subtracts the defined target layers from the existing selection (e.g. if layers 1-10 are selected and you define 5, layer 5 is removed).

'Add / Minus' Action

This button switches dynamically:

• Selection Mode ('Add'): Adds the defined target layers to the current selection (or creates a new selection if none).
• Deselection Mode ('Minus'): Subtracts the defined target layers from the current selection (e.g. if layers 10-20 are selected and you define 2, layer 11 is removed).

Preset History

The panel's history stores every executed action and the parameters used in a given session. Pressing the up and down arrow keys while the text field is active cycles through your recent presets, streamlining repeat tasks.

Keyboard-Driven Workflow

Harness the power of a custom-built, fully customisable shortcut management system unique to the After Effects plugin and extension marketplace. Minimise mouse reliance—even forgoing mouse input entirely—saving valuable time and enabling lightning-fast interaction with the extension and its functions.

• Main Panel Shortcuts: Quick switching between modes, configuration, text input, history cycling, and executing actions.
• Global Shortcut Support: Access essential functions at any moment, no matter where your focus is within After Effects, with custom shortcuts.
• Extension Summoning: The extension can be summoned instantly via the Mini Panel with a shortcut at any time, in any desired mode or configuration.

Mini Panel - Instant Accessibility

Summon the compact Mini Panel, an optional quick-access overlay with a definable shortcut to perform ultra-fast selections and changes. The Mini Panel appears immediately at your cursor location, configured to utilise the same shortcuts as the main panel, enabling the use of the extension without mouse input—perfect for rapid, keyboard-centric workflows.

Customisable Settings Page

Tailor the extension's behaviour to your preferences:

• Compact Mode: Hide UI section titles for a more minimalist appearance.
• Show Readouts: Toggle the visibility of the main panel's real-time selection readouts.
• Persistent Mini Panel: Keep the Mini Panel open after actions are completed.
• Disable Warnings: Silence invalid-action alerts (including the safeguard that prevents deselecting all layers).
• Mini Panel Shortcut Close Behaviour: Choose how the Mini Panel behaves when a shortcut defined to open it is pressed again while it is already open.
  • Close Immediately: Quickly dismiss the Mini Panel.
  • Reposition: Reposition and re-focus the Mini Panel at your cursor, ready for immediate keyboard control and input.
  • Do Nothing: The Mini Panel will remain visible until manually closed.
• Quick Selection Behaviours: Finely tune how Quick Selections, and Progressive Quick Selections, operate to best suit your workflow.
• Floating Notifications: Choose cursor-following or fixed placement confirmation windows so feedback lands exactly where you expect it. Toggle each individual notification type on or off.
• Sound Effects: Enable or disable each sound cue trigger, assign custom .mp3 files, and adjust the global SFX volume.

Compatibility

Adobe After Effects

Versions tested and supported:

• Apple macOS (Intel processors): 2023, 2024, and 2025 releases.
• Apple macOS (Apple Silicon processors): 2023, 2024, and 2025 releases.
• Microsoft Windows: 2024 and 2025 releases.

Note: Releases from calendar‑year 2022 may operate successfully but have not been validated. Versions from 2021 and older are not supported.

Operating System

Minimum required versions:

• Microsoft Windows 10 (64‑bit) or later.
• Apple macOS 13 Ventura or later.