Using shy layers to simplify the timeline
As your timeline starts to fill up, you might want to get rid of some layers.Not permanently, but rather hide them from view. Let's say, for example, we know that these blood cells don't need to be animated, and this locked layer, as well. So, I can minimize these. What I'm doing is clicking on this small icon,which is based on the historical Kilroy icon. It's a little guy peeping over a wall. This means that you can hide objects that you don't need to change.
Maybe the solids for the background, and some of the graphic elements.Well, I'd like to see the text. Now, in the normal timeline, it's very difficult to see those text layers side by side. I'd have to keep scrolling up and down in the timeline. But, by marking some of the layers as shy, I can click the icon up here to hide shy layers. And you'll notice that the little guy peeping over the wall goes and hides. And all those layers that were marked shy are going to be hidden from view.
Now, all of the elements are still in play. You'll notice that the numbers go one, 11, 14, and 15. That means that layers two through 10, and 12 and 13, were marked as shy. They still appear up here in the composition, and they'll still render. But, the ability to control what's displayed in the timeline's quite useful. And then, if needed, you can click that button again, and all the shy layers are made visible.
The use of the shy switch can make it much easier to control a cluttered timeline.