Tiles
| Tile | Click | Shift-click | Alt-click |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grid | Puts the grid on, or takes it off when pressed | ||
| Fewer | One fewer column and row | Columns only | Rows only |
| More | One more column and row | Columns only | Rows only |
| Thirds | Rule of thirds | Golden ratio | Center cross |
| Bounds | Edges and centers of the selected layers | Edges only | Centers only |
| Clear | Every guide, and forgets the grid | Vertical only | Horizontal only |
Cmd-click Grid to put the grid inside the selected layers. Right-click Grid for every value of the grid.
On Mac, Alt is Option. On Windows, Cmd is Ctrl. Hover a tile for a tooltip with its gestures. The icons on Thirds, Bounds, Clear, Fewer, More and Grid change while you hold a modifier, to show what the click will do.
Top bar
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Columns × rows | Drag a number left or right, or click it to type. Shift changes it by 10, Tab jumps to the other number. Pointing at one lights its columns or rows in the preview. Right-click for every value. |
| Size and guides | The comp’s size and guide count, as much as fits. Hover it for the comp’s name. No comp when no comp is active. |
| Eye | Show or hide guides in the comp viewer. |
| Lock | Lock or unlock guides. |
| Magnet | Snap to guides on or off. |
The three toggles run After Effects’ own View menu commands, so they match the viewer. They need a comp open in the viewer.
Preview
| Gesture | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drag a bracket | Moves that margin and the one across from it. |
| Alt-drag a bracket | Moves that margin only. |
| Drag inside a gutter | Widens or narrows every gutter. |
| Shift while dragging | Ten times faster. |
| Cmd while dragging | Ten times finer. |
| Right-click | Save and stamp presets. |
A drag moves a value one pixel per pixel of pointer movement, or 0.1% when the grid is in percent. The comp follows when you let go.
What the preview shows:
| You see | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cells with guide lines over them | The comp’s grid and all of its guides. |
| Faint cells | The comp has no grid. This is the grid Grid will put on. |
| Faint cells in a dashed outline | No comp is active. Changes set the grid the next comp gets. |
| A dashed frame inside the comp | The grid sits inside a layer. |
| Stripes | You’re pointing at the columns or rows count. |
Right-click menu
Right-click Grid or the counts for the columns, rows, margins and gutter as fields, with px and % to switch units. In a slot with no top bar, the menu also has Show, Lock and Snap. Presets at the bottom opens the preset list.
Badges
After a click, the tile shows a short badge. 14 guides counts the guides added and 14 cleared the guides removed. Grid says Off when you take the grid off and Saved after you save a preset. More and Fewer show the new counts, such as 5×4. Already there means every guide was already in place.
A refused click shakes the tile with the reason, such as No comp or No layers. Troubleshooting lists each one. Tiles too narrow for words show a number or nothing, and a message appears beside the panel instead.
Slot sizes
Griddy rearranges itself to fit its slot. The six tiles always stay.
A tall narrow strip puts the toggles on top and the counts on their own line below them, then the preview and the six tiles in a column.
A short row shows only the tiles. Right-click Grid for the counts, margins, gutter and the guide toggles.
The default slot is 8 columns by 8 rows of the Motion Dock grid. The smallest slots are 2 by 7, 4 by 4, 5 by 3 and 8 by 2 grid cells. Resize Griddy in Edit layout, then click Exit layout mode to use it.