How Do I Undo A Redo In Adobe Animate?

The simplest way to "undo a redo" in Adobe Animate is by immediately performing the standard "undo" command again.

Since a "redo" is just another action in your project's history, a subsequent undo will reverse it. However, the most robust and precise method is to use the History panel, which allows you to scrub backward and forward through your entire list of actions.

Method 1: Using the Edit menu or keyboard shortcuts

This is the most direct approach for sequential undo and redo actions.

For a single action

If you have just pressed Ctrl + Shift + Z (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + Z (Mac) to redo an action, you can reverse it with a single undo command.

1. Navigate to the main menu and select Edit > Undo.
2. Alternatively, use the universal keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Z (Windows) or Cmd + Z (Mac).

For multiple sequential actions

You can repeatedly use the standard undo command to step backward through your actions, undoing your redos and any subsequent changes.

1. Press Ctrl + Z (Windows) or Cmd + Z (Mac) multiple times to step back through your history.
2. The History panel (see below) provides a visual guide for how many steps you need to go back.

Method 2: Using the History panel (recommended)

The History panel is the most powerful tool for navigating your edit history and should be your go-to for anything beyond a simple one-step correction. This method gives you total control over which state you revert to.

How to open the History panel

1. Go to the main menu and click Window > History.
2. The panel will appear, listing all the actions performed in the current session since you created or opened the document.

How to undo a redo using the History panel

1. Find the action: Locate the specific "redo" action you want to undo in the list. The most recent actions are at the bottom of the list.
2. Move the history slider: On the left side of the panel is a slider. Drag this slider up to the step before the redo you want to reverse.
3. Instant reversal: When you release the slider, all actions that were below the slider's new position will be instantly undone. The undone steps will appear dimmed in the list.

Key information about the History panel

• Destructive history: If you undo actions and then perform a new edit, all the dimmed (undone) steps that came after your new edit will be deleted from the history.
• Adjustable history depth: By default, Animate records up to 100 levels of undo in the History panel. You can change this number (from 2 to 300) in your preferences to suit your needs.
  • How to change history states: Go to Edit > Preferences, navigate to the General tab, and adjust the number in the Undo section.

Important distinctions: Object-level vs. Document-level Undo

Animate gives you the option to choose between two types of undo functionality, which can be useful for different workflows:

Document-level Undo (Default)

• Reverses actions across the entire document, regardless of which object was selected. This is the standard behavior in most software.
• Why use it? Good for most general-purpose animation and editing, where you want a universal history of your work.

Object-level Undo

• Reverses actions on a per-object basis. When you select an object and perform an undo, it only reverses the most recent change to that specific object, ignoring recent changes to other objects.
• How to enable it: Go to Edit > Preferences, select the General tab, and choose Object-level Undo from the Undo drop-down menu.
• Why use it? Useful for complex projects where you are frequently adjusting multiple elements and need granular control over your edits.
• What to watch out for: Some actions, like creating or deleting scenes, are not recorded by object-level undo.

Summary: Choosing your undo method