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Activity Forums Adobe After Effects Scaling Layer with Lights – Please help!

  • Scaling Layer with Lights – Please help!

    Posted by Holly Amott on August 21, 2023 at 8:49 am

    Hi all, having a bit of trouble here.

    I have a comp with a background layer, 6 lights that are recreating the lights in the background layer and a chroma-keyed video that the lights show up on.

    The problem is, if I want to scale up the background layer, then it moves the lights out of position. If I try to parent the layer and lights to a null, then they scale and position out of proportion, and if I precomp it then it doesn’t have an effect on the chroma-keyed video that needs the lights.

    What do I do? Is there any third party plugins I can buy? I’ve looked around and can’t find anything. Thanks so much, I appreciate any help!

    Andy Kiernan replied 2 years, 11 months ago 3 Members · 4 Replies
  • 4 Replies
  • Andy Kiernan

    August 21, 2023 at 11:26 am

    Im guessing the BG layer is a 2d layer? One solution may be to make it a 3d layer and use a camera to move in on Z, rather than scaling, if the lights are close to the BG then they shouldnt move out of position (by much, anyway).

    Someone smarter than may may be able to tell you how to use a space transform so you can scale the/move the lights (3D) as you scale the BG (2D)

  • Eric Santiago

    August 22, 2023 at 4:04 am

    I’m confused, Isn’t the background layer in 3D mode so it can accept the lights?

    If it is then why do you need to scale it?

    Andy’s tip on using a camera is possibly the only quick fix from my experience.

  • Holly Amott

    August 22, 2023 at 2:58 pm

    Omg, I’m incredibly stupid and didn’t even think of that. Thanks so much

  • Andy Kiernan

    August 22, 2023 at 3:01 pm

    Dont be so hard on yourself! Thats why Creative Cow forum is so useful, saved my bacon many times!

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