How do I add an Ellipse shape to a Comp with script?

[Dan Ebberts]

Like this:


var myComp = app.project.activeItem;

var myEllipseSize = [100,200];
var myFillColor = [0.5, 0.5, 1.0];

var myShapeLayer = myComp.layers.addShape();
var myShapeLayerContents = myShapeLayer.property("ADBE Root Vectors Group");
var myShapeGroup = myShapeLayerContents.addProperty("ADBE Vector Group");
var myEllipse = myShapeGroup.property("ADBE Vectors Group").addProperty("ADBE Vector Shape - Ellipse");
myEllipse.property("ADBE Vector Ellipse Size").setValue(myEllipseSize);
var myShapeFill = myShapeGroup.property("ADBE Vectors Group").addProperty("ADBE Vector Graphic - Fill");
myShapeFill.property("ADBE Vector Fill Color").setValue(myFillColor);


Dan

[Mattias Svendsen]

Excellent! Exactly what i needed to know. Thank you, Dan.

Is there any official information about the property ADBE Root Vector Groups? Google returns only one hit. The aftereffectscs3_scripting_guide.pdf mentions it tangentially as “This is the same as using a shape tool in “Tool Creates Shape” mode. Tools automatically add a vector group that includes Fill and Stroke as specified in the tool options.” This is all i’ve found. How did you learn of it?

I need several rings so this is what i use. I’ll wrap it in a function later.
var myEllipseSize = [70,70];
var myStrokeWidth = [4];
var myStrokeColor = [1, 0, 0];

var shapeLayer2 = compShot.layers.addShape();
var shapeLayer2Contents = shapeLayer2.property("ADBE Root Vectors Group");

var myShapeGroup = shapeLayer2Contents.addProperty("ADBE Vector Group");
var myEllipse = myShapeGroup.property("ADBE Vectors Group").addProperty("ADBE Vector Shape - Ellipse");
myEllipse.property("ADBE Vector Ellipse Size").setValue(myEllipseSize);
var myShapeStroke = myShapeGroup.property("ADBE Vectors Group").addProperty("ADBE Vector Graphic - Stroke");
myShapeStroke.property("ADBE Vector Stroke Width").setValue(myStrokeWidth);
myShapeStroke.property("ADBE Vector Stroke Color").setValue(myStrokeColor);

var myShapeGroup = shapeLayer2Contents.addProperty("ADBE Vector Group");
var myEllipse = myShapeGroup.property("ADBE Vectors Group").addProperty("ADBE Vector Shape - Ellipse");
myEllipse.property("ADBE Vector Ellipse Size").setValue(myEllipseSize);
var myShapeStroke = myShapeGroup.property("ADBE Vectors Group").addProperty("ADBE Vector Graphic - Stroke");
myShapeStroke.property("ADBE Vector Stroke Width").setValue(myStrokeWidth);
myShapeStroke.property("ADBE Vector Stroke Color").setValue(myStrokeColor);

Keywords: Create Add ADBE Vector Ellipse Graphic Shape Group Stroke addProperty Script

[Dan Ebberts]

I learned it mostly by using Jeff Almasol’s rd_GimmePropPath script (https://www.redefinery.com/ae/view.php?item=rd_GimmePropPath) to get the match names of all the shape properties.

Dan

[Mattias Svendsen]

Gimme Prop Path should be a permanent part of After Effects! Thanks for pointing out this invaluable tool for scripters 🙂