how to switch off a layer ?

[Brian Charles]

[Jerry Yang] “say i want it to show for 3 sec and disapear for 5 sec and show again
for some time.”

Keyframe the opacity value of the layer. Zero opacity = invisible layer. To avoid ramping the layer up and down use hold keyframes.

It sounds like you could benefit from some After Effects basic training.

See here:

https://www.videocopilot.net/basic/

[Jerry Yang]

thanks Brian, i should have explained it better as i dont just wanna play with opacity(for which i use strobe light effect for), but more for applying different effects or things on one layer. and i thought coply layers and ajust their timespan along the timeline is a bit tedious.

[Brian Charles]

What about an adjustment layer?

Or a Parented Null Object that controls the layer’s effects?

[Jerry Yang]

great! i will dive in to those 2 topics, thanks for your pointers.

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

Use Hold KFs on the Opacity property. Specifically, you only need two values, 100 and 0 to effectively switch on and off the layer’s visibility. This is an elegant and easy option to apply.

HTH
RoRK

Intensive AE & Mocha Training in Singapore and Malaysia
Adobe ACE/ACI (version 7) & Imagineer Systems Inc Approved Mocha Trainer