Linking various text attributes to “master” text layer…???

[Dan Ebberts]

If you apply an expression to the source text property, all characters get the same formatting, so you lose any custom typesetting.

I think the best you could do would be to create a script that you would fire off after you’re finished setting up the master layer, and the script would duplicate the layer and apply the additional looks.

Not ideal, but it might be useful.

Dan

[Doug Nash]

Thanks, Dan.
Just to be clear. I’m trying to get additional text layers to adopt the EXACT look as the “master” one. I wasn’t sure if that was clear in my initial post. Is that how you understood my question?

As for what you’re saying, wouldn’t whatever script I used have to see all those additional parameters to work? Besides just replicating the exact letters, it would have to also match the kerning, line-spacing, tabs, spaces, etc.

So, whether that script acts in real time, as I make the adjustments to the “master”, or instead applied to the “child” text layer after the work is done on the “master” – that expression script would still need to do what I don’t know how to do. Confusing…

[Dan Ebberts]

>Is that how you understood my question?

Yup.

>wouldn’t whatever script I used have to see all those additional parameters to work?

No, the key is that the script would just duplicate the master layer to create the children layers, which would make them idential to the master. Of course you could do that by hand as well. I’m not sure how much work the script would save you–it would depend on what you’re doing exactly.

Dan

[Doug Nash]

Yeah, the problem is that wouldn’t be any different than just literally duplicating that master layer. Correct?

My issue is as follows:

I have many comps, with text in each.

In each comp, there is the master text layer, with custom and fine-tuned type setting, so that the words and letters clear the boundaries of the background images.

I then have two or three additional text layers, based directly off the first. However, each of these subsequent “clone” text layers have a variety of different effects applied. Things like blurs, color tints, and then some of them are converted to adjustment layers, to affect the video beneath.

So, you see, just copying the master, is only a fraction of the actual work. I still have to go back and re-add all the special effects and settings to all the child text layers.

On top of that is the production reality that the client can and will alter the copy for this piece, as we proceed. All the more reason that I need to be able to adjust the text only once, and have it propagate down to the special custom text layers beneath.

[Dan Ebberts]

The script could create the children, apply all the effects, convert to adjustment layers, etc. for you. As long as you’re doing the same thing each time, it should work. If you need to change the copy, you’d edit the master, delete the childen, and run the script again.

Dan

[Doug Nash]

Ah! I’m starting to see what you mean. So this wouldn’t even be an expression, per se. Right? You’re actually talking about a regular script, which could theoretically be applied to any layer, and achieve a similar affect?

I would have no clue how to do something like that. Is there a way to have AE record some actions? Kind of like when you make a shortcut in PSD or Ill?

Thanks again.

[Dan Ebberts]

>Is there a way to have AE record some actions?

Unfortunately, no.

If you have time to do it, this sounds like a good first scripting project. It’s a good skill to have. 🙂

Dan

[Kevin Camp]

i think you could get away with writing a script that simply copy-and-pasted the source text from the ‘master’ layer and pasted it into the source text of the ‘child’ layers that already have the effects set up on them…

Kevin Camp
Senior Designer
KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW

[Dan Ebberts]

That could look like this:

var myComp = app.project.activeItem;
var myMasterLayer = myComp.layer(“master”);
var myMasterText = myMasterLayer.property(“ADBE Text Properties”).property(“ADBE Text Document”);
var myMasterTextDoc = myMasterText.value;

var myChildLayer = myComp.layer(“child”);
var myChildText = myChildLayer.property(“ADBE Text Properties”).property(“ADBE Text Document”);
var myChildTextDoc = myChildText.value;

myChildTextDoc.text = myMasterTextDoc.text;
myChildText.setValue(myChildTextDoc);

But you’d lose all the text formatting of the master layer.

Dan

[Doug Nash]

Sounds good to me. But I’d be clueless as to where to begin. And I’m still not sure whether that would circumvent one of the main issues, inherent in using the expression to copy the “text” channel. In that it doesn’t recognize the typesetting, beyond just the actual letters.