Precompose – Leave all attributes?

[Mike Clasby]

Hmmm, good Q?

But what if you want to group several layers together (even if for no other reason than to save space), or you want to apply an effect to all those layers (leave attributes) but not the layers you didn’t include in the precompose? Methinks that’s one, or two.

There must be more, help.

[Andrew Kramer]

I use it all the time.

For example, say I have an image in the main timeline with some effects and tranformations and I need to extend the edges of the image I can precompose and leave attributes, then in the new comp make the composition larger. This helps for effects that get cut off by edges.

Or if I have a single image layers that has some effects and transformations but I want to add a fog layer or something to the shot but don’t want to lose control of my keyframes and ainimation, you can precomp and leave attibutes then in the new comp add a bunch of layers.

or instances where you may not have effects but that the layer is parented or linked by expressions to other layers in the currect comp, and standard precomposing may break the purposes of these connections.

Anyways… I hope this gives some ideas

Andrew

[Steve Roberts]

[Andrew Kramer] “This helps for effects that get cut off by edges.”

You wouldn’t use grow bounds?

Good post, thanks.

[Andrew Kramer]

That effect has always been a bit shifty. Seems to render slower than extending comps and doesn’t always work as expected in every situation.

It’s one of those work-arounds that leads to more work-arounds…

Andrew

[Steve Roberts]

Ah, yes. I guess I haven’t pushed it to that point yet.

Thanks,
Steve