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selecting a layer in the comp window?
ok, another simplish question. again i searched but to no real avail…
OK – so i have a composition i’ve imported from photoshop. there’s about 50 discs on a plain background – each disc on its own layer. i can see them all in the composition window, but if i want to select a particular disc in that window i can’t select it in the comp window – i have to go through the layers on the timeline and click em on and off until i find the particular disc i want to manipulate. Is there a shortcut for this – a special click? The right click on the comp canvas and choosing ‘select’>’layer name’ doesn’t help me as i do not know which layer it is i want to select as far as names goes.
Does this make sense?
Basically I want an ‘auto-select layer’ function as there is in photoshop… -
5 Replies
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[Chris T] “Basically I want an ‘auto-select layer’ function as there is in photoshop…”
I don’t have AE in front of me right now, but I believe that is the default functionality in AE. You may be running into trouble if you didn’t import your Composition as Cropped Layers, in which case each of the layers may be taking up the entire space of the composition window (clicking anywhere would then select the ‘top’ layer). I wish I had AE in front of me right now to confirm my suspicion, but I’m sure someone else will be able to correct me if I’m wrong =)
Darby Edelen
Designer
Left Coast Digital
Santa Cruz, CA -
ooh…cropped layers.
aha – yep, i didn’t do that. each layer is taking up the entire comp.
bugger…
thanks for your help.
does this mean i have to start my comp again, re-importing the psd as a ‘cropped layers’ comp. or is there a way to get ae to reconfig the file as a ‘cropped layers’ comp within ae without having to restart. -
I believe you need to re-import your PSD as a composition with cropped layers.
Darby Edelen
Designer
Left Coast Digital
Santa Cruz, CA -
Unfortunately, this is How AE works. Especially without cropped layers. But even so, it doesn’t select by pixel – or rather it does, but whatever is on top will be selected.
Welcome to the fun world of large and complex compositions.
One thing you can do is lock any layers you don’t plan on manipulating. This will make them unselectable, and then the next one down will be selected when you click (I think).
Aharon Rabinowitz
Email: arabinowitz (AT) yahoo (DOT) com
All Bets Are Off Productions, Inc.
Creative Cow After Effect Podcast
Internet Killed the Video Star: A Guide to Creating Video for the Web -
hmm yes,
i re-imported with cropped layers, but as you say it is only slightly more helpful.. i’ll see if there any layers i can lock.
but yes, a bit fiddly../
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