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Use Effects to Duplicate Layer Within Itself?
I have three layers:
Title A
Copy of Title A
BackgroundBoth text layers identical layer styles applied and have their transfer mode set to Multiply. To get the look I want, I need to duplicate the text layer so that it “doubles up the density” so to speak so that the multiply factor is more intense.
Is there a way to achieve the same effect without Copy of Text A? Is there a way to duplicate a layer within itself? Some sort of Channel Combiner or Arithmetic operation? I’d like to avoid needing to deal with two text layers for each title. I know I can link attributes, parent, etc., but that’s even more work for each title.
Any help or advice is appreciated.
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9 Replies
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Check out the CC Composite effect. Using the Add blending mode within that effect should do what you want, if I’m understanding you correctly.
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Todd Kopriva, Adobe Systems Incorporated
After Effects quality engineering
After Effects team blog
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You don’t have to deal with two separate layers if you parent the layers and then parent the source text. Then if you update the parent text, the child text will update as well.
“|_ (°_0) _|”
Sincerely,
George
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No, I understand that. I’m trying to avoid needing a second text layer entirely.
Edit: And thanks anyway. 🙂
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Yes, I tried that at first. No dice. I apply it, switch the mode within to Add (or any other mode), and nothing changes. It’s like I’m not applying that effect at all.
But it doesn’t seem like the correct effect anyway, yes? I’m not trying to combine the effect with the layer, I’m trying to duplicate the layer within itself. Almost like precomposing two copies of the same layer within one layer, but without actually precomposing (and not needing a second layer to act as a reference).
I know I’m missing something here…
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The CC Composite effect has exactly that result: combining the layer with itself. Show me a screenshot of your Timeline panel and Effect Controls panel where you’re trying this. I just gave it a shot, and it worked fine for me; using Add within the CC Composite effect gave the result that I thought that you were asking for.
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Todd Kopriva, Adobe Systems Incorporated
After Effects quality engineering
After Effects team blog
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I have a feeling that it doesn’t work with layer styles?
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Ah. That is a crucial detail.
Layer styles are applied last in the render order, since they are an extension of blending modes. So, no, this effect will not accomplish what you want if you are also using layer styles.
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Todd Kopriva, Adobe Systems Incorporated
After Effects quality engineering
After Effects team blog
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I suppose I should have worded it better (and used proper grammar) in my original post. Thanks anyway for trying. Any other ideas?
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Precompose, and then use the CC Composite effect on the precomposition layer.
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Todd Kopriva, Adobe Systems Incorporated
After Effects quality engineering
After Effects team blog
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