[Michael Kurz]

Just getting into scripting and finding out that resources and documentation online are very sparse. Why no official documentation? Anyway….

I’m pretty sure Touko Maksimainen above is nearly correct regarding how to set (at least by ExtendScript, After Effect’s javascript language) the position properties of a layer with Separate Dimensions. To be clear, I’m referring to “Separate Dimensions” as the option After Effects gives you when you right click a layer’s position property and check the “Separate Dimensions” option. This splits the position property into two properties “X Position” and “Y Position” (and a “Z Position” if the layer is 3D) in the timeline view.

To check if a layer has Separate Dimensions:
mylayer.position.dimensionsSeparated

To access X Position of a layer with Separate Dimensions (read-only):
mylayer.position.getSeparationFollower(0).value;

To access Y Position of a layer with Separate Dimensions (read-only):
mylayer.position.getSeparationFollower(1).value;

To set X Position of a layer with Separate Dimensions:
mylayer.position.getSeparationFollower(0).setValue(value);
Notice how the setValue part is a method, just a little different than Touko’s suggestion.

IMPORTANT: If your layer has keyframes, I believe you will need to use one of these in order to set a value:
app.project.item(index).layer(index).propertySpec.setValueAtKey(keyIndex, newValue)
app.project.item(index).layer(index).propertySpec.setValueAtTime(time, newValue)

The best documentation I can find is from AEnhancers:
https://docs.aenhancers.com/properties/property/#property-setvalueatkey

http://www.freelancebymichael.com

[Michael Kurz]

Cosima,

I think your process only duplicates everything in the project folder. It does not replace nested precomps with the new duplicated versions, i.e. the duplicated parent comp still contains the original precomp rather than the duplicated precomp (even though there is a duplicated precomp in the project folder). Anyone know an easier way than duplicating everything and then swapping out every precomp [tedious]?

Thanks,

http://www.freelancebymichael.com

[Michael Kurz]

Also, I’ve noticed that CC Particle World or After Effects (I don’t know which) will add some transparency to particles if you set their Motion Blur switch on for the layer. At least it does this in some instances when I’ve used it.

[Michael Kurz]

I still run into this problem even though I’ve been working with illustrator and After Effects together for years. I sometimes forget the idiosyncratic process of importing AI files. If anyone knows a better, cleaner, new way, please post!

My AI to AE design and import process:
– Start AI design in Video Template (didn’t do this? See “Paste remembers Layers” tip below)
– Separate AI design into to Layers. *Only top level layers will be recognized by AE
– Import into AE as Composition-Retain layers – this will crop each Illustrator layer to the bounds of the art in just that layer. It ignores the artboard, so any vector art that is half on the artboard and half off is not cropped. After importing this way, AE also makes a composition with your layers in the correct location. I think AE defaults each layers anchor point to the center of the layer (not the center of the artboard or composition).
– Turn on Continuously Rasterize switch for all Illustrator Layers that appear cropped, or will scale more than 100%, or otherwise look pixelated in animation. (Beware that the Puppet Tool and many effects—especially effects with 3D distortions—aren’t friendly with the continuously rasterize switch.)

*All changes to the original AI file after the first step may require you to right click the Imported AI file in the AE Project Panel and Reload Footage.
**Also most changes in the original file after the first step above will adjust each layer’s anchor point (and the maybe other properties like position or rotation) and throw the composition in AE off and any precise animation you’ve already done in AE. In an ideal world you wouldn’t touch the original AI file after step one. But really, that’s not how projects usually work. From what I’ve found, I can change colors, and edit, add, or subtract from the original art as long as I don’t change its outline or bounds (by even a pixel). Unfortunately, I can’t add Illustrator effects (like grain or texture) to a layer in the original AI file, even though this doesn’t visibly change the layers outline.

Meanwhile, I have a tip that should be included on this thread. I often find I’ve designed a complex scene in illustrator and separated it into separate layers for animation only to realize I forgot to start in one of Illustrator’s Video templates. Now I need to copy all that work and paste it into a video template. But that means loosing all my work of separating into layers. Not quite, with this tip, though.

“Paste remembers layers” option in illustrator:
Before copying into a new video template, select this option in Illustrator’s Layer Panel menu (kind of a hidden gem).
This will keep all your precious layers when you paste to a new Illustrator document.
You probably want to uncheck this option when you’re done transferring because it’s not the default copy/paste behavior you expect .

A design and workflow side tip: If your video may be shown in multiple sizes (i.e. vertical posts or ads in Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), consider designing in illustrator on an art board 1920×1920 and have guide layers that show common video aspect ratios, both vertical and horizontal. It’s hard to design with vertical and landscape in mind at the same time, but a big square artboard is a good first step to help you have enough background to accommodate all formats.