I am trying to reference a shape layer nested in another comp as a matte for multiple objects in the highest-level comp. There is a reason I can’t pre-comp this layer and copy it upstream….but I would still like to be able to reference it as the matte source for layers upstream. Can this be done?

Is there a way to use expressions to assign the matte layer in “set matte” to be a layer in a different comp? Or, if not, can you create the equivalent effect of referencing a layer from another comp as the matte for a layer in this comp?

I have recently upgraded my AE skillset by using expressions this year — and it has been a great experience — but I am currently at a loss to solve this problem:

>> DESIRED OUTCOME = parent/link the Time of one time remapped pre-comp layer to other time remapped pre-comp layers in a different comp

I have tried copy/paste relative or abs… Read more