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pauld5937403
Inspiring
July 22, 2025

After Effects Replace file in comp while holding Option Key

  • July 22, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 252 views

After Effects 25.3.2

Mac Studio OS 15.5

64gb Ram

M1

When I replace an element in a comp using the method of holding the option key while dragging a different video element from the project panel to the comp timeline onto the layer I want to replace, this version doesn't replace in place and at the same length.  I attached a video that demonstrates the problem. 

 

 

3 replies

JohnColombo17100380
Community Manager
JohnColombo17100380Community Manager
Community Manager
July 22, 2025

@pauld5937403 It's is more because of the way the image of trimmed rather than moved/slid in time. While not obvious with an image, the start time of the original png layer is at the beginning of the comp, so AE attempts to start the pre-comp at that time, then trim the in and outpoints to match the original image. The problem arises when the in and out points are much later in time than the duration of the pre-comp, so you end up with the layer trimmed to the result you are seeing.

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pauld5937403Author
Inspiring
July 22, 2025

Thanks for the quick response. Are you saying that because I am replacing an image with a comp, it is a normal behavior? That has never worked that way for me in the past.

I look forward to a solution.

JohnColombo17100380
Community Manager
JohnColombo17100380Community Manager
Community Manager
July 22, 2025

Hi @pauld5937403 ,
Thank you for reporting this issue. I can see what is going wrong and it appears to be limited to images layers: the start time of the PNG layer, which is different than the in point, is still at the beginning of the composition and the replace action uses the start time. I'm guessing that the PNG layer was trimmed using Option+[], which would affect the in point, but not the start time. This can be fixed by using the Pan Behind tool to slip the start time of the PNG to match the in point.

 

All that said, this isn't an intutive experience for images. We'll get a ticket filed to investigate an improvement to this behavior.

 

Thanks again for reporting this issue,

- John, After Effects Engineering Team

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