Don't require track mattes to be above the layer it modifies (and also allow re-use)

Woah- this is great news!

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We're very excited to announce that Selectable Track Mattes are now available in the public beta builds! Selectable Track Mattes work just like parenting, allowing you to pick any layer in your composition, no matter where it sits in the layer stack, as a Track Matte source for any other layer.

You'll need to update to version 23.0 build 8 or later to try it out. Learn more here: https://community.adobe.com/t5/after-effects-beta-discussions/feature-focus-selectable-track-matte-layers-have-arrived/td-p/13110013 ( https://community.adobe.com/t5/after-effects-beta-discussions/feature-focus-selectable-track-matte-layers-have-arrived/td-p/13110013 )

I love this... Can I ask one thing - I just tried to select multiple layers and assign a matte. Only the one layer changed. I think I'd expect to be able to set all selected layers.

thanks!

OMG this is one of the most amazing updates ever!!!!!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!
WE will NEVER have to use the ridiculously unpredictable "Set Matte" effect ever again!

Thank you! Works great in Beta version. Would it be possible to link alpha/luma source to a layer in another composition though? The way position, scale, etc. can be linked via expression.

why not just add a pickwip next to the track matte controls? sounds like the easy solution.

Set matte is great, but it's backwards at times. If joining multiple alpha together, the Set Matte effects need to be inverted so the alpha will add to each other rather than matte out the one before in the effects stack, then the alpha of the entire set matte effect stack needs inverting so AE will use it properly. it also ignores position, scale and rotational parameters, so it will always source the target at it's default PSR values.

Set matte effect does this. But I agree the functionality could live outside of an effect. Such as a dropdown where you pick this layer.

It’s really amazing how many solutions to one problem are created in the aescripts marketplace? Can someone explain, why this is such a difficult task to create this feature in AE?
https://aescripts.com/search/?q=Set+matte+

I don’t get it. We are dreaming of a solution since ever.

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Saying this feature is needed, is an understatement.
The fact that this feature exists for years, but is pretty much useless for not supporting continuous rasterization. It should be THE replacement to alpha mattes, not a deprecated effect.

I was so happy i could finally achieve the visuals I wanted only to realize that pre-comping and enable CR, breaks everything. In a project with literally just shape layers.

Given 4 years have passed since the original post, I sense this, along with many other essencial features will be simply ignored as per tradition with adobe. Or wait for another live saving plugin that becomes yet another dependency on 3rd parties..