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Sterphy
Known Participant
September 28, 2022
Open for Voting

Folders in After Effects timeline

  • September 28, 2022
  • 115 replies
  • 16919 views
Timeline folders. We have them in Animate, Photoshop, Illustrator... precomps can utterly ruin your work and is NOT an alternatives to having a simple folder hierarchy - especially when dealing with shape layers or anything that requires continual rasterization.

115 replies

Known Participant
September 28, 2022
This would be SO helpful and would seem such a simple addition. Working on large timelines would be so much simpler if we could group the layers.
Participant
September 28, 2022
I wish...
I cant wait to see it...
please upvote this idea maybe adobe will hear us!!
Participating Frequently
September 28, 2022
YEP!
This would be a perfect match: Folder.
But over several years this is a real topic in the forum.
I think it will never be realised, it's a pity.
Inspiring
September 28, 2022
For sure.

Folders just like in Photoshop. Simple and would dramatically improve productivity.
Inspiring
September 28, 2022
Agreed. I think of precomps as being like smart objects in Photoshop. If I had to make a smart object every time I wanted to group things together, that would be a nightmare. Often I want to group layers while still maintaining the visual context of the larger comp. This is not possible with a precomp. The only other option is to have an endless scroll of layers. Shy guy arguably helps with this, but I have yet to find a particularly productive way to use it in my workflow.
Inspiring
September 28, 2022
PLEASE do this, it seems like a no brainer. This would save me a huge amount of time!

It would make navigating large files much easier. Also please allow us add blending modes to these groups.
Ernandes13
Participating Frequently
September 28, 2022
Adobe improve this features by default please!
Thanks!
https://aescripts.com/layer-groups/
Sterphy
SterphyAuthor
Known Participant
September 28, 2022
Really really need this. I use shape layers a lot, and shapes can be grouped within individual shape layers, so why not in the timeline generally? Even if it had no function beyond just organising huge project a bit better. Frankly it's kinda ridiculous that they don't have this feature in AE, especially when it's in literally every other programme.
Inspiring
September 28, 2022
Yes and yes. Would be a huge + when timelines has tons of layers. Currently i use the shy button to hide layers, but having the option to select layers you want to hide, but keep in the comp, and hit ctrl G to bring them all under a single layer would be great. without losing all the blending modes.

should be a feature
Inspiring
September 28, 2022
nest layers for better GUI experience