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Alejandro5CEF
Participant
February 11, 2026
Open for Voting

Intelligent Copy/Paste for Shape Layers

  • February 11, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 7 views

When I select a parameter from a shape layer and copy it (anything that would go under a “Shape 1” for example, including Path, Size, or Animators), if I try to select another shape layer and paste, it always creates a new shape within that layer rather than simply updating those parameters in the shape that already exists. This doesn’t make sense and is extremely frustrating in use cases where you need to batch update a lot of shape layers to match a master shape.

 

I have used expressions to brute force the parameters to match across all shape layers, but this is not only hacky but also creates crashes and slow downs when (as in my case) you have 100 shape layers in a comp.

 

To clarify -

 

If I have two shape layers with the same shape name in them (e.g. “Square 1”), and I copy a parameter from Square 1 on the first shape layer, I should then be able to select the second shape layer in the composition and paste, and it should update that exact parameter within the “Square 1” shape. The same way it works if you copy say, Scale from a layer, and it will automatically update the Scale on any other layer you paste it to.

Right now, it would create an additional shape on that layer.

      1 reply

      Warren Heaton
      Community Expert
      Warren HeatonCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 12, 2026

      Before you copy, select the exact parameter(s) that you want to copy and then copy.

      Before you paste, select the same parameters and then paste.

      If you need to copy and paste to hundreds of other Shapes, use the Search Text Field to show the value being pasted to to better isolate it for selection before pasting.

      If you may be changing the parameter, consider linking one and then copying and pasting the resulting expression to the other Shapes.

       

      rolandk58409448
      rolandk58409448
      Participant
      February 12, 2026

      I’ve got a paid script that does this sort of thing - copying and pasting deep properties without having to select properties - a layer selection is all that is required - have to be mindful not to have identical names. It works with Expressions too and has features to copy-paste, toggle, backup and remove Expressions too.

      Here’s a quick rundown - video also shows Property Mapper which is the lower half of the UI and Custom Properties is on the upper half of the UI. They’re both modular and Custom Properties is available in quite a few of my other scripts too. 

      https://youtu.be/ppZLbVRw6A4

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