Skip to main content
Inspiring
Dec 21, 2018 6:17 PM UTC
Question

After Effects Distribute Layers failing

I've got six layers selected. Each has a Group in it, with a Path, Stroke and Fill that come from Illustrator (I converted .ai files into vector layers to get these). Normally, I can select them and click Distribute Horizontally in the Align panel and it will work as intended. But for some reason, this -- and evrything else in the Align panel -- does not work. The only thing that does anything is the Align Left button, and that doesn't work as expected; things kind of shuffle to the left, but you can keep clicking it and getting wildly different results. Any thoughts?

24 replies

Participant
Mar 13, 2025 10:03 AM UTC

I was having the same problem... Had a few layers that were animated with easing expressions, once i deleted the expressions the distribution worked perfectly, had to redo the animation and expressions though

Translate
Participant
Dec 28, 2024 1:28 PM UTC

Hi brother, i hope this message will help to somebody, because the solve of the problem was too easy 😂 😂. 

Translate
Participant
Feb 4, 2025 8:54 AM UTC

Lol I didn't even think to resize the Align panel. Thank you so much!

Translate
Participant
Nov 5, 2024 4:42 AM UTC

Hello!
I had same few moments ago.
In short - I set Parent & Link option to None for layers I will distribute and then Distribution button worked as needed.

Translate
Participant
Jan 24, 2025 12:08 AM UTC

This completely solved my similar problem. I had my elements attached to a null object. Thank you.

Translate
Hollow Earth Ltd
Known Participant
Mar 31, 2021 3:50 PM UTC

If permanently rasterize is checked on vector layers this won't work.

Translate
Known Participant
Jul 30, 2021 1:21 AM UTC

I am experiencing this now. Align distribute has always been a little goofy (https://community.adobe.com/t5/after-effects/what-s-up-with-ae-s-distribute-layers/td-p/10275648) but currently distribute has lost functionality completly.

 

I've got 5 eps layers. Only resized slightly, and distribute does nothing. No they are not already distributed perfectly.

 

They are ordered bottom layer left through top layer right and it doesn't matter if I collapse transforms or not.

 

I can make the problem go away by messing around with where the layers are positioned initially, but through a series of undos I put it back in the failing state and saved a copy of the project. Would love to share so you can fix this!!!

 

Translate
Inspiring
Dec 24, 2018 4:18 PM UTC

Ok. I'm using FireFox Send; let me know if you need something different to grab the file. (It'll only last for 24 hours, but I figure that's ok)

Again, thank you for helping me with this.

Firefox Send

Translate
Inspiring
May 8, 2019 3:36 AM UTC

Did they fix this issue derrickt85858897 ?

I'm still having problem distributing 2D layers.

Translate
OussK
Community Expert
Community Expert
Dec 24, 2018 3:20 PM UTC

can you share a small part from your project where you have issue?, so we can test it.

Translate
Inspiring
Dec 24, 2018 3:17 PM UTC

I deleted my prefrences. It did not fix the problem. I do have to reset everything now but that's part of the cost of troubleshooting I suppose.

Translate
Inspiring
Dec 22, 2018 1:37 PM UTC

To Mo: I will try resetting my preferences if that's where we're at (will have to do it Monday when I'm back in). Admittedly, as it's working with other layers, I will be surprised if it changes anything. But who knows.

To OssK: I cleared my disc cache and restarted. I even rebooted the machine for good measure.

Thank you both for taking the time to try to help me with this.

Translate
Mo Moolla
Legend
Dec 22, 2018 4:03 PM UTC

Derrick please let me know how it goes

Mo

Translate
OussK
Community Expert
Community Expert
Dec 22, 2018 5:59 AM UTC

Did you try to restart your AE and purge all RAM and disc cache, go to edit/purge/All Memory and disc cache

Translate
Inspiring
Dec 21, 2018 8:43 PM UTC

Also, to be clear: the blue and yellow block layers have the same content. The blue ones were the ones that I'd copy pasted, and the yellow ones were the layers I rebuilt from scratch in this composition.

Translate
Mo Moolla
Legend
Dec 22, 2018 12:02 AM UTC

This is really strange. I tried to recreate it on my side and couldn't.

I really feel you should look at resetting your preferences

Mo

Translate