Skip to main content
Inspiring
dez. 21, 2018 6:17 PM UTC
Pergunta

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 Respostas

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

Traduzir
Participant
dez. 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 😂 😂. 

Traduzir
Participant
fev. 4, 2025 8:54 AM UTC

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

Traduzir
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.

Traduzir
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.

Traduzir
Hollow Earth Ltd
Known Participant
mar. 31, 2021 3:50 PM UTC

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

Traduzir
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!!!

 

Traduzir
Inspiring
dez. 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

Traduzir
Inspiring
mai. 8, 2019 3:36 AM UTC

Did they fix this issue derrickt85858897 ?

I'm still having problem distributing 2D layers.

Traduzir
OussK
Community Expert
Community Expert
dez. 24, 2018 3:20 PM UTC

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

Traduzir
Inspiring
dez. 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.

Traduzir
Inspiring
dez. 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.

Traduzir
Mo Moolla
Legend
dez. 22, 2018 4:03 PM UTC

Derrick please let me know how it goes

Mo

Traduzir
OussK
Community Expert
Community Expert
dez. 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

Traduzir
Inspiring
dez. 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.

Traduzir
Mo Moolla
Legend
dez. 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

Traduzir