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ethandale
Known Participant
Mar 1, 2017 4:25 PM UTC
Answered

Moving Layers/Compositions between Projects?

So I have one layer and one composition in a certain project that have effects attached to them that I need to apply to MANY videos. The effect is not easy to make either, so I was hoping there would be a way to copy it from one project to the other. Some people suggested Ctrl+C Ctrl+V, but I am unable to open more than one after effects project at once. Also, importing the other AEP into my current one glitches it out severely, and I cannot get that to work. My composition imports properly (the one with the effects in it) as well as the full composition of the other video. However, the solids are placed into a folder, and when that folder is opened, it contains the solid from the composition (for the effect) and two adjustment layers that are just pure white. How can I simply copy these two objects from my initial project into my new one and retain the effects?

Ethan

    P.M.B
    P.M.BCorrect answer
    Legend
    Mar 1, 2017 9:16 PM UTC

    Just save that comp as a project then you can import into any project you want.  If it's part of a busy project just save the project under a new name so you don't lose the project you're working in, then select the composition you want to save in the project panel,  then go to File>Dependencies>Reduce project.   This will delete everything except the composition you have selected and everything it uses.  Now save it as project (I keep a folder called "asset projects" where I put these).  You can now just import it into any project you want.

    ~Gutterfish
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    13 replies

    stollinger
    stollinger
    Participant
    Jan 28, 2026 9:35 AM UTC

    Hi everybody!

    I created a script to help with transmitting elements between projects, only recently I began to share it on Gumroad for free:

    https://stollinski.gumroad.com/l/pvyev

    Out of the Box managing single elements between AE-projects is hard work:

    • Reduce Project 1 to the Element
    • Don’t destroy Project 1 by overwriting - save as Project XY
    • Find & Open Project 2
    • Find and import Project XY
    • Organize to get rid of the folder “Project XY” inside Project 2

    My script automates all these steps and also pre-selects your most recent project - because it is likely you want to “send” your assets there. You can select between the most recent projects in a dropdown menu. It even organises the freshly imported elements inside your target project so you don’t have to deal with unwanted folders.

    Check out all of my scripts here:
    https://motiondesign-koeln.de/scripts

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    anneb34147091
    Participating Frequently
    Aug 18, 2020 2:24 PM UTC

    I find it a very complicated process to copy an entire composition when I just need two layers. It goes wrong almost every time and it makes my project very unorganized. Instead of copying the exact lenght of the layers in the composition, the bars fill the length of the entire project only for me to reduce them again. I ran into another problem today where it did not copy the keyframes of the animations I put it. It is very annoying. What can I do?

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      Roei Tzoref
      Roei Tzoref
      Legend
      Jun 28, 2019 3:34 PM UTC

      I use network clipboard script for this:
      https://aescripts.com/network-clipboard/

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        Rajovo
        Inspiring
        May 14, 2021 6:14 PM UTC

        You are a literal lifesaver! Combined with the ability to run two instances of AE at the same time, this is such a timesaver.

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          Mylenium
          Mylenium
          Legend
          Mar 1, 2017 5:24 PM UTC

          There is no such thing. Either you save animation presets or indeed have to import the entire project to be able to copy&paste the layers from the comp. The project window doesn't hold any of that info, anyway, so I'm not even sure what your observation about how AE imports solids from otehr projects is supposed to tell us.

          Mylenium

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            ethandaleAuthor
            Known Participant
            Mar 1, 2017 6:49 PM UTC

            My apologies, I was just stating EXACTLY what after effects did. I'm still very new to the software. What are these "animation presets?"

            When you say copy and paste the layers from the comp, you're misunderstanding. I have separate projects with each individual video clip in them (which my professor just said was a poor choice). I'm not even sure how to set it up with multiple compositions and footage videos  in one project. I am easily overwhelmed by the sheer complexity of layers, masks within layers, compositions within compositions...

            Translate
              P.M.B
              P.M.BCorrect answer
              Legend
              Mar 1, 2017 9:16 PM UTC

              Just save that comp as a project then you can import into any project you want.  If it's part of a busy project just save the project under a new name so you don't lose the project you're working in, then select the composition you want to save in the project panel,  then go to File>Dependencies>Reduce project.   This will delete everything except the composition you have selected and everything it uses.  Now save it as project (I keep a folder called "asset projects" where I put these).  You can now just import it into any project you want.

              Translate
              ~Gutterfish
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