Apply effect on multiple comps. Change one, effects all comps?

Report · Mar 20, 2019

So here's the most basic of this scenario,

Let's say I have an adjustment layer with a glow effect on multiple comps, and the glow is orange, but the director decides that it should be blue. I should probably pre-comp this effect so that the change ripples through all the comps. But, pre-comping doesn't work for some of the effects (I'm sure you've come across this situation) if there's a camera and the glow is in 3D say.

Is there a way to have a 'master' effect setting that changes all the same effects on other comps that don't rely on pre-comping?

The most similar thing I can think of is available in Adobe InDesign that has Object styles & Paragraph styles. Where a certain set of values are stored as a style, so if you apply this style to an object / paragraph, any future changes to that style will be applied throughout the whole document.

Is this what the new copy and paste with '(relative) Property Links' are meant to resolve?

I hope this makes sense.

Thanks

Iestyn

Report · Mar 20, 2019

You can link all properties with can be animated per expressions to a master effect, or master layer with UI controls (slider, checkboxes and so on).

It's a bit of work for the set up, but you safe a lot of time when changes appear. Keep in mind that you can copy/paste effects with expressions. When you want to link a glow to a master glow, just build the links once, than copy the effect and past it to all layers which should get a linked glow.

*Martin

Report · Mar 20, 2019

You can use comps with adjustment layers, blending modes and continuous rasterization/ colapse transformations to some degree - change some stuff in the pre-comp with only this single layer and use it in the other comps as many times as you like and the effects will ripple through. Doesn't work with every type of effect and blending mode, though, so you may need to experiment with this. Otherwise elaborate expression linking and suitably structuring your project will be the best strategy.

Mylenium