Force only one instance of an effect per layer

[vmartin00]

Hi there,

Is it possible to only have one effect instance on a solid and forbid the user to add a second effect of the same type on the same layer ?

Ideally; if an effect is already present on said layer, the create option of the effect menu would be grayed out for this effect type.
Less ideally; How to catch effect creation (from the effect itself or in AEGP); and delete it.

Thanks !

[Mylenium · Accepted solution]

You can't and you can't. It's as simple as that. Each effect is isolated from the other and effects application is modal. Unless the effect originates from its own virtual host and only the UI is separated in different "effects" groups like e.g. in Plexus or some of the Trapcode plug-ins that create the illusion to make their unified renderers work you have no control over any of this.

Mylenium

[vmartin00]

Seems convulated for what I'm trying to achieve;
I'll fallback on dealing that with an AEGP then. Thanks for your answer !

[Rick Gerard]

The only chance you would have to make it difficult to add another effect to a layer is to create a controller null layer linked to all of the properties you can keyframe in the effect by expressions, then lock the layer with the effect and maybe even make it a shy layer. There will always be a way around this because a flow chart will show all layers and all effects, and clicking on the flow chart will take you to that layer no matter where it is in the project.

[vmartin00]

Seems convulated for what I'm trying to achieve;

I'll fallback on dealing that with an AEGP then. Thanks for your answer !