Is there an easy and fast way to stretch a layer to fit the length of the composition?

[rforgaard]

I'm looking for an easy and fast way to stretch an After Effects layer to match the length of the composition.  Here are the specifics:

I frequently use the Timewarp effect to make a video clip be slow-motion.  I import the video clip into AE and I place the clip into a composition that is the same length as the clip.  Suppose I want the resulting slow-motion clip to be twice as long.  In which case, I change the duration of the composition to be twice as long as the clip.  I apply the Timewarp effect to the clip, setting the Speed of Timewarp to "50" (to make it one-half speed).  I enable Time Remapping for the clip.  Then - and this is the slightly awkward part - I use the mouse to drag the right-side end of the clip to exactly the new (longer) length of the composition.  I'll make a first attempt, then I'll use the zoom slider for the composition to look close at the very end of the composition, and use my mouse again to adjust the end of the clip so it is exactly the same length as the composition.

That last bit is the part I'm trying to streamline, the part where I drag the end of the clip to approximately match the length of the composition, then zoom in so I can use the mouse again to make the end of the clip be precisely the end of the composition.

Is there a shortcut key I don't know about, or a menu command, or some easy technique to make a layer be the same length as the composition?  For example,  this same situation might come up if the layer is an image, rather than a video clip.  Suppose you want to make that image layer be the same length as the composition.  Is there some easy way to do that?  If so, I'm guessing I might be able to use that same technique to easily and quickly make a video clip be the same length as the composition.

I'm not stuck here.  I can just keep doing the awkward drag-zoom-drag process.  But I just wanted to check whether anyone knows of a quicker, more elegant way to make a layer be the same length as the composition.

Any help appreciated.  Many thanks!

[Rick Gerard]

When you apply Time Remapping try using the keyboard shortcut (Alt/Option + Ctrl/Cmnd + t). That should automatically extend the out point to the end of the comp. It should also work if you use the Layer>Time>Enable Time Remapping. That has been a feature for the last several versions of AE. 

If that does not work, with the layer selected press "k" then "k" again to move to the end of the timeline, then Alt/Option + ] to set a new out-point for the layer. The "j" key moves to the previous significant event showing in the layer's timeline like a keyframe, marker or in/out point, the "k" key moves to the next.

[rforgaard]

Thanks, Rick.  Very helpful.

It turns out that Alt/Option + Ctrl/Cmd + t does enable time remapping, and appears to be a useful shortcut that has the same effect as applying Layer > Time > Enable Time Remapping.  However, I found that neither of these methods also extends the out point to the end of the comp.  I just now tested both of these again, just to be sure.

However, the "secret sauce" turned out to be your second tip.  First of all, selecting the layer then pressing "k" and "k" again does indeed move the playhead to the end of the comp, which I didn't know.  Useful info.  I am on Windows and I normally use the keyboard "End" key for this (or Fn + Right Arrow on Mac), but your "k" and "k" tip is faster.  Also, indeed, Alt/Option + ] sets the out point of the selected layer to the playhead.  So, the key sequence "k", "k", Alt/Option + ] does exactly what I need - it extends the out point of the current layer to the end of the comp.

I am all set.  I knew there had to be a way.  Thank you again!

[Rick Gerard]

What version of AE are you using? If it is one of the last 3 releases you might want to try and reset your preferences.

[rforgaard]

Hello, Rick.  I'm using the latest AE on Windows, Version 17.0.4 (Build 59).

I just now reset my AE preferences.  I noticed that several things changed.  Interesting.  I didn't know the preferences had changed in the last 3 released.  Good to know.

After resetting the preferences, it is still the case that (after I select the layer) neither Alt/Option + Ctrl/Cmd + "t" nor Layer > Time > Enable Time Remapping also extends the out point to the end of the comp.  Are you seeing that behavior?  I still need to do the "k", "k", Alt/Option + ] trick to extend the out point of the layer to the end of the comp.  This is totally fine, by the way.  But from your message above, it sounds like you are seeing that Layer > Time > Enable Time Remapping is also extending the out point of the layer to the end of the comp, so I wanted to ask.

I apologize in advance for spinning this thread off in a different direction, but I did discover an odd behavior after I reset the AE preferences, which has me vexed.  Since you are familiar with the need to reset the AE preferences, I'm wondering if you might also recognize this consequence of resetting the preferences.  Ever since resetting the AE preferences a few minutes ago, Timewarp behaves differently, and I can't figure out how to "fix" it.  Here is the situation:

My comp has one layer in it, and that layer is 20 frames of a longer video file.  I apply the "Timewarp" effect to that layer.  If the "Speed" setting of "Timewarp" is 100 (in other words, the speed of the clip is unchanged), the clip is fine.  But if I change the "Speed" of Timewarp to 50 (to slow down the clip), my layer in the comp is now at an earlier point in the larger video file.  It is forgetting what frame my original 20-frame clip started at.  I did some experimenting, and what is going on after applying "Timewarp" with "Speed" 50 is that my short 20-frame layer is at the same frame number in the whole large video file.  But because (of course) Timewarp has slowed down the video file to one-half speed, the layer is now showing me content of frames in the video file that are much earlier in the file than where I started.  I now have to do a bunch of work to find the original starting frame of my original 20-frame clip.  Yikes!

If I prerender those 20-frames to a separate video file first, and then apply Timewarp to that tiny prerendered file, all is well.  But I can no longer conveniently apply Timewarp to a small clip in a longer video file.

Can you think of any preference setting, in AE, that has changed that might cause this behavior?  I am hoping there is a preference somewhere that got changed, when I reset the AE preferences, that I might be able to change back to the original behavior.  This new behavior is counterintuitive and not helpful to me.  It means that as I change the "Speed" of Timewarp, I am jumping all around in the file, and have lost the start point for my original clip.  It actually seems like a bug.  But again, the symptom occurred after I reset the AE preferences.

If you don't know anything that would cause this, I totally understand.  I have to confess I'm slightly frantic at the moment, so I just wanted to check with you, in case the behavior I'm describing rings a bell.  I don't mean to ask you to be my After Effects support specialist 🙂 - just asking if this sounds familiar.  In the meantime, I can start pre-rendering everything I want to use Timewarp on (yikes!).  I'm already pining for the "old days" before I reset my AE preferences.  Anyway, thank you so much in advance!

[rforgaard]

Rick: By coincidence, I just discovered that you replied to someone with this very same question back in October 2019, "Applying Time Warp Changes My Position."  You were trying to help them, but it looks like that person gave up and didn't send you screenshots.  Anyway, if it would help for me to send screenshots, please let me know.  And thank you SO much for listening! 🙂