Need another 'opacity' option on all layers

[Joolsey1973]

Hello. I have hundreds of layers with a very specific opacity flicker on them. I have linked them to a 10 master nulls that have opacity key frames on them. To get variation and avoid repitition. The reason for linking to the nulls is to avoid lots of re-editing in the future. With hundres of layer you can't keep editing every set of keyframes. 

The problem is I need another way to fade out each layer in a side ways wipe/wave. (and keep it flickering) As if I had another opacity which isn't overiden by the the exhisting opacity.  I have found that just adding a mask can achive the same result, but I can only add a mask one at a time on each layer. Which is very slow and labour intensive. Is there away of having two opacity controls on a layer?

I have tried using expressions, even though they are good they seem to lack control an fidelity with easing.

Thank you 🙂 

Julian

[Mylenium]

Pre-compose, apply the mask or whatever effect in the parent comp.

Mylenium

[Joolsey1973]

Thank you for the reply.  I need the layers to be separt layers and have individual opacities so I can flicker and also fade them out.

[ShiveringCactus]

Have you tried the Transform effect?  That has all the layer property controls, including opacity.

[Joolsey1973]

Thank you. Tranform it does work as a double transparency.  

[Rick Gerard]

Here's the hierarchy for opacity. Every control you add below the first one adds to the value of the previous control. Opacity is subtractive, so if you set opacity to 70% with the first control on the list, you can't increase it by adding value with the next one down the list. 

1. Double-click the Rectangle tool to create a layer-size mask, press 'mm' to reveal the Mask Opacity - set some keyframes or use an expression to an additional additive opacity control
2. Add the Transform Effect to the layer and adjust the opacity
3. Add an additional smaller mask to the layer and assign Mask 2 to the Transform properties to fine-tune the opacity 
4. Set keyframes or use expressions to control the layer's Transform/Opacity value.

If you want to just flicker the opacity using an expression, then you want to keyframe the opacity to fade out the entire layer try using an expression that adds the flickering expression to the value of the mask.

Something like this would work:

value + effect("Opacity")("Slider");

[Joolsey1973]

Thank you Rich. Yes, I realised the order was wrong was wrong, and it would make sense to do it this way.