I am doing a tutorial. In that "Shape Layer" was created and named it "Rectangle". I do not think it is correct because a Shape Layer can contain any number of different shapes, giving a specific name is not acceptable. What do you think?
1 Correct answer
Giving custom names to layers is part of a good workflow. If the layer is basically a rectangle, it would be a good idea to name it "Rectangle" so you can find it when you open the project in the future.
I often create composites and motion graphics that have dozens of layers and many of them contain pre-comps that also have dozens of layers. Without properly naming the layers it quickly becomes impossible to go back to a project layer or even remember where you were when you quit work for th
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Giving custom names to layers is part of a good workflow. If the layer is basically a rectangle, it would be a good idea to name it "Rectangle" so you can find it when you open the project in the future.
I often create composites and motion graphics that have dozens of layers and many of them contain pre-comps that also have dozens of layers. Without properly naming the layers it quickly becomes impossible to go back to a project layer or even remember where you were when you quit work for the night.
This is a typical flow chat for a complex composite. Imagine navigating that wighout custom layer names.
I name layers based on their part in the composition. What shapes are in the layer is less important than what the layer does. For example, if I had a project that needed a replacement sign for a real estate commercial, and I made the artwork entirely with shape layers, I might name the Layer 10 "Yard Sign." Then, inside the layer, I might change the bottom shape object from Layer 10/Yard Sign/Contents/Rectangle 1 to Layer 10/Yard Sign/Contents/Background. This helps keep things straight.
I do the same thing when I create multiple layers in Photoshop, Illustrator, or any other app that lets me stack things up.
Careful naming conventions start with the notes you make on a project, continue to the call sheets for shoot days, location descriptions, and should work all the way to file and folder naming. I can find everything related to Job Number 950421_DSC_Flightpark_pitchdeck because everything from my first project idea conversations to the final billing has been properly named and filed. The starting number is the job number for a project started on April 21, 1995. That's how I start every project. Start Date/Job Name_production phase_then version number if needed.
The icons indicate the kind of layer you have in the timeline. Stars are Shape Layers. Each type of footage or asset has a unique symbol. All of this info is in the User Guide. Here is the section on the layer panel UI: https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/user-guide.html
Try that link.
Unfortunately the Search Help field has been removed from the top right corner of After Effects so you now have to just use the Help menu and navigate through the website.
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