Will there ever be layer groups?

[Syntax_One]

Hi!

I know that precompositions are the way to goup layers.

But will there ever be a possibility to create layer groups like in Photoshop?

I discovered this product, but it is no longer available...

Thanks!

[Syntax_One]

Seems to me that a lot of people want that feature, but Adobe doesn't comply.

Does anyone know why?

Thanks!

[Kyle Hamrick]

The AE team is aware that people have asked for this feature, and they tend to dig deeper and get at what people would actually be doing with this functionality. Based on those conversations, and the possibility of implementing features without having to entirely rebuild the structure of the program, Master Properties were that solution. 

There are a handful of products available that approach this in different ways, and which one is "right" probably depends on how you work. This is a newer product that might cover what you're looking for: https://aescripts.com/free-compose/
If you're looking specifically for visibility grouping, try this one: https://aescripts.com/squirrel/ 

[Syntax_One]

Thank you!

Free Compose looks promising. I am probably going to buy it. But being a motion design teacher, I can't ask my students to buy this plug-in.  

I really wish After Effects would just respond to our needs and simply add layer groups (via folders) once and for all. If people were successful at creating scripts in the past (Goodmotion's GM Fold Layers, Alan Eddie's Layer Groups 2, etc.) and in the present (Steven Twigg's Free Compose), why can't Adobe do the same?

This has been asked buy users for years (https://community.adobe.com/t5/after-effects/can-you-group-layers-together/td-p/4844809). There has been articles about it (https://lesterbanks.com/2015/07/5-tools-for-better-layer-management-in-after-effects/), and even a petition (https://www.change.org/p/adobe-systems-layer-folders-for-adobe-after-effects)! 

Thank you.