Node-based UI for effects.

[ForumNinja]

A node based environment, should be implemented esp for basic tasks like applying the same effect to multiple layers, alpha mattes, value parenting (like the current pick whip in the expression options), Anything that you can currently do using an adjustment layer (but would be selective), I'm sure many more uses. You could use it in tandem with the layer system, but would be an easy way to do these kind of tasks without copying and editing multiple instances of the same thing.

[Sterphy]

It would be nice... but Adobe are happy to not innovate. If they had to be innovative there's no way they could rush out a buggy version every year! Quality company

[GBlayney]

If I want to apply a glow to four layers using an adjustment later, I have to pre-comp. If I then want to adjust the glow, I have to go into the pre-comp, make changes then return to the main comp to see how they work. And over and over - if we had a node system where I could simply pipe that effect to the four layers and tweak, it would just be so much better. The lack of a node system is making AE feel old.

[arkayny]

After Effects is Layer Based.  So how about a "Node" layer, in which you can place one or a group of effects. Then, similar to the new track matte layer selector, select a Node layer to apply the contained effects.   Theoretically you could have a slider that "fades/blends" the Node layer effects with the original.  And you could apply multiple Node layer effects to a single layer and change the stacking order of the nodes.  

Unlike an adjustment layer, you can choose which layers will have the effects regardless of heirarchy. 

You wont have to copy and paste effects to multiple layers.

Using the transform effect it might simplify the need for expressions where parenting doesn't work.

[Benroll]

I'm just returning to the support community after years of not posting. Funny how the same topics are knocking around. I've always been a bit split on this one. Node-based is much more flexible for classic compositing tasks, but there's definitely a lot to be said for After Effects' timeline metaphor, particularly if you mainly use AE for classic mograph stuff. And if VFX compositing is your thing, then Nuke or Fusion are going to be the tools of choice.

That said, I would like After Effects to develop some of the flexibility that node-based workflows offer, without necessarily dropping the layer metaphor. The new flexibility in matte layers is a step in the right direction. Improved "Edit this look at that" (ETLAT) would be another. Or to extend the new layer-matte functionality to allow users to combine mattes (like you can with Layer Masks). The ability to matte Effects with layers instead of just with Masks would be awesome, and allow a much more granular approach without having to create endless precomps.

Alternatively, you could have a parallel node-based system, that you can then pipe into a layer, like Flame. 

And finally, although the breadcrumb and structural navigation has improved massively in the last few years, maybe it's time to revisit übertwirl as a concept (the ability to twirl down a nested comp and see its contents directly in the main comp timeline). 

[Warren Heaton]

Hollywood Illusion recently published Magic Nodes for After Effects.
https://hollywoodillusion.com/b/magic-nodes

A native node panel in After Effects would be great; however, After Effects covers a broad range of users: video editors, cg/vfx artists, motion designers, graphic designers, animators, and ux designers.  Of those, nodes are most beneficial to cg/vfx artists while layers are good for the rest - in keeping with video tracks, Photoshop layers, Illustrator layers, InDesign layers, Affinity Designer layers,  Sketch layers, etc.