Adjustment layer issues

[John28850210ubid]

I have a few adjustments layer related questions:

1. I can't add it from the File tab, it appears grayed out 

2. Whenever I create it, it's created right away with the time remapping effect applied on it 

3. It's just... not working. I tried changing the scale on the adjustment layer so that it would affect the clip beneath it, but nothing's changed 

 

[MyerPj · Accepted solution]

I'll take a stab.

1) Thanks I didn't know you could create an Adjustment Layer from the File menu, I never would think to use it. It's much more intuitive to use a right-click. Nonetheless, make sure the Project panel is selected before you use the File/New options.

2) I believe TimeRemapping is now an intrinsice effect, you get that will all video items.

[MyerPj]

3)

So you managed to get your Adjustment Layer created, let's see your timeline. I just dropped one on above a video clip and it's working fine, Win11 23H2, PP 25.2.0 b52 (it's the beta).

[John28850210ubid]

What about changing its parameters like Motion and Opacity?

[MyerPj]

Right now I can't duplicate it working. The only thing I'm getting to work right now is blending mode. 

I just tried it in 25.1 and also 25.2.0 b52

[R Neil Haugen]

Adjustment Layers are not clips. They don't behave like clips. So some things users try to do don't work via ALs.

For those things, one is supposed to nest a clip, then apply the other effect, rather than using an AL.

[John28850210ubid]

So the very basic effects like changing the motion and scale don't work via adjustment layers?

[R Neil Haugen]

I'm not at all computer at the moment so I can't test to be sure. But I always test something myself when using an AL.

In fact, although I used to use them a lot, I rarely use them anymore. Only for things I cannot do via Source effect applications or timeline effects.

[Ann Bens]

What about changing its parameters like Motion and Opacity?

By @John28850210ubid

If you want to animate those parameters use the Transform effect on the AL.

[thepixelsmith]

In genereal, Adjustment Layers do not apply their static effects (the ones that are always on clips like Motion & Opacity) they apply the Effects added to them. 

So If you wanted to scale the clips below the adjustment layer you would add an effect like Transform.

I assume the reason for this is that it would disrupt animating the Adjustment layers themselves.

[John28850210ubid]

But how would it disrupt animating adjustment layers? The effects like motion and opacity are the same effects just as all the others, so why would it be a problem for them exactly and not for any other effect?

[R Neil Haugen]

I've talked enough with the devs about this sort of thing to have some idea what they might say... but basically, ALs aren't exactly the same thing as a clip or graphic ... they're simply a processing tool, to add a way to add some effect "overall", processed to the clip after everything else on the clip.

A way to separate processing instructions.

Not really an actual layer of "media" or something. 

And as they are only a tool to add effects, they can't really "take" effects applied to them. They hold effects. That's all they can do.

[thepixelsmith]

Because sometimes you want to animate the adjustment layer itself.

Lets say you want to have an adjustment layer that applies a Look with Lumetri Color and then want to fade in the look so it takes effect gradually. One solution to that is to animate the Opacity of the Adjustment layer. 

So in this case you wouldn't want the Adjustment layer's opacity to affect the layers below it.

Sometimes you may want to animate the position of an AL so that it moves onto the screen.

If the static effects applied to the Al affected the layers below them you wouldn't be able to affect the Al itself for whatever reason you might want to.

[Ann Bens]

Time Remapping has been part of the Effect Controls ever since I can remember (cs6).