Text in Nested Sequenced problem

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
April 16, 2024
5 replies
2194 views

Ok, I am really getting pissed here. I am two hours into this, and I still can't figure out the issue! Before answering, please read the full post and what I have already tried!

I use Lower 3rds Motion Graphics to add contextual information to a specific clip. I build a sequence with the After Effects Graphic, then I add a logo, maybe some fixed text, a web address, and finally, the contextual information. I add in motion so it all interacts together (see below). The fixed text, web address, and contextual information are all added via Adobe's new-ish Text tool and individually this works great.

The problem comes when I try to reuse the nested sequence (copy or duplicate) somewhere else on the timeline. Anytime I do, when I edit the contextual information, every other instance updates!

With the Legacy Text, this was not an issue because the "text" was an individual "thing" in the Project Panel.

Here is what I have tried:

Copy and Past the nested sequence
Duplicate the nested sequence
Select and Option+Drag the nested sequence
Copy and Past the nested contextual information layer in the nested sequence
Rename the first imported sequence and import a second copy/instance.

I duplicated the sequence and changed the test, and ALL instances in both master sequences changed.

Created a new sequence in the master, copied the lower 3rd layers into the new sequence, and when I changed the text, all instances changed.

Every result leads to every contextual information layer changing. Re-creating these from scratch is a preposterous suggestion, as I may have upwards of 20 of these in each instructional video. I must be missing something somewhere; it seems it would be a very common procedure with videos using nested sequences.

Example.zip

Editing

This topic has been closed for replies.

Richard van den Boogaard

Community Expert

Why is there a need to use nested sequences? Is it not possible to just use the AE Comp / MOGRT on the timeline and use ALT/OPTION + Drag to create a new instance of the animation?

ALT/OPTION + Drag on a Nested sequence will create a copy of the trunk of the tree, but leave the branches (what's inside of the sequence) unchanged. If you want to persist in using Nested sequences, you not only have to create copies of the trunk but also the branches.

Hope this helps.

csgaraglinoAuthor

Known Participant

It's simple and efficient, really.

As mentioned, the lower 3rd is a. MP4 - so using a subsequence means I can use that MP4 in any project w/o having to recreate it time in AE.

Now that I have the MP4, all I do is create a separate stand-alone sequence, add whatever "text" I want, and I am done. It's ready to use in any project. It's no different from, say, an Intro video that gets reused in each video.

Well, it's a little different, actually, in that it gets reused MANY times in a single video. If I have to recreate it each time, there is no way to get the new text loaded exactly in the same place or the animation to be exact as the rest. It winds up looking like a kindergartner built to the project!

Now - previously, a COPY would follow the "edit one update all" behavior however, the DUPLICATE has always created an Independent version of the item being copied, and when edited, it only updated itself. And if you search Adobe Docs, that's how it's documented. However, sometime late last year, a Duplicate started behaving exactly like a Copy and I don't know why.

Adobe has notoriously "changed" how things behave w/o clear documentation. So my reasoning thought is, there's no reason to have a COPY and a DUPLICATE do the exact same thing, so that means I'm missing something somewhere, and I can't figure out what, and I can't figure out how to get what I need done so that I can get these seven client projects completed and out the door.

As usual, Adobe support has been completely useless. These "support" people with a scripted screen, and when they get stumped, they just want to jump onto your computer and try to figure it out themselves, which usually results in time wasted, which is time I can't bill for. Besides, I don't want some stranger poking around on my computer "tyring" stuff!

AnnikaKoenig

Community Manager

As I said before, you can create independant copies of your nested sequence by creating the copies in the Project panel (that's how it has been for years).

csgaraglinoAuthor

Known Participant

How is it that nobody knows how to copy and paste a sequence that has the new text built into it without the text replicating across each pasted sequence? Adobe can't be so stupid that they forgot that this needs to be done?

MyerPj

Community Expert

Really? You're going down the 'stupid' - name calling route? Even when two people already said it works for them. Hmmmm...

I'm still waiting for you to answer the 2nd post in this thread... I won't cast any aspersions just because you seem to have ignored that request for info.

MyerPj

Community Expert

Yes, that's how I was doing it and it was work as expected. That's why I was trying to ge more info on your workflow.