AE-replacing layers in a comp at DVinfo.net

Tripp Woelfel · April 7th, 2009, 09:52 PM

I have what one could call a "title" with several layers. All but one will always be the same but one layer, done as a precomp, will change or will be used with different precomp with effects applied to it.

My question is how can one replace that embedded precomp with another one without having to copy all of the effects from the original to the new one? Premier has a command "Replace with clip>from bin" that will let you swap out a clip on the timeline for another one. Does AE have an equivalent function? I've searched the AE docs and help file without success. Any help would be appreciated.

Aric Mannion · April 8th, 2009, 08:30 AM

If it's footage or a composition in the project window: you select the clip you want to change in the timeline and then drag the new clip from the project window while holding option key over your selected clip in the timeline. That will swap the clips. I don't use precomps though, so I'm not sure if they appear in the project window? I've never found the benefit to using them as opposed to a composition ...or maybe they are just the same thing.

Tripp Woelfel · April 8th, 2009, 10:47 AM

Thanks Aric... I'll give that a go. I expect that it should work since my experience shows that precomps behave just like regular footage.

I find precomps quite helpful and would hate being me if they didn't exist. For this motor racing project I've made a number of comps for names and car numbers for each driver. These will be used as precomps in compositions for starting grid, finishing order, in car camera, running order and to ID the drivers in pit interviews. You can see that precomps will save me a bunch of time here.

Thanks again.

April 7th, 2009, 09:52 PM	#1
Tripp Woelfel Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Conway, NH Posts: 1,745	AE-replacing layers in a comp I have what one could call a "title" with several layers. All but one will always be the same but one layer, done as a precomp, will change or will be used with different precomp with effects applied to it. My question is how can one replace that embedded precomp with another one without having to copy all of the effects from the original to the new one? Premier has a command "Replace with clip>from bin" that will let you swap out a clip on the timeline for another one. Does AE have an equivalent function? I've searched the AE docs and help file without success. Any help would be appreciated.

April 8th, 2009, 08:30 AM	#2
Aric Mannion Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 616	If it's footage or a composition in the project window: you select the clip you want to change in the timeline and then drag the new clip from the project window while holding option key over your selected clip in the timeline. That will swap the clips. I don't use precomps though, so I'm not sure if they appear in the project window? I've never found the benefit to using them as opposed to a composition ...or maybe they are just the same thing.

April 8th, 2009, 10:47 AM	#3
Tripp Woelfel Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Conway, NH Posts: 1,745	Thanks Aric... I'll give that a go. I expect that it should work since my experience shows that precomps behave just like regular footage. I find precomps quite helpful and would hate being me if they didn't exist. For this motor racing project I've made a number of comps for names and car numbers for each driver. These will be used as precomps in compositions for starting grid, finishing order, in car camera, running order and to ID the drivers in pit interviews. You can see that precomps will save me a bunch of time here. Thanks again.