Animated background under multiple comps

#1

Hi All

I am working on a project that I want to have a nebulous background too on all the comps that sit on top of it. The background is a simple ramp with a subtle fractal noise motion on it. Now if I apply it as a layer with all the other comps on top it won’t work since the comps on top have layers that use the ‘add’ hence they won’t work.

I could go through and chop up a full length background and apply the correct cuts to the individual comps at the correct spot so the animation aligns and that stretches the whole project but there are about 25 sub-comps and if anything changes this would be a pain to alter.

Is there a way of using a script to do this?

#2

Try using the collapse transformations button

So put all your separate comps, with collapse transformations enabled, in one comp with the main background at the bottom. Then any specific blend modes used in the precomps will still be applied in the master comp

This can cause problems with 3D cameras and stuff though

Couple of sites about collapse transformations:
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/AfterEffects/9.0/WS064964FC-424C-4e5a-A5C3-2160B3DFBCA4a.html
http://provideocoalition.com/cmg_keyframes/story/cmg_hidden_gems_chapter_20_-_collapsing_transformations/

#3

Sheepfilms - you’re a star! I knew it was simple, in fact I even remember know that’s the way to do it. It’s cos I haven’t used that trick for so long I’d simply forgotten

Being doing too much 3D rather than 2D :slight_smile:

Thanx m8

#4

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