Layer Sub-objects

Note

For After Effects CC and CS6, the Expression language menu, the “Layer Sub-objects”, “Layer General”, “Layer Properties”, “Layer 3D”, and “Layer Space Transforms” have been arranged into a “Layer” submenu.


Layer.source

Description

Returns the source Comp or source Footage object for the layer. Default time is adjusted to the time in the source.

Example:

source.layer(1).position

Type

Comp or Footage


Layer.sourceTime(t=time)

Description

Returns the layer source corresponding to time t.

Note

After Effects CS5.5 and later

Parameters

t

Number

Type

Number


Layer.sourceRectAtTime(t = time, includeExtents = false)

Description

Returns a JavaScript object with four attributes: [top, left, width, height]

Extents apply only to shape layers and paragraph text layers.

Shape layer extents increase the size of the layer bounds as necessary.

Paragraph text layers returns the bounds of the paragraph box.

Note

After Effects 13.2 and later. Paragraph text extents added in After Effects 15.1.

Example:

myTextLayer.sourceRectAtTime().width

Parameters

t

Number

includeExtents

Bool

Type

Array (4-dimensional)


Layer.effect(name)

Description

After Effects finds the effect by its name in the Effect Controls panel. The name can be the default name or a user-defined name. If multiple effects have the same name, the effect closest to the top of the Effect Controls panel is used.

Example:

effect("Fast Blur")("Blurriness")

Parameters

name

String

Type

Effect


Layer.effect(index)

Description

After Effects finds the effect by its index in the Effect Controls panel, starting at 1 and counting from the top.

Parameters

index

Number

Type

Effect


Layer.mask(name)

Description

The name can be the default name or a user-defined name. If multiple masks have the same name, the first (topmost) mask is used.

Example:

mask("Mask 1")

Parameters

name

String

Type

Mask


Layer.mask(index)

Description

After Effects finds the mask by its index in the Timeline panel, starting at 1 and counting from the top.

Parameters

index

Number

Type

Mask