Adobe After Effects - link single attributes without expressions?

Author

link single attributes without expressions?

andy_engelkemier@adobeforums.com

2006-09-24, 7:22 pm

I know this is a fairly easy expression, but I wanted to link opacity today of 2 layers and didn't want to precompose them because of other things that are going on later.

I was hoping there would be some kind of way to just link up two attributes from one layer to the next.

I just did a quick search for expressions and figured out this:

thisComp.layer(1).transform.opacity

but, I'd rather not do that every time. Also, I'd rather do it by name because if I add another layer to the top then that expression won't work anymore. Not that big of a deal for this project, but would be for others. I assume there is a way to do it by
name, but I didn't spot it straight away in the help file and this works.

I just would kinda like to learn if there are other ways. Please let me know if you know of one. I would like to use it in the future.

Dan_Ebberts@adobeforums.com

2006-09-24, 7:22 pm

You need to learn about the pick whip. Make sure the opacity property for both layers is showing, Alt/Opt click the stopwatch on the one you want to link to the other, and while the expression text is still highlighted, drag the pick whip (little spiral-l
ooking thing) to the other layer's opacity property.

Dan