AVLayer object

app.project.item(index).layer(index)

Description

The AVLayer object provides an interface to those layers that contain AVItem objects (composition layers, footage layers, solid layers, text layers, and sound layers).

AVLayer is a subclass of Layer object. All methods and attributes of Layer, in addition to those listed below, are available when working with AVLayer.

AVLayer is a base class for TextLayer object, so AVLayer attributes and methods are available when working with TextLayer objects.

AE Properties

Different types of layers have different AE properties. AVLayer has the following properties and property groups:

  • Marker

  • Time Remap

  • Motion Trackers

  • Masks

  • Effects

  • Transform

    • Anchor Point

    • Position

    • Scale

    • Orientation

    • X Rotation

    • Y Rotation

    • Rotation

    • Opacity

  • Layer Styles

  • Geometry Options // Ray-traced 3D

  • Material Options

    • Casts Shadows

    • Light Transmission

    • Accepts Shadows

    • Accepts Lights

    • Appears in Reflections // Ray-traced 3D

    • Ambient

    • Diffuse

    • Specular Intensity

    • Specular Shininess

    • Metal

    • Reflection Intensity // Ray-traced 3D

    • Reflection Sharpness // Ray-traced 3D

    • Reflection Rolloff // Ray-traced 3D

    • Transparency // Ray-traced 3D

    • Transparency Rolloff // Ray-traced 3D

    • Index of Refraction // Ray-traced 3D

  • Audio

    • AudioLevels

Example

If the first item in the project is a CompItem, and the first layer of that CompItem is an AVLayer, the following sets the layer quality, startTime, and inPoint.

var firstLayer = app.project.item(1).layer(1);
firstLayer.quality = LayerQuality.BEST;
firstLayer.startTime = 1;
firstLayer.inPoint = 2;

Attributes

AVLayer.adjustmentLayer

app.project.item(index).layer(index).adjustmentLayer

Description

True if the layer is an adjustment layer.

Type

Boolean; read/write.

AVLayer.audioActive

app.project.item(index).layer(index).audioActive

Description

True if the layer’s audio is active at the current time. For this value to be true, audioEnabled must be true, no other layer with audio may be soloing unless this layer is soloed too, and the time must be between the inPoint and outPoint of this layer.

Type

Boolean; read-only.

AVLayer.audioEnabled

app.project.item(index).layer(index).audioEnabled

Description

When true, the layer’s audio is enabled. This value corresponds to the audio toggle switch in the Timeline panel.

Type

Boolean; read/write.

AVLayer.blendingMode

app.project.item(index).layer(index).blendingMode

Description

The blending mode of the layer.

Type

A BlendingMode enumerated value; read/write. One of:

  • BlendingMode.ADD

  • BlendingMode.ALPHA_ADD

  • BlendingMode.CLASSIC_COLOR_BURN

  • BlendingMode.CLASSIC_COLOR_DODGE

  • BlendingMode.CLASSIC_DIFFERENCE

  • BlendingMode.COLOR

  • BlendingMode.COLOR_BURN

  • BlendingMode.COLOR_DODGE

  • BlendingMode.DANCING_DISSOLVE

  • BlendingMode.DARKEN

  • BlendingMode.DARKER_COLOR

  • BlendingMode.DIFFERENCE

  • BlendingMode.DISSOLVE

  • BlendingMode.DIVIDE

  • BlendingMode.EXCLUSION

  • BlendingMode.HARD_LIGHT

  • BlendingMode.HARD_MIX

  • BlendingMode.HUE

  • BlendingMode.LIGHTEN

  • BlendingMode.LIGHTER_COLOR

  • BlendingMode.LINEAR_BURN

  • BlendingMode.LINEAR_DODGE

  • BlendingMode.LINEAR_LIGHT

  • BlendingMode.LUMINESCENT_PREMUL

  • BlendingMode.LUMINOSITY

  • BlendingMode.MULTIPLY

  • BlendingMode.NORMAL

  • BlendingMode.OVERLAY

  • BlendingMode.PIN_LIGHT

  • BlendingMode.SATURATION

  • BlendingMode.SCREEN

  • BlendingMode.SUBTRACT

  • BlendingMode.SILHOUETE_ALPHA - note the mispelling of ‘SILHOUETTE’!

  • BlendingMode.SILHOUETTE_LUMA

  • BlendingMode.SOFT_LIGHT

  • BlendingMode.STENCIL_ALPHA

  • BlendingMode.STENCIL_LUMA

  • BlendingMode.SUBTRACT

  • BlendingMode.VIVID_LIGHT

AVLayer.canSetCollapseTransformation

app.project.item(index).layer(index).canSetCollapseTransformation

Description

True if it is legal to change the value of the collapseTransformation attribute on this layer.

Type

Boolean; read-only.

AVLayer.canSetTimeRemapEnabled

app.project.item(index).layer(index).canSetTimeRemapEnabled

Description

True if it is legal to change the value of the timeRemapEnabled attribute on this layer.

Type

Boolean; read-only.

AVLayer.collapseTransformation

app.project.item(index).layer(index).collapseTransformation

Description

True if collapse transformation is on for this layer.

Type

Boolean; read/write.

AVLayer.effectsActive

app.project.item(index).layer(index).effectsActive

Description

True if the layer’s effects are active, as indicated by the <f> icon next to it in the user interface.

Type

Boolean; read/write.

AVLayer.environmentLayer

app.project.item(index).layer(index).environmentLayer

Description

True if this is an environment layer in a Ray-traced 3D composition. Setting this attribute to true automatically makes the layer 3D (threeDLayer becomes true).

Type

Boolean; read/write.

AVLayer.frameBlending

app.project.item(index).layer(index).frameBlending

Description

True if frame blending is enabled for the layer.

Type

Boolean; read-only.

AVLayer.frameBlendingType

app.project.item(index).layer(index).frameBlendingType

Description

The type of frame blending to perform when frame blending is enabled for the layer.

Type

A FrameBlendingType enumerated value; read/write. One of:

  • FrameBlendingType.FRAME_MIX

  • FrameBlendingType.NO_FRAME_BLEND

  • FrameBlendingType.PIXEL_MOTION

AVLayer.guideLayer

app.project.item(index).layer(index).guideLayer

Description

True if the layer is a guide layer.

Type

Boolean; read/write.

AVLayer.hasAudio

app.project.item(index).layer(index).hasAudio

Description

True if the layer contains an audio component, regardless of whether it is audio-enabled or soloed.

Type

Boolean; read-only.

AVLayer.hasTrackMatte

app.project.item(index).layer(index).hasTrackMatte

Note

This functionality was updated in After Effects 23.0. Track Matte is no longer dependent on layer order.

Description

True if this layer has track matte. When true, this layer’s trackMatteType value controls how the matte is applied. See AVLayer.trackMatteType for available track matte types.

Type

Boolean; read-only.

AVLayer.height

app.project.item(index).layer(index).height

Description

The height of the layer in pixels.

Type

Floating-point; read-only.

AVLayer.isNameFromSource

app.project.item(index).layer(index).isNameFromSource

Description

True if the layer has no expressly set name, but contains a named source. In this case, layer.name has the same value as layer.source.name. False if the layer has an expressly set name, or if the layer does not have a source.

Type

Boolean; read-only.

AVLayer.isTrackMatte

app.project.item(index)layer(index).isTrackMatte

Note

This functionality was updated in After Effects 23.0. Track Matte is no longer dependent on layer order.

Description

True if this layer is being used as a track matte.

Type

Boolean; read-only.

AVLayer.motionBlur

app.project.item(index).layer(index).motionBlur

Description

True if motion blur is enabled for the layer.

Type

Boolean; read/write.

AVLayer.preserveTransparency

app.project.item(index).layer(index).preserveTransparency

Description

True if preserve transparency is enabled for the layer.

Type

Boolean; read/write.

AVLayer.quality

app.project.item(index).layer(index).quality

Description

The quality with which this layer is displayed.

Type

A LayerQuality enumerated value; read/write. One of:

  • LayerQuality.BEST

  • LayerQuality.DRAFT

  • LayerQuality.WIREFRAME

AVLayer.samplingQuality

app.project.item(index).layer(index).samplingQuality

Note

This functionality was added in After Effects 12.0 (CC)

Description

Set/get layer sampling method (bicubic or bilinear)

Type

A LayerSamplingQuality enumerated value; read/write. One of:

  • LayerSamplingQuality.BICUBIC

  • LayerSamplingQuality.BILINEAR

AVLayer.source

app.project.item(index).layer(index).source

Description

The source AVItem for this layer. The value is null in a Text layer. Use AVLayer.replaceSource() to change the value.

Type

AVItem object; read-only.

AVLayer.threeDLayer

app.project.item(index).layer(index).threeDLayer

Description

True if this is a 3D layer.

Type

Boolean; read/write.

AVLayer.threeDPerChar

app.project.item(index).layer(index).threeDPerChar

Description

True if this layer has the Enable Per-character 3D switch set, allowing its characters to be animated off the plane of the text layer. Applies only to text layers.

Type

Boolean; read/write.

AVLayer.timeRemapEnabled

app.project.item(index).layer(index).timeRemapEnabled

Description

True if time remapping is enabled for this layer.

Type

Boolean; read/write.

AVLayer.trackMatteLayer

app.project.item(index).layer(index).trackMatteLayer

Note

This functionality was added in After Effects 23.0

Description

Returns the track matte layer for this layer. Returns null if this layer has no track matte layer.

Type

AVLayer object; read only.

AVLayer.trackMatteType

app.project.item(index).layer(index).trackMatteType

Note

This functionality was updated in After Effects 23.0

Warning

This is a Legacy API we don’t recommend using for setting Track Matte Type in new scripts. Please consider using the latest track matte APIs AVLayer.setTrackMatte() and AVLayer.removeTrackMatte() for your tasks.

Description

If this layer has a track matte, specifies the way the track matte is applied. Specifying the TrackMatteType.NO_TRACK_MATTE type will remove the track matte for this layer and reset the track matte type.

Type

A TrackMatteType enumerated value; read/write. One of:

  • TrackMatteType.ALPHA

  • TrackMatteType.ALPHA_INVERTED

  • TrackMatteType.LUMA

  • TrackMatteType.LUMA_INVERTED

  • TrackMatteType.NO_TRACK_MATTE

Example

// Returns the current track matte type for myLayer
var type = myLayer.trackMatteType;

// *** We recommend using the new Track Matte APIs for the operations below (See Warning) ***

// Changes the track matte type for myLayer to TrackMatteType.ALPHA_INVERTED
myLayer.trackMatteType = TrackMatteType.ALPHA_INVERTED;

// Removes the track matte and also resets the type
myLayer.trackMatteType = TrackMatteType.NO_TRACK_MATTE;

AVLayer.width

app.project.item(index).layer(index).width

Description

The width of the layer in pixels.

Type

Floating-point; read-only.

Methods

AVLayer.addToMotionGraphicsTemplate()

app.project.item(index).layer(index).addToMotionGraphicsTemplate(comp)

Note

This functionality was added in After Effects 18.0 (2021)

Description

Adds the layer to the Essential Graphics Panel for the specified composition.

Returns true if the layer is successfully added, or false otherwise.

  • If the layer cannot be added, it is either because it is not a layer type for which media can be replaced (referred to as Media Replacement Layers), or the layer has already been added to the EGP for that composition. After Effects will present a warning dialog if the layer cannot be added to the EGP.

  • Use the AVLayer.canAddToMotionGraphicsTemplate() method to test whether the layer can be added to a Motion Graphics template.

Parameters

comp

A CompItem object; the composition where you wish to add the property to the EGP. Required.

Returns

Boolean.

AVLayer.addToMotionGraphicsTemplateAs()

app.project.item(index).layer(index).addToMotionGraphicsTemplateAs(comp, name)

Note

This functionality was added in After Effects 18.0 (2021)

Description

Adds the layer to the Essential Graphics Panel for the specified composition.

Returns true if the layer is successfully added, or false otherwise.

  • If the layer cannot be added, it is either because it is not a layer type for which media can be replaced (referred to as Media Replacement Layers), or the layer has already been added to the EGP for that composition. After Effects will present a warning dialog if the layer cannot be added to the EGP.

  • Use the AVLayer.canAddToMotionGraphicsTemplate() method to test whether the layer can be added to a Motion Graphics template.

Parameters

comp

A CompItem object; the composition where you wish to add the property to the EGP. Required.

name

A string for the new name. Required.

Returns

Boolean.

AVLayer.audioActiveAtTime()

app.project.item(index).layer(index).audioActiveAtTime(time)

Description

Returns true if this layer’s audio will be active at the specified time. For this method to return true, audioEnabled must be true, no other layer with audio may be soloing unless this layer is soloed too, and the time must be between the inPoint and outPoint of this layer.

Parameters

time

The time, in seconds. A floating-point value.

Returns

Boolean.

AVLayer.calculateTransformFromPoints()

app.project.item(index).layer(index).calculateTransformFromPoints(pointTopLeft, pointTopRight, pointBottomRight)

Description

Calculates a transformation from a set of points in this layer.

Parameters

pointTopLeft

The top left point coordinates in the form of an array, [x , y, z] .

pointTopRight

The top right point coordinates in the form of an array, [ x, y, z ] .

pointBottomRight

The bottom right point coordinates in the form of an array, [ x, y, z ] .

Returns

An Object with the transformation properties set.

Example

var newLayer = comp.layers.add(newFootage);
newLayer.threeDLayer = true;
newLayer.blendingMode = BlendingMode.ALPHA_ADD;
var transform = newLayer.calculateTransformFromPoints(tl, tr, bl);
for (var sel in transform) {
  newLayer.transform[sel].setValue(transform[sel]);
}

AVLayer.canAddToMotionGraphicsTemplate()

app.project.item(index).layer(index).canAddToMotionGraphicsTemplate(comp)

Note

This functionality was added in After Effects 18.0 (2021)

Description

Test whether or not the layer can be added to the Essential Graphics Panel for the specified composition.

Returns true if the layer can be added, or false otherwise.

If the layer cannot be added, it is either because it is not a layer type for which media can be replaced (referred to as Media Replacement Layers), or the layer has already been added to the EGP for that composition.

Media Replacement layers are recognized as AVLayers with an AVLayer.source set to a FootageItem object (with specific source types) or a CompItem object.

The AVLayer needs to comply with the restrictions below in order to be treated as a Media Replacement layer:

Parameters

comp

A CompItem object; the composition where you wish to add the property to the EGP. Required.

Returns

Boolean.

AVLayer.compPointToSource()

app.project.item(index).layer(index).compPointToSource()

Note

This functionality was added in After Effects 13.2 (CC 2014.2)

Description

Converts composition coordinates, such as sourcePointToComp, to layer coordinates.

Warning

This value only reflects the first character in the text layer at the current time.

Parameters

sourcePointToComp

A position array of composition coordinates in ([X, Y]) format.

Returns

Array of ([X,Y]) position coordinates; read-only.

AVLayer.openInViewer()

app.project.item(index).layer(index).openInViewer()

Description

Opens the layer in a Layer panel, and moves the Layer panel to front and gives it focus.

Parameters

None.

Returns

Viewer object for the Layer panel, or null if the layer could not be opened (e.g., for text or shape layers, which cannot be opened in the Layer panel).

AVLayer.removeTrackMatte()

app.project.item(index).layer(index).removeTrackMatte()

Note

This functionality was added in After Effects 23.0

Description

Removes the track matte for this layer while preserving the TrackMatteType. See AVLayer.setTrackMatte() for another way of removing track matte.

Parameters

None.

Returns

Nothing.

// Sets the track matte layer of myLayer with otherLayer as LUMA type
myLayer.setTrackMatte(otherLayer, TrackMatteType.LUMA);

// Removes the track matte for myLayer but preserves the LUMA type
myLayer.removeTrackMatte();

// Still returns TrackMatteType.LUMA
alert(myLayer.trackMatteType);

AVLayer.replaceSource()

app.project.item(index).layer(index).replaceSource(newSource, fixExpressions)

Description

Replaces the source for this layer.

Parameters

newSource

The new source AVItem object.

fixExpressions

True to adjust expressions for the new source, false otherwise. Note that this feature can be resource-intensive; if replacing a large amount of footage, do this only at the end of the operation. See also Project.autoFixExpressions().

Returns

Nothing.

Warning

If this method is performed on a null layer, the layers isNull attribute is not changed from true. This causes the layer not to be visible in comp viewer and renders.

AVLayer.setTrackMatte()

app.project.item(index).layer(index).setTrackMatte(trackMatteLayer, trackMatteType)

Note

This functionality was added in After Effects 23.0

Description

Sets the track matte layer and type for this layer. Passing in null to trackMatteLayer parameter removes the track matte. See AVLayer.removeTrackMatte() for another way of removing track matte.

Parameters

trackMatteLayer

The AVLayer to be used as the track matte layer.

trackMatteType

The type of the track matte to be used. Please see AVLayer.trackMatteType for available types.

Warning

Passing in TrackMatteType.NO_TRACK_MATTE as type is invalid and will result in no-op.

Returns

Nothing

Example

// Sets the track matte layer of myLayer with otherLayer as Alpha type
myLayer.setTrackMatte(otherLayer, TrackMatteType.ALPHA);

// Keeps the same trackMatteLayer and only changes the track matte type
myLayer.setTrackMatte(myLayer.trackMatteLayer, TrackMatteType.LUMA);

// Changes the track matte layer but keep the same track matte type
myLayer.setTrackMatte(newTrackMatteLayer, myLayer.trackMatteType);

// Removes the track matte for myLayer and sets the new specified TrackMatteType
myLayer.setTrackMatte(null, TrackMatteType.ALPHA);
myLayer.setTrackMatte(null, TrackMatteType.NO_TRACK_MATTE);

// Invalid. Nothing happens
myLayer.setTrackMatte(otherLayer, TrackMatteType.NO_TRACK_MATTE);

AVLayer.sourcePointToComp()

app.project.item(index).layer(index).sourcePointToComp()

Note

This functionality was added in After Effects 13.2 (CC 2014.2)

Description

Converts layer coordinates, such as boxTextPos, to composition coordinates.

Warning

This value only reflects the first character in the text layer at the current time.

Parameters

boxTextPos

A position array of layer coordinates in ([X, Y]) format.

Returns

Array of ([X,Y]) position coordinates; read-only.

Example

// For a paragraph text layer.
// Converts position in layer coordinates to comp coordinates.
var boxTextCompPos = myTextLayer.sourcePointToComp(boxTextLayerPos);

AVLayer.sourceRectAtTime()

app.project.item(index).layer(index).sourceRectAtTime(timeT, extents)

Description

Retrieves the rectangle bounds of the layer at the specified time index, corrected for text or shape layer content. Use, for example, to write text that is properly aligned to the baseline.

Parameters

timeT

The time index, in seconds. A floating-point value.

extents

True to include the extents, false otherwise. Extents apply to shape layers, increasing the size of the layer bounds as necessary.

Returns

A JavaScript object with four attributes, [top, left, width, height].