How Do You Copy Layer Properties in After Effects?

You can copy layer properties in After Effects using keyboard shortcuts and paste them onto other layers, either maintaining their original position or adjusting to the target layer.

Methods for Copying Layer Properties

Here are the primary methods for copying and pasting layer properties in After Effects:

1. Copying Properties:

   • Select the layer whose properties you want to copy.
   • Press Ctrl + C (Windows) or Cmd + C (Mac) to copy the entire layer. This copies all properties, not just the selected ones.

2. Pasting Properties (Retaining Original Position):

   • Select the target layer(s) where you want to paste the properties.
   • Press Ctrl + Shift + V (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + V (Mac). This pastes the properties, maintaining their original positions relative to the composition. For example, if the original layer was at position [100, 100] and the target layer was at [0, 0], the pasted properties will still be applied as if the target layer was at [100, 100].

3. Pasting Properties (Adjusted to Target Layer):

   • Select the target layer(s).
   • Press Ctrl + V (Windows) or Cmd + V (Mac). This pastes the properties and adjusts their position and values to match the target layer's current state. Using the previous example, pasting with Ctrl/Cmd + V would adjust the pasted position to be relative to the target layer's [0, 0] position.

Selective Property Copying Using Copy With Property Links

For more control over which properties are copied and how they're linked, use "Copy With Property Links":

1. Expand the properties of the layer you want to copy from.
2. Select the specific properties you want to copy (e.g., Position, Rotation, Scale). You can select multiple properties by holding down Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) while clicking.
3. Right-click on one of the selected properties and choose "Copy With Property Links."
4. Select the layer you want to paste to.
5. Expand the layer's properties.
6. Select the corresponding properties that you want to paste to.
7. Press Ctrl + V (Windows) or Cmd + V (Mac).

This creates expressions that link the properties of the target layer to the properties of the original layer. If you change the original layer's properties, the target layer's properties will update automatically.

Example Scenario:

Let's say you have a layer with a specific scale, position, and rotation that you want to apply to another layer.

1. Select the original layer and press Ctrl/Cmd + C.
2. Select the target layer.
3. Press Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + V to paste the properties while preserving the original coordinates within the composition.

Alternatively, if you want the target layer's properties to be identical to the original, regardless of the target's initial position:

1. Select the original layer and press Ctrl/Cmd + C.
2. Select the target layer.
3. Press Ctrl/Cmd + V. This will overwrite the target's properties with the copied properties, effectively making them the same.

Summary

Copying and pasting layer properties in After Effects allows you to quickly replicate effects and animations across multiple layers. Using Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + V preserves the original spatial relationships, while Ctrl/Cmd + V aligns the properties to the target layer. "Copy With Property Links" provides dynamic linking between properties.