Adobe AFTER EFFECTS CS3 PROFESSIONAL User Manual page 168

• To parent a layer, in the Parent column, click the menu of the layer that you want to be the child, and choose a
parent layer name from the menu.
• To remove a parent from a layer, in the Parent column, click the menu of the layer to remove the parent from, and
choose None.
• To extend the selection to include all child layers of a selected parent layer, right-click (Windows) or Control-click
(Mac OS) the layer in the Composition or Timeline panel, and choose Select Children.
• To make a child layer jump when a parent is assigned or removed, hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS)
as you assign or remove the parent.
See also
"Work with columns" on page 18
Create a null object
To assign a parent layer, but keep that layer from being a visible element in your project, use a null object. A null object
is an invisible layer that has all the properties of a visible layer so that it can be a parent to any layer in the compo-
sition. Adjust and animate a null object as you would any other layer. You use the same commands to modify settings
for a null object that you use for a solid-color layer (Layer > Solid Settings).
You can apply Expression Controls effects to null objects and then use the null object as a control layer for effects and
animations in other layers.
A composition can contain any number of null objects. A null object is visible only in the Composition and Layer
panels and appears in the Composition panel as a rectangular outline with layer handles. Effects are not visible on
null objects.
❖
Select the Timeline or Composition panel and choose Layer > New > Null Object.
Note: The anchor point of a new null object layer appears in the upper-left corner of the layer, and the layer is anchored
in the center of the composition at its anchor point. Change the anchor point as you would for any other layer.
See also
"Using Expression Controls effects" on page 551
"Work with layer anchor points" on page 157
Work with guide layers
You can create guide layers from existing layers to use for reference in the Composition panel, to help you position
and edit elements. For example, you can use guide layers for visual reference, for audio timing, for timecode
reference, or for storing comments to yourself.
A guide layer icon appears next to a guide layer's source or layer name in the Timeline panel.
By default, guide layers aren't rendered when you create output but can be rendered when desired by changing the
composition's render settings.
Note: Guide layers in nested compositions can't be viewed in the parent composition.
• To convert selected layers to guide layers, choose Layer > Guide Layer.
AFTER EFFECTS CS3 162
User Guide