Layer markers and composition markers
Composition markers and layer markers are used to store comments and other metadata, as well as to create timestamps in the composition and on the layer. Composition markers are present on the composition timeline, while layer markers are displayed on the duration panel for each layer separately. Both types of markers can contain the same information.
Markers can refer to an individual point on the timeline or to a time interval.
After Effects composition markers correspond to sequence markers in Adobe Premiere Pro. The layer markers in After Effects correspond to the clip markers in Adobe Premiere Pro.
When rendering a composition containing markers, markers can be converted to web links, section links, and montage marks, depending on the output format and the value set in the marker dialog box. Markers can be exported in XMP metadata format.
By default, the composition marker comment is a number, the layer marker comment contains nothing.
A marker icon containing a link or montage marker has a small dot on it.
Markers
A composition marker with a duration of 1 sec. B. A composition marker with mounting mark data C. Layer marker with duration of 2 sec. D. Layer marker with mounting mark data.
Adding markers only during audio preview or preview playback allows you to position markers at desired points in the audio track layer.
Dragging a marker input point changes the marker time, and dragging a marker output point changes the marker duration. You cannot change the marker time and duration at the same time.
To view or change a marker, hover the mouse pointer over the marker and double-click it or right-click it (Windows) (or click it while holding down the CONTROL key in Mac OS) and then choose Settings.
To move the marker to a different time point, drag the marker to the desired location, or double-click the marker and enter the time in the dialog box.
To set the duration of a composition or layer marker, drag the marker’s exit point on the timeline. The marker icons are split in two halves to indicate the marker’s entry point and exit point in an obvious way.
To set the duration by dragging, hold down the Option (macOS) or Alt (Windows) key, then click the marker icon and drag to the right.
To change a marker’s duration, click and drag the marker output point icon; you don’t need to hold down Option or Alt.
To automatically create layer markers based on the temporary metadata of the source file, select the “Create layer markers based on XMP video sequence metadata” option in the settings under the Disc Media and Cache category. These settings are enabled by default.
To synchronize the layer markers on a pre-composition layer with the corresponding markers in the source composition, right-click the layer marker (Windows) (or click it while holding down the CONTROL key in Mac OS), and then choose “Update markers from source”. This command also removes any markers added to the layer.
When you add one song to another, the first song becomes a nested layer of the second. All markers from the nested composition will become layer markers on the container composition’s timeline. These markers will not be associated with the original composition markers. Changing the markers in the original composition will not affect the nested composition’s layer markers. For example, if you remove one of the original composition markers, the corresponding nested composition layer marker will remain in its place.
Scripts and expressions can read and use the data contained in the tokens. Since the XMP metadata of the original video elements can be converted to layer tokens, expressions and scripts can work with the XMP metadata.
Creating Composition Markers
Composition markers appear as small triangles on the timeline. There can be any number of composition markers in a composition.
When you delete a numbered composition marker, the numbers of the other markers remain the same. If you enter a comment instead of the default number, that number can be used for a song marker created later.
Only one song marker can be created at a time. If you add or move a composition marker in place of another composition marker, it will replace the existing marker.
To add a blank composition marker at the current point, you must deselect all layers and choose Layer > Add Marker or press the “*” (multiply) key on the numeric keypad.
To add a composition marker to the current point and open the marker dialog box, deselect all layers and press ALT+* (Windows) or OPTION+* (Mac OS) on the numeric keypad.