Working with basic properties to create animation design templates
The basic properties work like basic controls that give you access to the layer and effect properties of a composition as you nest it in another composition. This saves time when creating complex animations using multiple nested compositions, since you don’t need to open individual precompositions to view their properties. Basic properties can override source values and keyframes, allowing you to reuse a single composition as multiple instances with different values. The original composition remains unchanged. The changes you make create only instances that can be rendered after you finish editing the composition.
To create basic properties, in the Basic Graphics panel, add properties from a nested composition or nest a composition (Layer > Preliminary Composition) after you add a property. For more information about the types of properties supported in the Basic Graphics panel, see Supported Control Types. After you attach a composition, the Main Properties group of the selected preset composition layer is displayed on the timeline.
The basic process for creating basic properties is similar to the procedure for creating controls for an animation design pattern. The difference lies in the way these properties are used: using basic properties in a pre-composition in After Effects or in an animation design template in Premiere Pro.
Working with basic properties
Linked properties – When you nest a main composition, the main properties of such a pre-composition are linked to the original properties. For example, if Composition B is nested in Composition A, the effect and layer properties of Composition B are source properties. The properties of Composition B, which are added to the Basic Graphics panel, are the original properties. When you change the initial properties, the basic properties of the preliminary composition also change.
Unlinked properties – When you change the basic properties of a tentative composition, they are no longer linked. When you unlink, an instance of the main composition is created. Basic and source properties can be changed separately.
When the main property is changed, the value or keyframes of the original property are redefined. The preview composition is a unique instance of the main composition, and only for that instance is rendering performed with the changed value or keyframes.
Pull and push buttons
When you change the main property on the timeline, the pull and push buttons become active, and the name of the main property begins to appear in bold type. This indicates that the property linkage has been overridden.
The pull and push buttons are used to re-link the main property to the original property. There are pull and push buttons for each basic property, as well as for the entire Basic Properties group.
The pull button applies the modified value, keyframes, and expression to the main property of the original property.
After you click any pull or push button, the main properties are reattached to their original properties, and the pull and push buttons are no longer active.
Pull or push buttons
Bound main properties (pull and push buttons are disabled) B. Unlinked basic properties (pull and push buttons are enabled)
When you relink a modified main property to a source property, all instances of the same main composition are updated if the same main property is linked. For example, you can create a main composition for movie titles and nest it several times, and then change the main color property in only one of the preliminary compositions. When you re-bind the new color value with the original value using the push button, all instances of the main composition are rendered with the new color value.
Changing the basic properties of the Source
When you work with a parent composition, you can’t change the basic Source Text properties using the Text tool in the Composition panel.
To change the row of the main Source Text property, do one of the following:
Right-click the main Source Text property and choose Change Value. In the dialog box that opens, make changes to the string and click OK.
Apply the expression to the main Source property. Be sure to enclose the new string in double quotes. For example, “Carl stole coral from Clara.