This IS the Avid L2: Re: [Avid-L2] [OT] After Effects Error Fun

Friday, December 4, 2015

Re: [Avid-L2] [OT] After Effects Error Fun

Michael,

I got back to my system, just to try your suggestions.

My #1 (in first post) is totally operator error (me!). My memory was faulty -- you can tell it's been a while since I've been Ae. I just did some camera tracking, added a camera and a solid, and I *was* able to replace the solid with footage.

My #1 and #2 work only with your keyboard shortcut, but not dragging. Strange, I know… the Option key works everywhere else. But, I won't argue with success. THANKS for setting me straight on Shape layers, and for saving my sanity with that keyboard shortcut!

Have a great weekend!!

Cheers,

Benjamin

On Dec 4, 2015, at 1:40 PM, Michael Hancock <mhancockeditor@gmail.com> wrote:

Number 2 - yes, it's supposed to work and it should work. When you're in front of your system again try the keyboard shortcut and let me know if it works. You may need to trash your preferences? Or try starting the drag first, then hold Option. Or hold Option then start the drag from the project panel to your selected layer in your comp. I've been working in AE 2015 all day and it definitely works here, and it worked when I was in CS5.5, CC, and CC2014 (I skipped CS6).

Replacing a shape layer - are you sure weren't making a solid and adding a mask to it to make it a shape?If so, that can be replaced. I don't remember when they introduced actual shape layers, but they behave differently than masked solids. But if you figure out how to make it work without precomping the shape layer please let me know. It would be useful.

On Fri, Dec 4, 2015 at 4:24 PM, Benjamin Hershleder <Ben@contactben.com> wrote:

Thanks Michael!
I'll give it a shot later (not at my system for a while) and report back.
But #2 in my first post is still a stumper. That's supposed to work, and be replaced, and the new footage take on the attributes of the original… right?
My memory must be wrong, I could swear I was able to draw a shape and replace it with footage, and it would also take on the size of the shape.

Thanks again for your help.
I'll report back, likely tomorrow.

Cheers,
Benjamin

On Dec 4, 2015, at 12:22 PM, Michael Hancock <mhancockeditor@gmail.com> wrote:

1. This is normal behavior. A shape layer only exists in a comp - therefore it cannot be replaced by footage from your project window. This used to be regular behavior with solids, too, before Adobe added the Solids folder in the project panel that is automatically populated with solids as you make them. I'd like them to do the same with layers. Workaround: Precomp your shape layer. Then you can replace the precomp.
2. Try it with a keyboard shortcut. Select the layer in your comp you want to replace. Select the layer in your project panel you want to replace your comp layer. Cmd+Opt+/ should replace it.

On Fri, Dec 4, 2015 at 2:49 PM, Benjamin Hershleder Ben@ContactBen.com [Avid-L2] <Avid-L2@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

Calling all After Effects Gurus:

I'm on a Mac, and I'm simply wanting to replace footage by using the process of selecting the layer, and then Option dragging the new footage onto the name of the layer. In AE CS6, CC, and CC 2014:
1- If I have a Shape Layer, the new footage being dragged causes an error "After Effects error: layer does not have a source. ( 26 :: 335 )" pictured here: http://postimg.org/image/tyh38uuu5/).
2- If I use a graphic as the first layer, and then replace with another graphic, it doesn't replace. It just gets added as a new layer.

Lots of troubleshooting already… I even went so far as to uninstall CC 2014 and then reinstall it, obviously with no luck. My Google-Fu may be weak, as I wasn't able to find a solution that way. Any ideas are appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Cheers!
Benjamin