Extract all of the layers from a pre-comp and empty them into the parent composition
Un-PreCompose is a plug-in for After Effects that allows you to select a pre-comp (nested composition) and extract all of its layers into the parent composition while maintaining each layers effects and other properties. You are given various options for maintaining or deleting properties from the pre-comp and the precomp itself.
Using Un-PreCompose is simple. Once it is installed, it will show up at the bottom of the ‘Layer’ menu. If you do not have a pre-comp (nested composition) selected, Un-PreCompose will be greyed out and disabled. To use Un-PreCompose, just select a pre-comp in the timeline panel, then go to Layer>Un-PreCompose
This option will help you see which layers came from the pre-comp. Whatever you put into this textbox will be added to the beginning of each layer that is un-precomposed. If no prefix is desired, just leave the box empty.
If you have key frames, effects, etc. applied to your pre-comp and want those attribute to be maintained, select this option. Each layer inside will then receive the effects from its parent and will be made a child of a null object that contains the transform attributes. The null object will have the name ||CONTROLLER||.
option will get rid of any attributes that are applied to your pre-comp. Layers inside the pre-comp will maintain their current positions and attributes. You may notice a change in position if your precomp is a different resolution then its parent composition.If this option is selected, once the pre-comp has been un-precomposed, it will be deleted from the project. This option will not be available if the pre-comp is being used elsewhere in the project. This option will be disabled if the ‘Keep Pre-Comp in Composition’ option is selected.
If this option is selected, the pre-comp will remain in the parent composition after the Un-PreCompose has taken place. The pre-comp will be turned off, but still be a part of the composition. This option will be disabled if the ‘Delete Source After Un-PreComposing’ option is checked
Masks are not copied
For the moment, masks applied to your pre-comp will not be copied over to the extracted layers. This may change in the future, so keep a look out for any updates to the plug-in.
If your pre-comp is a 3D layer that contains particle layers, you may get some issues on running the plug-in. Particle layers are usually meant to be applied to 2D layers, but if the parent comp is 3D, every layer inside will be changed to a 3D layer, so you might get some strange results.
For now, the, any transform attributes of the pre-comp are applied to the null object, which then becomes the parent of each extracted layer. If a layer already has a parent, that layer will not be affected.
Parenting is maintained within the pre-comp, however if any layers are parented to the pre-comp, that connection will be broken.
If layers inside your pre-comp contain expressions that use random numbers, you may notice a slight change due to random numbers being based on the layer’s index, which may be changed when running an Un-PreCompose.
After Effects: 2021, 2020, CC 2019, CC 2018, CC 2017, CC 2015.3, CC 2015, CC 2014, CC, CS6
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