Basic AE Question

C

Chris Adler

Veteran
Here's a question I assume is pretty basic, but I haven't been able to find a good answer to it anywhere.

When I'm using an effect on a layer that uses information from another layer (like a light wrap, etc) it seems the layer is accessed by the effect BEFORE transformations occur. For example: I have a background layer that I've scaled up and that is the layer I need to use for the light wrap data. If I switch the wrap effect to Replace, it clearly shows the unscaled layer data coming through.

My solution thus far has been to resize the layer in Photoshop and include the resized layer, but I know there must be an easy way to be able to just use the layer POST transformation, not pre-transformation.

Anyone?
 
Thinking more about it, I guess this behavior make sense because the background layer is BELOW the keyed layer, so the transformations won't occur until later in the workflow (after the light wrap effect).

Precomposing seems to be the most logical approach. Any other ways to achieve this?
 
Wait. Now I'm more confused.. The layer I'm using for the light wrap is at the BOTTOM of the stack, and has a scale transformation on it. Shouldn't any layers above that layer that reference that bottom layer see it in its final form, meaning scaled?

Maybe this is a bug in the Light Wrap effect (Red Giant)?
 
No, compound effects on other layers refer to the control layer pre-effect. That's why you need to precompose and then use the new precomposition layer as the control layer.
 
Ah, okay. I think I got it. So if I'm just comping 2 layers then no problem, but when the top layer accesses a property of the lower layer, that will access the property BEFORE effects. Not sure I understand WHY its done that way, but I guess at least I know it does.
 
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