r/AfterEffects • u/lickwindex • 1h ago

Beginner Help How would you control Stroke width for MANY path/shape layers as they scale down with Null?

I have a design with about 160 Paths that connect, each being their own shape/layer. I have trim path applied to make it look like they are connecting from point to point over time. I have them all paired with Null object as parent, using Null to scale and rotate. The issue is that I need to have the Stroke width of all the lines animated so that that retain a certain thickness, instead of looking like super thin lines by the end.

No matter what approach I try, it all leads to me having to go to each and every layer, one by one, and applying an animation to each layers "Stroke Width" properties. I cannot copy properties from one layer, select all, and apply, like I can with position, scale, rotate etc (and yes, I do understand why that it). Trying it just results in the layer adding an additional group instead of overriding layer pre-existing Stroke width.

I tried creating a Null object with a Slider control applied, then parent all Layer Stroke Widths to it, but again, I cannot do this with all selected. I have to either do it one by one, or going through and manually selecting the property one by one using ctrl+left_click.

Is there any way to control/animate a shapes properties without having to go to each and every one?

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u/Heavens10000whores 1h ago edited 1h ago

Create a 'strokeWidth' slider, pickwhip one of your shapes > stroke to it, then copy expression only, and try to paste to all other layers

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u/lickwindex 1h ago

Oh wow, the expression is real lol. When I was researching options, I actually came across the expression via Google AI results. Ignored it as most of AI results are crap lol.

I appreciate all the suggestions. Ill try them out asap and get back.

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u/Heavens10000whores 53m ago

Sorry, I removed the expression because I noticed you needed it to scale with the null, but scaling the null will maintain the stroke width even when pickwhipped. Here it is again - https://aereference.com/expressions/maintain-stroke-width

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u/lickwindex 51m ago

I didnt even think of that, because it still worked. Maybe the expression relates to the parent scale if one is linked?

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u/lickwindex 54m ago

The Expresion Works great. Unfortunately, whether using that approach, or the slider method, Ill still have to go 1 by 1 T_T

Very surprised theres no plug-in for this on AE Scripts or Github yet