I created a small script for After Effects that allows to quickly parent all selected layers to a new Null layer which is automatically centered around selected layers. Layers that are already parented will not be touched (useful if you are parenting whole hierarchy – then script will only parent top parent layers).
Null layers in and out points will be set to mach the total range of all selected layers.
Also there is an option to lock selected layers after parenting.
As always – you must have your comp selected in project window. That’s the limitation of AE scripting.
How to use:
1. Download the parent_selected_v01 and save it in the After Effects / Support Files / Scripts / ScriptUI Panels
2. Start the After Effects and search for parent_selected_v01 in the bottom of Window menu
3. Select your layers (and comp in project window)
4. Go to town with your new parent null!
File download:
Hello,
Is it possible to get this very useful script in a zip file format?
Thanks in advance.
http://www.rendereverything.com/goodies_files/parent_selected_v01.zip
here you go!
awesome script. thank you! would love to use it with ft-toolbar. Would it be possible to get the javascript by any chance?
Hey! Sorry I’m late, haha! The link is down and I’ve been desperately searching for a download link for it! Could you PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put it up again? There is virtually no script online like this!
Hi. Sorry, some lings broke because of recent site url changes.. I fixed the download links. Cheers!
http://www.rendereverything.com/goodies_files/parent_selected_v01.zip
I have been using another ‘create parent’ script for years, but the null always defaulted to the middle of the screen, creating the need to manually move the anchor point, and the ‘draggable’ part of the null was often nowhere near the anchor point.
First world pet peeve, for sure. But this script solves both of those problems. Thanks!
…one bit of feedback is that it might be worth including a check whether any layers are 3D, in which case the null should be 3D…I think. Thanks again
Im learning about making scriopts in after effects and I wanted to make a null parentling script, but then I found your. Is there any way I could look at the source code and learn from it. that would be really cool. anyway, thanks for the scripts, very useful to me