AE: creating lots of similar compositions

[syzygy]

I'm currently making a whole load of movies that all feature different stills tumbling from different views.

Each clip has a different type of obejct in the stills.

What I really want to do is create one set of clips and then just have all the other clips use different images in place of the ones in the first set of clips.

I can use 'replace footage' to do this, but that involves a permanent change to the original composition (and I won't be able to batch render the clips)

Anybody got any tricks that might allow we to duplicate the compositions and replace the stills in the layers with different files? I really want a nice option under the layer menu to replace footage at that level rather than in the library, but it don't look like I'm going to get that

Otherwise, it's a long night of render-tending for me...

Dan.

[charlielangridge]

Make the composition that you want. Save the project. Make loadsa copies of the project file, all with diff names (obv ) Do replace footage to each project, then save. You will then have loadsa different projects. Start a new project. Import all the projects and set up your renders. Yay - no render tending Bit long winded, but works!

[syzygy]

nice one - not ideal but definitely the sort of tip I was after.

Cheers mate.

Dan.

[syzygy]

just realised I don't need to create the copies of the project file and then go through doing the replace footage in them - it will be quicker to have one file open, replace footage, save as, replace footage, save as, replace footage, save as etc etc etc

Cheers again

Dan.

[sondz]

you might consider using nested compositions, so that one composition contains only one image. This composition is then put in a master composition and has the effects applied to that.

Won't make it much quicker, but just a technique i use to speed things up, or change clips last minute.

[krezrock]

just duplicate your main composition. Then select the layer in the new comp. Hold down the 'option' key and drag a new layer from the project window to the selected layer in your duplicated comp.

voila!! replaced footage, same comp.

[syzygy]

Thats exactly what I was looking for Krezrtock - nice one!

I've done this set using Charlie's suggestion, but I'll try out your moves sometime soon.

Cheers,

Dan.

[fuussmuuss]

krezrock is right! thats the best solution. I was going to say the same