AfterEffects

Create or modify a solid-color layer

You can create layers of any solid color and any size (up to 30,000 x 30,000 pixels). Solid-color layers have solid-color footage items as their sources. Solids work just like any other footage item: You can add masks, modify transform properties, and apply effects to a layer that has a solid as its source footage item. Use solid layers to color a background, as the basis of a control layer for a compound effect, or to create simple graphic images.

Solid-color footage items are automatically stored in the Solids folder in the Project panel.

Create a solid-color layer or solid-color footage item

  • To create a solid footage item but not create a layer for it in a composition, choose File > Import > Solid.
  • To create a solid footage item and create a layer for it in the current composition, choose Layer > New > Solid or press Ctrl+Y (Windows) or Command+Y (Mac OS).

    To create a layer that fits the composition when you create a solid-color layer, choose Make Comp Size.

Modify settings for solid-color layers and solid-color footage items

 To modify settings for the selected solid-color layer or footage item, choose Layer > Solid Settings.

To apply the changes to all solid-color layers that use the footage item, select Affect All Layers That Use This Solid. If you don’t select this option, you create a new footage item, which becomes the source for the selected layer.