Is this something or nothing?
We try to use native Ae functionality whenever possible. Unfortunately, Nulls tend to clog up project files (especially when sharing with teammates), and that's giant bummer.
Void started as a replacement for Nulls, but it turned into so much more.
The null layer plague. Following projects through time. Be free of the past.
Available for free 😚
howz it werk?
For a layer that is supposed to be less than nothing, Void does a whole lot of things that Nulls cannot. Use it for a lot of things.
Take control of selected layers, effects, and rigs like never before.
power in simplicity
Controllers that get you
2D points
Create a Void while selecting a 2D properties to create a controller that is expression linked to each 2D position property. Including:
Puppet pins
Effect controls
Shape layer positions
Gradient coordinates
Multiple layers
With 2+ layers selected, a Void is created as the parent for all and is positioned at the mid-point of the layers.
Single layer
With one layer selected, a Void is created as its parent, which zeros out the Position, Rotation, and Scale properties of the selected layer.
Paths
Many elements that were once lost:
Color swatches
Guide layers
Parametric rectangles and ellipse
Centered anchor points
Quick start
All the freebies are available lore.battleaxe.co after signing up for the blog/newsletter.
Use the included files to install in any number of ways to help you do your best work.
Install
Void may be used a few different ways, and there are a few different ways to install based on your workflow.
ScriptUI
KBar
Keyboard
Void.jsx
To install a dockable a script that may live within the Ae interface:
File > Scripts > Install Script UI Panel…
Restart Ae and the script will be available in the Window menu at the top of the screen. Scroll down to find the installed scripts.
Manual
New Void
The way Void layers are created depends entirely on what you have selected in your Ae timeline.
Nothing selected - Void at comp center
One layer - Void becomes the parent and takes the layer's Position/Rotation/Scale zeroing out the transforms of the layer
Optional checkboxes to disable zeroing Scale or Rotation
2+ layers - Void becomes the parent at the mid-point of the layers
Transform keyframes - Select a layer's Position, Scale, or Rotation properties and the keyframes will be transferred to the new Void layer.
2D position properties - The selected property is expression linked to a Void and the Void is parented to the layer. Supported properties:
Position inside a shape layer
Shape layer gradient end points
Puppet pin
Effect position (Gradients)
Path - Path to Void (like the native script Path to Nulls but with Voids)
Keyboard modifiers
Shift - Create Void at comp center regardless of selection
great for slow scaling a bunch of elements
Alt/Option - Zero layer
Create Voids for each layer
Zero out the transforms of selected layers
Move the Void to the bottom of the layer stack
Hide/shy/lock the Void
Shift + Alt/Option (with multiple layers selected) - Creates a Void as a parent for each selected layer rather than a single layer at the midpoint
Visibility
Show/hide the outline on new Void layers depending on your own preferences. Disabling visibility will remove the expressions used to draw the Void layer bounding box. This might shave off a few milliseconds of render time.
Volume and Variant
New Variant - Create a shape layer that acts like an adjustment layer. Placing effects and plugins on a Variant will affect all the layer’s below it
New Volume - Create a shape layer that acts like a solid and is filled with a solid color.
Be aware that some effects like to be on footage layers rather than shape layers in order to have real coordinates rather than vectors that redraw constantly to be resolution independent.
Changelog
1.2.1
Nov 7, 2023
Fixed
Error: Cannot Set Value becuase property is hidden
1.2.0
Nov 2, 2023
Added
Option to create new Void layers without UI and controls
Path to Void (like the native script Path to Nulls but with Voids
Stand-alone KBar buttons for each of the main functions (Void, Variant, Volume, Zero, UI)
Stand-alone headless scripts for Zero selection and Add Void-nonVIsible Icons
Changed
Zero layer (create void, parent, move void to bottom of layers, hide, shy, lock) is now a first-class citizen
Support for creating voids for multiple selected layers layers
Removed
Replace null/solid layer features
1.1.1
May 31, 2023
Fixed
Separate dimensions now respects the Ae preference correctly
1.1.0
May 18, 2023
Added
Create Voids and link to selected 2D position properties
SHIFT + New Void: sets the Void position to comp center while setting it as the parent
ALT/Opt + SHIFT + New Void: Creates a Void without any pseudo effects or strokes -
Ultra Void mode
Changed
New Void adopts the name of a single selected layer
ALT/Opt + New Void: Still creates a hidden Void at the bottom of the layer stack, but retains the previous selection
Fixed
Name incrementation logic improved
1.0.4
Jan 3, 2023
Added
Void roundness control
Copying effects from nulls to voids when replacing
Changed
Zero Scale and Rotation when selecting a single layer
New Void is inserted in parenting chain. If selected layer(s) have a single parent layer, this parent will become the parent of the new Void.
New Void layer is locked when holding ALT/Opt to create a hidden Void
1.0.3
Dec 29, 2022
Changed
Logic to preserve the parenting hierarchy and only parent the top-most selected layers to a new Void layer
1.0.2
Dec 28, 2022
Added
Support for zeroing 3D layers
Support for finding the midpoint of 3D layers
1.1.1
Dec 28, 2022
Fixed
Replace solids was removing footage
1.0.0
Dec 27, 2022
Initial release