Key Combinations

⌨️ ⌘/Ctrl + click creates a single null at the layers' center
Shift + click creates a single null at the comp point

Options

  • Auto-close: closes the window after the nulls are created
  • Place null at visual center: puts the null at the center of what you see instead of at the anchor points
  • Null Layer Type: "Null Layer" creates a null object, "Shape Object" creates a shape layer that works as a null
  • Parent Hierarchy: "Keep Hierarchy" places the new null inside the parent chain the layers already have, so they stay under their current parents. "Ignore Hierarchy" parents the selected layers straight to the null
  • Naming Option: "Default" names the null "Null", or after its layer with Each Layer. "Ask me" opens a small window for the name after you click a button. "Custom Pattern" builds the name from the Pattern row
  • Pattern: appears when Naming Option is set to "Custom Pattern". Type the pattern, click the arrow on the left for presets and tokens, or the arrow on the right for recent patterns

Pattern tokens

  • $layer: Layer name. On a null shared by several layers, the name they have in common
  • $first: Top selected layer
  • $last: Bottom selected layer
  • $count: Number of layers the null parents
  • $type: Layer type, such as Text, Shape or Solid
  • $comp: Comp name
  • $n, $nn: Number as 1 or 01

Buttons

  • Single Null: creates one null at the center of the selected layers and parents them to it
  • Each Layer: creates a null at each selected layer
  • Comp Center: creates one null at the center of the composition. Click the arrow next to it to choose an edge or a corner of the comp instead. The button then reads Comp Edge

How to use

  1. Select the layer or layers you want to attach to a null
  2. Run the tool
  3. Choose the null type, the hierarchy and the naming
  4. Click Single Null, Each Layer or Comp Center

Note

💡 If no layer is selected, an empty null layer will be created. This is a quick way to create a null layer. A name that is already used in the comp gets a number added, so two layers never share a name. The next name and the result show at the bottom of the window