Layer Sub-Objects
thisLayer
This category describes items that give you other objects based on the current layer; things like the source (for precomps or footage), effects, masks, sourceRect, etc.
On this page, we're going to use thisLayer as a sample on how to call these items, however note that any method that returns a Layer will work.
For After Effects CC and CS6, the Expression language menu, the "Layer Sub-Objects", "Layer General", "Layer Properties", "Layer 3D", and "Layer Space Transforms" have been arranged into a "Layer" submenu.
Attributes
Layer.source
thisLayer.source
Description
Returns the source Comp or Footage object for the layer.
Default time is adjusted to the time in the source.
Example:
source.layer(1).position;Type
Methods
Layer.effect()
thisLayer.effect(name)
thisLayer.effect(index)
Description
The name value will have After Effects find the effect by its name in the Effect Controls panel. The name can be the default name or a user-defined name. If multiple effects have the same name, the effect closest to the top of the Effect Controls panel is used.
The index value will have After Effects finds the effect by its index in the Effect Controls panel, starting at 1 and counting from the top.
Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
name | String | Effect name or index to get. |
index | Number |
Returns
Example
Get the "Blurriness" effect by name:
thisLayer.effect("Fast Blur");Get the first effect on the layer:
thisLayer.effect(1);Layer.mask()
thisLayer.mask(name)
thisLayer.mask(index)
Description
The name value can be the default name or a user-defined name. If multiple masks have the same name, the first (topmost) mask is used.
The index value will have After Effects finds the mask by its index in the Timeline panel, starting at 1 and counting from the top.
Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
name | String | Mask name or index to get. |
index | Number |
Returns
Example
Get the mask "Mask 1" by name:
thisLayer.mask("Mask 1");Get the first mask on the layer:
thisLayer.mask(1);Layer.sourceRectAtTime()
thisLayer.sourceRectAtTime(t = time, includeExtents = false)
This functionality was added in After Effects 13.2 Paragraph text extents was added in After Effects 15.1.
Description
Returns the bounding box of the layer (or the layer's source).
Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
t | Number | Optional. The specified time (in comp seconds) to apply the smoothing filter to. Defaults to time (the current comp time, in seconds). |
includeExtents | Boolean | Optional. Only applies to shape layers and paragraph text layers. Defaults to false. - For shape layers: Increases the size of the layer bounds as necessary. - For paragraph text layers: Returns the bounds of the paragraph box |
Returns
An object with four attributes: {top, left, width, height}
Example
myTextLayer.sourceRectAtTime().width;Layer.sourceTime()
thisLayer.sourceTime([t=time])
This functionality was added in After Effects CS5.5
Description
Returns the layer source corresponding to time t.
Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
t | Number | Optional. The specified time (in comp seconds) to apply the smoothing filter to. Defaults to time (the current comp time, in seconds). |
Returns
Number
Last updated on Jun 6, 2026