More about Precomp Limbs

Precomp limbs are covered from 3:05

Precomp limbs are simple to make and simple to Add Art to, but sooner or later you might want to go and change something inside the precomp itself.

You can do whatever you like to artwork layers inside a Precomp limb - add more layers, apply effects or expressions to them, add their properties to Essential Graphics, precompose them… Anything After Effects can do, you can do. Just make sure that any artwork layers are parented to either the Upper Art Parent, Middle Art Parent or Lower Art Parent.

Resetting Precomp Limb Pivot Points

Inside a precomp limb, the Upper Art Parent, Middle Art Parent (for 3-bone limbs), Lower Art Parent and End layers correspond to the limb's pivot points. If you un-parent artwork from these layers, it won't move with the limb.

If you want to adjust where the pivot points are, in relation to the artwork layers, you can use After Effects' Anchor Point Tool to move the Anchor Points of the pivot layers, and then click the Reset button. You'll see the pivots re-center around the new Anchor Points as Limber resets and re-calibrates the limb.

Here's an example: in the video below, when the limb is moved, the artwork sticks out awkwardly. Inside the limb layer precomp, I re-position the Lower Art Parent and End layer's Anchor Points. Then I click Reset, and back in the main comp, everything works better.

Use the Reset button if you change the pivots in a precomp limb.

Resetting Precomp Limb Durations

If a Precomp Limb ends up with a shorter duration than the comp it's in, you'll often want to extend it. Select one or more Precomp limb layers in the timeline, hold Option / Alt and click the Reset button. Limber will extend the duration of the limbs, and the layers inside them.

You can also select limb comps in the Limber Limbs folder in the Project Panel, and Option / Alt + Reset their durations from there.