Discuss: is there a way (yet) to re-use an animated comp for different texts without using Premiere?

the title doesn't explain well. , old question, worth asking again in case recent architecture changes have made possible.

 

i want able re-use single composition - 1 containing text layer - without having duplicate composition (and "fixing" animations in stone).

 

a simple example: i've done animated map, flags popping @ various locations, location names on them. @ moment, create single comp of 1 of location flags, - once i'm absolutely sure i'm happy animation / font / colours etc - can duplicate comp many times need , go in , change text in each one.

 

if client says "could make text blue instead" have load of comps have fix. they're identical apart text... arrrrg

 

i find myself needing functionality. lower thirds, title sequences, text flags, etc - need multiple copies of comp thing that's different text. end folders full of identical comps i'm praying client won't want "global" change. it's not client - find myself spare hour @ end of project , think "a bit more polish on text flags nice" - it's late alter copies.

 

* workaround *

 

there workaround involving premiere: taking "map location flags" example above, can set "location flag" composition template in ae. import premiere, make copies need laid out on timeline, , go in , edit text each instance separately. export video alpha, import ae, chop up, stick need on animated map.

 

at least means if need make global change way location flags look, have 1 comp fix. have open premiere project , re-render, export on old one, , when go ae, reload footage. it's not ideal, it's solution.

 

so.

 

is there way yet of doing without premiere round-trip?

 

i hoping there'd way use expressions this, ae's caching system precluded it. way (say) retrieve layer name instance of composition used, have lots of copies of single sub-comp, give them different layer names, , within sub-comp use expression retrieve instance's layer name in parent composition.

 

don't think works yet.

 

any thoughts / hacks / expressiony things can suggest? i'm guessing adobe use guidance in how implement sort of functionality too, it'd worth @ least talking, eh?

 

 

i use copy property links or copy relative property links lot sort of use case.

 

when client makes changes, it's nice able change across whole project!

 

i set null control object in main comp. it'll have things expression effects color option , other things let me change stuff across layers of comp or across project.

 

then else want across project, i'll copy property links , past new comp. new architecture enables mess expressions without fuss if make error. can duplicate comp linked assets many times need.

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