Underlay

Underlays are a convenient method of visually organizing areas of a composition. As with Groups, Underlays can improve the readability of a comp by separating it into labeled functional blocks. While Groups are designed to streamline the look of a comp by collapsing complex layers down to single nodes, Underlays highlight, rather than hide, and do not restrict outside connections.

Underlay Usage

As with Sticky Notes, an Underlay can be added to a comp by selecting it from the Flow category in the Effects Library or searching for it in the Select Tool window. The Underlay to the Node Editor with its title bar is centered on the last-clicked position.

Underlays can be resized using any side or corner. This will not affect any nodes.

Underlays can also be used as simple selection groups. Activating an Underlay, by clicking its title, will select all the tools contained wholly within it as well, allowing the entire set to be moved, duplicated, passed through, and so on.

To rename an Underlay, first ensure that nodes contained within the Underlay are not selected. Then, Option-click on the Underlay title to select the Underlay without selecting the nodes it contains. Once selected, right-click over the title and choose Rename. Underlays can be assigned a color using the same right-click contextual menu