What It Does
Duplicate with Connections creates a copy of a layer and automatically links all its properties to the original through expressions. Instead of copying and pasting keyframes every time you update an animated layer, the duplicate inherits changes from its source via expression links. This matters when you need a layer to mirror another’s movement, like duplicating a camera’s motion from a main composition into a nested comp.
After running the script, you can selectively disable expressions you don’t need. Since expressions can slow down a project, the script gives you control over which properties remain linked.
Key Features
Path options. Choose between relative or absolute paths for the duplicate. Use absolute paths if you plan to pre-comp or move the duplicated instance to another composition. This prevents broken links when restructuring your project.
Property referencing. Reference properties by name or by index. Index-based linking can be more stable when property names change, but name-based is more readable in your expression code.
Expression cleanup. After creating the duplicate, disable whichever expressions you don’t need to maintain. Convert expressions into keyframes when appropriate to improve performance on heavy projects.
Who It’s For
Useful when you need the same animation in multiple places but want to edit it from a single source. Common for nested compositions, camera duplication across comps, or creating multiple instances of a complex animated layer without manually syncing keyframes.
Pricing
This is a pay-what-you-want script with a suggested minimum of $7.99. Individual users can pay any amount they choose. Businesses and teams must pay the suggested price to receive a valid license.