What It Does

Layer Slayer solves a specific problem: when you need the same layer to appear multiple times in different places in your timeline, you’re stuck with duplicates, precomps, or endless keyframe copying. This tool creates synchronized copies (called “Slayers”) of any layer (the “Master”). Place them anywhere in the layer stack or timeline, then sync them all with a single button press.

Key Features

One-click synchronization. Work on your Master layer however you like. Add effects, animate, adjust blending. When you’re ready, press the sync button and all Slayers update instantly. No expressions, no manual copying.

Smart precomping. The sync uses efficient precomposition instead of expressions. Your properties and effects stay clean. The only expressions are the optional ones you choose to add for real-time updates on specific properties.

Dependency syncing. The tool can sync parents, track mattes, adjustment layers, lights, and cameras along with the layer itself. Useful when your Master layer is part of a more complex setup.

Live Link expression. Apply the Live Link to any property you want to update in real time as you edit, without hitting the sync button. Useful for properties you’re actively tweaking, like position or opacity.

Slayer switches. Control visibility, solo, lock, or shyness of all Slayers as a group from the panel.

Loop or hold options. Slayer layers can loop or hold the first and last frames where the Master is trimmed. Good for creating seamless loops from any animation.

Who It’s For

This is built for compositors and animators working with multi-layer blends, reusable elements, or projects where the same content needs to appear in different timeline positions or layer orders. Common use cases:

  • Blending 3D plugin layers (Element 3D, Particular) with surrounding 2D or 3D layers
  • Creating alpha mattes from layers with effects and masks baked in
  • Managing complex composites where duplicating layers becomes a maintenance nightmare
  • Building multiple variations of the same shot without duplicating the entire comp

Collaborators without the plugin can still work with your project and render it. They just won’t have access to the sync button.

Pricing

$40 for a single-user license. One-time purchase, no subscription.