What It Does
Match Position handles spatial coordination tasks that After Effects makes awkward. It matches positions between layers regardless of parent structure, creates nulls at selected layers, links 2D screenspace to 3D coordinates, and distributes layers along custom distances.
Key Features
Create Nulls. Click once to generate a null at any selected layer. The null matches 2D or 3D status automatically. Hold ALT to parent the null to your selection, or SHIFT+ALT to make it the parent instead.
Match Position and Orientation. Select two layers and the first snaps to the second’s position and rotation, converting coordinate systems as needed. Works across multiple selections using the last layer as the target. ALT-click adds parenting. Particularly useful when rigging characters or building 3D environments where layers exist in different parent hierarchies.
Link 2D to 3D Coordinates. Connects 2D layer positions to 3D space through expressions. Needed for infographic labels that track 3D objects, 2D effects (Lens Flare, Beam, Radio Waves) that follow 3D coordinates, or any setup mixing flat graphics with camera moves. Also fixes a Camera limitation: you can’t normally link a One-Node Camera to a focus object. Select the camera and a 3D layer, click Link Position, and the Focus Distance tracks automatically.
Distribute Layers. Select three or more layers and the middle ones space evenly between first and last. For precise control, select exactly three layers and ALT-click to set a percentage distance (like 25%) for the middle one. Works with cameras, lights, and 2D layers. Helpful for parallax setups where you need specific depth intervals rather than guessing.
Axis Control. Press X, Y, or Z during match or distribute operations to constrain changes to a single axis (3D layers only).
The script respects existing parent structures. Unlike SHIFT+pickwhip, it won’t unparent your layer or inherit unwanted scale values just to move something into position.
Who It’s For
Motion designers working in 3D who need spatial control without the side effects of standard parenting. Anyone building rigs, placing scene elements, or linking 2D graphics to 3D animation.
Pricing
$19.99 one-time purchase. A trial version is available. The download includes a Cinema 4D version of the script.