How to Repeat a Composition in After Effects

Introduction to Repeating Compositions

Repeating a composition in After Effects can help extend an animation or video without having to recreate it. By duplicating your pre-composed layers and aligning them on the timeline, you can easily repeat a sequence. This technique is particularly helpful for longer projects, allowing you to stretch an animation to your desired length. Here’s a step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Open Your Composition
Begin by opening the project file in After Effects that contains the composition you wish to repeat. Ensure the composition is ready and contains all necessary elements. You can either work with an existing project or create a new composition.Step 2: Create a Pre-Composition

Select all layers within your composition to group them into one pre-composition. Right-click on the selected layers, and choose Pre-compose or navigate to Layer > Pre-compose. This step combines all the individual layers into one layer, making it easier to duplicate and repeat the sequence. Step 3: Adjust the Composition Duration

To create space for the repeated sequence, adjust the duration of the composition. Go to Composition > Composition Settings, and double the duration. For example, if the original composition is 15 seconds long, change it to 30 seconds. This will give room for the repeated part. Step 4: Extend the Time Navigator

In the Timeline panel, extend the Time Navigator End to match the new length of the composition. This ensures the entire extended timeline is visible, making it easier to manage and view the duplicated sequences.Step 5: Duplicate the Pre-Composition
Select the pre-composition layer in the timeline and press “Ctrl/Cmd + D” to duplicate it. The duplicated composition will appear directly above the original in the timeline, ready to be repositioned for repeating. Move the duplicated pre-composition along the timeline to start immediately after the original ends. Step 6: Preview the Repeated Composition

Press Spacebar to preview the animation and ensure the transition between the original and duplicated composition is smooth. If everything plays correctly, you can continue duplicating and aligning the pre-composition for as many repeats as you need.Conclusion
By following these steps, you can easily repeat a composition in After Effects, extending your animations seamlessly. Whether you’re working on visual effects or looping sequences for extended projects, this method allows for efficient editing without the need to manually recreate animation layers.