Lock layer to time

[skyline]

When positioning a quicktime file for reference, is there a way to lock it to a fixed time?

[Víctor Paredes]

You can't do that, but you can make a trick to hold a frame for a while.
Open the video layer proprieties, go to the image tab and on Movie FPS write 0.1 (or lower). Hit ok and now each frame of the video will last ten seconds inside AS.
You will need to move the layer in the sequencer to get the moment of the video you want.

PD: Probably it will be simpler to take an screenshot of the video and save it as image.

[skyline]

Good tip!

But I don't think I stated that clearly.

I'm looking for a way to lock a layer to time so that frame "1" is always frame "1", so that a layer can't be accidentally moved in time.

[Greenlaw]

Not sure I completely understand the request but would simply keyframing everything in the layer at frame 1 (or whichever frame) do the trick?

G.

[slowtiger]

You can only move a layer in Sequencer view, so as long as you're working in Timeline view you're safe.

[skyline]

Thanks!

That will certainly be worth pointing out to animators.

But ultimately, the short answer would be "no - you can't lock a layer in time"?

[Greenlaw]

I guess I'm still not sure what you're asking.

Do you mean locking the position of a layer relative to the camera? In other words, so the layer always stays in place positionally regardless of camera motion? If so, you can using the Immune to Camera Movements option in the layer's properties. This is the method I use for pinning a reference image or storyboard sequence using a switch layer to the scene.

I think the confusion is that it's not clear what you want to lock the layer to prevent. It sounds like you want to lock the layer positionally but you also mention locking it in time. Those are two different things. Or do you mean something else?

G.