When to Precompose vs When to Use Adjustment Layers

Precomposing and Adjustment Layers both apply effects to multiple layers, but they work differently and choosing wrong creates problems.

Precompose (Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+C)

Use when:

1. You need to apply an effect to multiple layers as a group (motion blur, distortion, time remapping)
2. You need to control render order (effects process top-down within a precomp)
3. You're building a reusable element (a lower third, logo animation, or particle system)
4. You need to rasterize text or shape layers before applying certain effects

Gotcha: Precomposing locks the composition size. If you animate position inside a precomp, it clips at the precomp boundaries. Enable Collapse Transformations (the sunburst switch) to pass 3D and transform data through to the parent comp.

Adjustment Layers

Use when:

1. Applying color correction to everything below (Lumetri, Curves, Tint)
2. Adding global effects like film grain, vignette, or glow
3. You want to easily toggle the effect on/off without digging into precomps

Gotcha: Adjustment layers affect ALL layers beneath them in the layer stack. Reorder carefully.