--- title: Name your After Effects layers for Menu Builder description: Name your After Effects layers with tags so Menu Builder can auto-configure your layers as you upload. --- [Skip to content](https://support.eyemagnet.com/menu-builder/layer-names#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [Customer portal](https://support.eyemagnet.com/tickets?hsLang=en) ![Logos-1](https://support.eyemagnet.com/hubfs/Logos/Logos-1.svg) - [Knowledge Base Home](https://support.eyemagnet.com/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Knowledge Base Home](https://support.eyemagnet.com/) - English Show submenu for translations - [Customer portal](https://support.eyemagnet.com/tickets) - [eyemagnet.com](https://www.eyemagnet.com/) [eyemagnet.com](https://www.eyemagnet.com/) Hi, how can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Eyemagnet Knowledge Base](https://support.eyemagnet.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [Menu Builder](https://support.eyemagnet.com/menu-builder?hsLang=en) 3. [Termplate Creation](https://support.eyemagnet.com/menu-builder?hsLang=en#termplate-creation) # Name your After Effects layers for Menu Builder ## Name your After Effects layers with tags so Menu Builder can auto-configure your layers as you upload. ### Quick Guide - **Make a layer editable:** start its name with `[dyn]` or `[dynamic]`. - **Hide a layer:** start its name with `[void]`. For a composition, start its name with `_`. - **Make a dropdown:** use `[sel:Name]` to pick one option, or `[multi:Name]` to pick several. Layers with the same name in the tag go in the same dropdown. - **Split a template into sections:** use `[sec:Name]`. Put it before a dropdown tag to put that dropdown inside the section. - **Unnamed layers are ignored.** Give every layer its own unique name. - **Stick to simple characters:** letters, numbers, spaces, brackets and `_ - , . : &`. - **To rename a layer,** select it and press **Enter** (Windows) or **Return** (Mac). To tag lots of layers at once, use the free **Layer Tags panel** for After Effects. ### The tags at a glance | Tag | What it does in Menu Builder | Example layer name | | --- | --- | --- | | `[dyn]` or `[dynamic]` | Makes the layer **editable** | `[dyn] Combo price` | | `[void]` | **Hides** the layer | `[void] Background glow` | | `_` at the start | **Hides** it (best for compositions) | `_Background comp` | | `[sel:Name]` | Adds it to a **dropdown** where you pick **one** | `[sel:Drinks] Orange juice` | | `[multi:Name]` | Adds it to a **dropdown** where you pick **several** | `[multi:Badges] Diet Coke badge` | | `[sec:Name]` | Puts it in a **section** | `[sec:Graphics] Logo` | Put the tag at the start of the layer name, followed by a space and then the layer's own name. --- ### Make a layer editable Tag a layer as **dynamic** when the person updating the menu needs to change it, such as a price or a product name. Only the layers you tag show up as editable fields, so the menu stays simple and quick to set up. - Use `[dyn]` or `[dynamic]`. Both work the same. - Example: `[dyn] Combo price`   --- ### Hide a layer Hide (make **private**) any layer or composition that should never be changed or shown in Menu Builder, such as background effects or guides. - **For layers, use `[void]`.** Example: `[void] Background glow` - **For compositions, start the name with `_`.** Example: `_Background comp` You can also use `_` on layers, and it still works in older templates. For new layers, use `[void]` so all your tags look the same, in square brackets.   --- ### Group layers into a dropdown Put related layers into one dropdown, so the person updating the menu can choose between them, such as which drink appears in a combo. - **Pick one:** `[sel:Name]`. Example: `[sel:Drinks] Orange juice` - **Pick several:** `[multi:Name]`. Example: `[multi:Badges] Diet Coke badge` Every layer with the same group name goes into the same dropdown. So `[sel:Drinks] Orange juice` and `[sel:Drinks] Apple juice` make one **Drinks** dropdown with two choices. Type the group name exactly the same way each time, because `Drinks` and `Drink` would make two separate dropdowns. \[Screenshot: a Drinks dropdown in Menu Builder\]   --- ### Split a template into sections Long templates can mean lots of scrolling. Sections split the editable fields into clear groups, such as **Graphics**, **Drinks** or **Pricing**, so people find the right field straight away. - Use `[sec:Name]`. Example: `[sec:Graphics] Logo` - **To put a dropdown inside a section,** use both tags, with the section first. `[sec:Graphics] [sel:Drinks] Orange juice` puts **Orange juice** in the **Drinks** dropdown, inside the **Graphics** section.   --- ### Unnamed layers are ignored If you haven't given a layer its own name, Menu Builder ignores it, the same as a hidden layer. You can spot unnamed layers because: - **After Effects** shows the default name in square brackets, such as `[Shape Layer 1]` or `[drink image.png]` - **Illustrator** layers show the default name in angle brackets, such as `` If someone needs to edit the layer, give it a proper name and a tag.   --- ### Rules for every layer name - **Give every layer a different name.** If two layers have the same name, one of them may not show in Menu Builder. - **Only use these characters:** | Type | Allowed | | --- | --- | | Letters | a–z, A–Z | | Numbers | 0–9 | | Punctuation | `_` `-` `,` `.` `:` `&` | | Brackets | `[ ]` `( )` | | Spaces | space, tab and new line | - **Avoid other symbols,** such as `£`, `$`, `€`, `'`, `/`, `\`, `|`, `!` or accented letters like `é`. **If a layer name uses one of these, the template upload is rejected.** For example, name a layer `[dyn] Chefs special price`, not `[dyn] Chef's special £`.   --- ### Rename a layer by hand in After Effects 1. In the **Timeline** panel, click the layer. 2. Press **Enter** (Windows) or **Return** (Mac). The name becomes editable. 3. Type the new name, with the tag at the start. For example, `[dyn] Combo price`. 4. Press **Enter** or **Return** again to save it. To rename lots of layers at once, you can use a batch renamer plugin for After Effects like our Layer Tags panel script below.   --- #### Something not right? | Problem | Likely cause | Fix | | --- | --- | --- | | The template upload is rejected | A layer name uses a symbol that isn't allowed, such as `£`, `'` or `/` | Rename the layer using only the [allowed characters](https://claude.ai/epitaxy/project/chan_01W6GPjBf1ZPKPebKpXDuhd3?thread=cmsg_01W6GPjBf1ZPKPebKpXDuhd3LPphs7dEBJe8QAe662XJJj#rules-for-every-layer-name), then upload the template again | | A layer is missing in Menu Builder | The layer has no tag, still has its default name, or has the same name as another layer | Check the name follows the [Rules for every layer name](https://claude.ai/epitaxy/project/chan_01W6GPjBf1ZPKPebKpXDuhd3?thread=cmsg_01W6GPjBf1ZPKPebKpXDuhd3LPphs7dEBJe8QAe662XJJj#rules-for-every-layer-name), then upload the template again | | A layer you wanted hidden is showing | The `[void]` tag is missing or misspelt | Add `[void]` to the start of the name | | One dropdown has split into two | The group name is typed differently, such as `Drinks` and `drinks` | Make the group names match exactly | Still stuck? Email **[support@eyemagnet.com](mailto:support@eyemagnet.com)** with the template name and the layer names that aren't working. [![Logos](https://support.eyemagnet.com/hubfs/Logos/Logos.svg "Logos")](https://www.eyemagnet.com/) ©2026 Eyemagnet Limited. All Rights Reserved.