Groups

Grouping and Parenting

In Pikimov, parenting between items is handled using the Group system instead of a traditional "Parent" dropdown like in After Effects.

What is Grouping?

A Group in Pikimov acts as a container that holds multiple items. When you apply transformations (like move, scale, or rotate) to the group, all items inside it will follow — similar to parenting behavior.

How to Use Groups for Parenting

  1. Create new item of type 'group'
  2. Select the items you want to link together.
  3. Drag the items into the group (on top of 'empty group')

Adding effects to groups

Since v5.6, in 2D compositions, groups can 'act' as adjustement layers: to apply FX to multiple items at once: move them into a group, and apply FXs to the group

Masking with groups

Since v5.6, in 2D compositions, groups can be masks and can be masked

Use Cases

  • Animate a character made of multiple parts
  • Move a title and its background as one unit
  • Control a complex object like a spaceship via one transform

Tip

You can nest groups to simulate complex parenting hierarchies — for example, an arm inside a body group, inside a full character group.


Youtube Pikimov group parenting tutorial