Pimping up AE

Resources

AE Script Starter Pack

• FX Console

• Ease & Whizz

• Laber Maker

• Project Cleaner

• Buttcapper

• RepositionAnchorPoint

• Easecopy

Others

• After Effects Output modules

NoSleepCreative Expression Starter Pack

• Basic Expression Workshop: https://youtu.be/aZ5F1eCm428

• Expression snippet library: https://docs.nosleepcreative.com/code/javascript-for-ae/expressions

Recommended Readings

Expression Documentation

• Aenhancers — Expressions
• W3 School Javascript
• Expression guide
• JR Canesto AE Tricks Google Sheets

Tutorials

• **Motionscript** by Dan Ebbert
• Animoplex
• AE Incredible Expressions Challenge

Installing scripts

• How to install script & scriptsUI

  • via AE menu

  • via placing in directory

  • via aescripts + aeplugins manager app
  • practice with: RepositionAnchorPoint

• Installing via DMG:

  • fx console - shortcut, saving screenshots, copying to clipboard

• How to install ZXP extensions with ZXP installer

  • Install Flow

Setting up your workspaces

AE Organization & management

Essentially, you want to use the same principles as above: having a consistent folder structure, responsibly naming your files, and reducing project size.

Folder Structures

4KB

nsc_folderStructure_AE_v1.zip

archive

After Effects Folder Structures

Setting up preferences to auto-load AEP template

Under Preferences > New Project > Choose Project Template > Select AEP to use for startup

After Effects Output Modules (AOM)

Rule of thumb: 
prores 422HQ for delivery, 
4444+alpha for video that needs alpha, 
LT if storage space is limited,

mp4: high quality 2 pass encoding 50mbps, max render quality

How to save Render Settings(ars) and Output Modules (aom)

If you want to save a render-settings template for use on another system

• Click the Save All button in the Render Settings Templates dialog box before you close it

• or, reopen the dialog box later by choosing Edit > Templates > Render Settings).

• Save the file in an appropriate location on your hard disk, such as in the After Effects application folder.

• All the currently loaded render settings are saved in a file with the .ars extension.

• Then, copy this file to the disk of the other system. When you start After Effects on that system, choose Edit > Templates > Render Settings, click the Load button, and select the new .ars file to load the settings you saved.

Source

How to load AOM files

Have a item in the render queue > Output Module > Make Template > Load > Select AOM file

1MB

nsc_2020_11.aom

NSC After Effects Output Modules