aedev-tools/adobe-agent-skills/after-effects

Name: after-effects
Author: aedev-tools

Claude Code and agent skill by aedev-tools/adobe-agent-skills

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Checking that the SKILL.md file is still in the repository.

Automate Adobe After Effects via ExtendScript. Use when the user asks to create, modify, or query anything in an After Effects project — layers, keyframes, expressions, effects, compositions, assets, rendering, batch operations. Generates and executes JSX ExtendScript via osascript on macOS.

Install

npx vskill@latest install aedev-tools/adobe-agent-skills/after-effects

SKILL.md

Overview

This skill automates After Effects by generating ExtendScript (.jsx) and executing it via osascript. It reads project state through query scripts, uses rule files for domain knowledge, and wraps all mutations in undo groups.

First-Time Setup

Run scripts/runner.sh with any query script to detect the AE version
If multiple AE versions are installed, the user must choose one — runner.sh will prompt
Ensure AE Preferences > Scripting & Expressions > "Allow Scripts to Write Files and Access Network" is enabled

Workflow

For every user request:

Step 1: Gather context (auto-run, no confirmation needed)

Use --background for all query scripts — this skips ae.activate() so AE doesn't steal focus:

bash

bash scripts/runner.sh --background scripts/active-state.jsx

Then read /tmp/ae-assistant-result.json for active comp, selected layers, CTI.

If this is the first interaction or the project context is unknown, also run:

bash

bash scripts/runner.sh --background scripts/project-overview.jsx

This returns a summary by default: folder tree with counts, all comps listed, footage grouped by file type. NOT every individual file.

To drill into a specific folder:

bash

bash scripts/runner.sh --background scripts/project-overview.jsx '{"mode": "folder", "folderName": "Images"}'

Only use full mode when you actually need every item listed:

bash

bash scripts/runner.sh --background scripts/project-overview.jsx '{"mode": "full"}'

Step 2: Drill down if needed (auto-run)

If the task targets a specific comp:

bash

bash scripts/runner.sh --background scripts/comp-detail.jsx '{"compName": "Comp Name"}'

If the task targets specific layers:

bash

bash scripts/runner.sh --background scripts/layer-detail.jsx '{"layerNames": ["Layer 1", "Layer 2"]}'

Omit compName to use the active comp. Omit layerNames to use selected layers.

Additional query scripts

Expression errors — scan for broken expressions:

bash

bash scripts/runner.sh --background scripts/expression-errors.jsx
bash scripts/runner.sh --background scripts/expression-errors.jsx '{"compName": "Main Comp"}'

Font inventory — list all fonts used across the project:

bash

bash scripts/runner.sh --background scripts/font-inventory.jsx

Project audit — comprehensive health check (unused footage, missing files, expression errors, duplicate solids, font issues, empty folders):

bash

bash scripts/runner.sh --background scripts/project-audit.jsx
bash scripts/runner.sh --background scripts/project-audit.jsx '{"checks": ["unused", "missing", "expressions"]}'

Step 3: Load domain knowledge

Read the relevant rule file from rules/. Always read rules/extendscript-fundamentals.md — it contains ES3 constraints that apply to every generated script.

Task involves	Load rule file
Layers (create, move, parent, duplicate)	rules/layer-manipulation.md
Keyframes, animation, easing	rules/keyframes-animation.md
Expressions	rules/expressions.md
Compositions (create, precompose, nest)	rules/composition-management.md
Effects and parameters	rules/effects.md
Import, footage, assets	rules/assets-footage.md
Render queue, export	rules/rendering.md
Bulk/batch operations	rules/batch-operations.md
Version-specific features	references/ae-api-versions.md

Step 4: Generate the action script

CRITICAL: Resolve the skill's real path first

Before writing or executing any action script, resolve the skill's real (non-symlinked) path. ExtendScript #include cannot follow symlinks, so you MUST use the real filesystem path.

Run this once at the start of each session:

bash

SKILL_SCRIPTS="$(readlink -f ~/.claude/skills/after-effects-assistant/scripts 2>/dev/null || readlink ~/.claude/skills/after-effects-assistant/scripts)"
echo "$SKILL_SCRIPTS"

Use the resolved path ($SKILL_SCRIPTS) for all subsequent Write and Bash commands in this session.

Why this matters:

~/.claude/skills/ is typically a symlink — ExtendScript #include fails through symlinks
Writing to the real scripts/ directory lets #include "lib/json2.jsx" resolve correctly
The resolved path changes per machine, so never hardcode it

Every generated script MUST follow this template:

jsx

#include "lib/json2.jsx"
#include "lib/utils.jsx"
(function() {
    app.beginUndoGroup("AE Assistant: <action description>");
    try {
        var args = readArgs();
        var comp = getActiveComp();
        if (!comp) return;
        // ... action code ...
        writeResult({ success: true, message: "<what was done>" });
    } catch (e) {
        try { writeResult({ error: e.toString(), line: e.line, fileName: e.fileName }); }
        catch(e2) { writeError(e.toString(), "line:" + e.line); }
    } finally {
        app.endUndoGroup();
    }
})();

utils.jsx helpers available for generated scripts

Function	Purpose
`writeResult(obj)`	Write JSON result to `/tmp/ae-assistant-result.json`
`writeError(msg, detail)`	Last-resort error capture when JSON.stringify fails
`readArgs()`	Read args from `/tmp/ae-assistant-args.json`
`getLayerType(layer)`	Returns type string: "shape", "text", "null", "precomp", etc.
`getBlendModeName(mode)`	BlendingMode enum → string name
`getActiveComp()`	Returns active comp or writes error and returns null
`getSelectedOrAllLayers(comp)`	Selected layers array, or all layers if none selected
`hexToRGB(hex)`	`"#ff0000"` → `[1, 0, 0]`
`getCompByName(name)`	Find comp in project items by name
`walkProperties(group, leafFn, path)`	Recursive property tree walker — calls `leafFn(prop, path)` on leaves
`bubbleSort(arr, compareFn)`	ES3-compatible in-place sort
`framesToSeconds(frames, comp)`	Frame count → seconds via `comp.frameDuration`
`appendLog(message)`	Append to `~/.ae-assistant-extendscript.log`

Write the script using the Write tool, then execute with a short bash command:

Use the Write tool to write the script to $SKILL_SCRIPTS/ae-action.jsx (the resolved real path)
Execute it with bash:

bash

bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/ae-action.jsx"

IMPORTANT: Do NOT use cat > file << 'SCRIPT' heredocs — they put the entire script in the bash command, cluttering the permission prompt. Always use the Write tool for the script content, then a short bash command to run it.

Step 5: Execute or confirm

Auto-run (no confirmation needed):

All read-only queries (active-state, project-overview, comp-detail, layer-detail, expression-errors, font-inventory, project-audit)
Non-destructive additions: adding a keyframe, adding an effect, creating a layer, creating a comp

Confirm before running (show the script and ask the user):

Deleting layers or comps
Removing keyframes
Replacing footage
Clearing expressions
Render queue operations
Project cleanup (removing unused items, consolidating solids)
Any operation the user might not expect

Built-in action scripts

Before generating a custom ae-action.jsx, check if a built-in script already handles the task. These are permanent, tested scripts with args-based behavior:

True Comp Duplicator — deep-clone a comp with independent sub-comps (confirm before running):

bash

bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/true-comp-duplicator.jsx" '{"compName": "Main Comp", "suffix": " COPY"}'

Font Replace — find and replace fonts across the project. Always dryRun first:

bash

bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/font-replace.jsx" '{"find": "Helvetica", "replace": "Inter-Regular", "dryRun": true}'
bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/font-replace.jsx" '{"find": "Helvetica", "replace": "Inter-Regular"}'

Project Cleanup — remove unused footage, consolidate duplicate solids, remove empty folders. Always dryRun first:

bash

bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/project-cleanup.jsx" '{"dryRun": true}'
bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/project-cleanup.jsx"

Batch Rename — rename layers, comps, or project items in bulk:

bash

bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/batch-rename.jsx" '{"target": "layers", "mode": "find-replace", "find": "Layer", "replace": "Element"}'
bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/batch-rename.jsx" '{"target": "layers", "mode": "prefix", "prefix": "BG_"}'
bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/batch-rename.jsx" '{"target": "layers", "mode": "sequence", "base": "Card", "start": 1}'

Layer Stagger — offset selected layers in time for cascade animations:

bash

bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/layer-stagger.jsx" '{"offset": 0.1, "unit": "seconds", "direction": "forward"}'
bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/layer-stagger.jsx" '{"offset": 2, "unit": "frames"}'

Expression Replace — find/replace text in expressions project-wide. Always dryRun first:

bash

bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/expression-replace.jsx" '{"find": "comp(\"Old\")", "replace": "comp(\"New\")", "dryRun": true}'
bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/expression-replace.jsx" '{"find": "comp(\"Old\")", "replace": "comp(\"New\")"}'

Organize Project — auto-sort project panel items into folders by type:

bash

bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/organize-project.jsx" '{"structure": "by-type"}'
bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/organize-project.jsx" '{"structure": "by-extension"}'

Batch Comp Settings — change fps, resolution, duration across multiple comps:

bash

bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/batch-comp-settings.jsx" '{"scope": "all", "fps": 25}'
bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/batch-comp-settings.jsx" '{"compNames": ["Comp 1", "Comp 2"], "width": 3840, "height": 2160}'
bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/batch-comp-settings.jsx" '{"scope": "nested", "fps": 30, "duration": 10}'

Easing Presets — apply professional easing or bounce/elastic expressions:

bash

bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/easing-presets.jsx" '{"preset": "smooth"}'
bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/easing-presets.jsx" '{"preset": "snappy"}'
bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/easing-presets.jsx" '{"preset": "bounce"}'

Anchor Point Mover — reposition anchor point with visual position compensation:

bash

bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/anchor-point-mover.jsx" '{"position": "center"}'
bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/anchor-point-mover.jsx" '{"position": "bottom-left"}'

Reverse Keyframes — reverse animation on selected properties:

bash

bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/reverse-keyframes.jsx"

Select Layers — select layers by type, label, attribute, or name:

bash

bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/select-layers.jsx" '{"type": "text"}'
bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/select-layers.jsx" '{"hasExpressions": true}'
bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/select-layers.jsx" '{"nameContains": "BG"}'

Layer Sort — reorder layers in timeline by name, position, in-point, type, or label:

bash

bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/layer-sort.jsx" '{"sortBy": "name", "order": "ascending"}'
bash "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/runner.sh" "$SKILL_SCRIPTS/layer-sort.jsx" '{"sortBy": "position-y"}'

This is the start of the file. Read the full SKILL.md on GitHub.

Security

Security scanPassed, 95 of 100Pattern checks on the skill's files.
Model reviewPassed

See the full security report

Quality evaluation

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Source

SKILL.md in the repositoryCheckingskills/after-effects/SKILL.md

Popularity

Repository stars: 43
Repository forks: 2
7-day trend score: 19

Stars and forks are for the whole GitHub repository, not this skill alone. Refreshed 24 Mar 2026, 7 months ago.

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