After Effects Expression & Script Development
Write complex After Effects expressions and scripts
What You Can Do
You can generate, debug, and optimize After Effects expressions and scripts that automate animations, create complex motion effects, and extend AE functionality. Claude helps you write production-ready expressions from scratch, troubleshoot failing scripts, and master AE's expression language to solve motion graphics challenges faster.
Features
from simple ease-and-wheel to position tracks, scale animations, and dynamic parenting logic
identify syntax errors, logic bugs, and performance issues with step-by-step explanations
create ExtendScript (.jsx) files to batch-process compositions, organize layers, or export sequences
refactor slow expressions to reduce render time without sacrificing visual quality
understand how time, thisLayer, valueAtTime, and other AE functions work in your expressions
access pre-built expressions for common tasks: counter text, wave distortion, camera rig automation, staggered animations
ensure your expressions use correct JavaScript and AE's ExtendScript dialect
Example Output
Expression Example:
// Wiggle animation with easing
freq = 3; // frequency in Hz
amp = 50; // amplitude in pixels
wiggle(freq, amp)
Script Example:
// Change selected layers' opacity to 75%
var comp = app.project.activeItem;
for (var i = 1; i <= comp.selectedLayers.length; i++) {
comp.selectedLayers[i-1].opacity.setValue(75);
}
Common Pattern: Linear expression for counting animation frames with text layer — Claude provides full working example with composition markers.
What's Included
- SKILL.md: Complete After Effects expression and scripting reference
- Expression Template Library: 15+ ready-to-use expressions for common tasks (wiggle, counter, offset, easing)
- Script Templates: Batch operations, layer organization, export automation
- Debugging Checklist: Common expression errors and solutions
- ExtendScript Best Practices: Performance tips, error handling patterns
- Time-Based Animation Guide: Working with frameRate, time, and timecode
- Function Reference: AE expression and script functions with examples
Who It's For
- Motion graphics designers — automate keyframe generation and complex animations
- VFX artists — script repetitive compositing tasks and create dynamic effects
- Video editors — batch-process footage and automate layer workflows
- Animators — build procedural animations with expressions instead of manual keyframes
- Technical directors — extend AE with custom ExtendScript automation
Best For
- Writing and debugging expressions that move text, shapes, and cameras
- Creating automation scripts to batch-process compositions or export sequences
- Optimizing slow expressions that cause render bottlenecks
- Generating procedural animations without manual keyframing
- Troubleshooting expression errors and logic problems with detailed explanations
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