Motion Tools MDS v2.
0
A lot of students asked us to tell about useful After Effects
scripts for workflow optimization. At the beginning,
we tried to create a list of most useful tools but then
realized that usually, we use one or two buttons from
each of them and our workspace is still cluttered.
So we decided to develop our own After Effects Script which
will contain only the most necessary things.
Follow us on social networks to keep up to date with
our new stuff: motiondesign.school
How to install Quick overview
Move the Motion Tools MDS.jsxbin file into the following location:
Windows: Program Files/Adobe/Adobe After Effects #/.. Easing sliders
../Support Files/Scripts/ScriptUI Panels
Apply elastic
Mac OS: Applications/Adobe After Effects #/Scripts/ScriptUI Panels
Apply bounce
Then Restart After Effects. Make sure that Allow Scripts To Write Files
And Access Network option is selected in: Keyframes duplicator
Windows: Edit > Preferences > General
Anchor point reposition
Mac OS: After Effects > Preferences > General
Layers/keys sequence
Now you can open the script panel by choosing it in Window menu.
Add null with parenting
Vectors & Shapes toolset
Easing sliders Anchor point Apply elastic
panel
We regularly use the special elastic expression to
add some overshoot to our animation.
But copying it from the text file is a bit annoying.
Sometimes it's easier to set up the animation speed Now you can add it within one click.
without opening Graph Editor, especially when it
One of the most useful and popular functions. Click: Just select properties you want to add elastic
comes to interface animation according to
It works even with animated properties, 3D layers expression to and click the Elastic button.
guidelines like google material design etc.Using this
and contents objects of Shape Layer. It will automatically apply the expression
panel you can set the incoming, outgoing velocity
to selected properties and create amplitude, fre-
and both at once. Make Alt+Click on one of these buttons to change
quency and decay controllers for each of them.
anchor point position of separate contents object
You can change the type of selected keyframe in of Shape Layer Alt+Click: If selected only one layer — creates
one click within this panel as well. the common controller for all properties.
If selected several layers — creates Null with a
common controller for all properties.
Apply bounce Clone Sequence
1 2
This button applies bounce expression, Using this button you can easily duplicate This panel allows you to create layer and keyframes
that will simulate a bounce back at the end of the keyframes on multiple layers. offset. Type the number of frames you want to offset
a keyframed motion. selected layers or keyframes by in the offset field.
Click: Clone selected keys from playhead.
Type the step of offset in step field.(for example, 2
Click: Applies bounce expression and controllers
means that every two layers will be offset by number
Alt+Click: Clone selected keys from playhead and
for each selected properties. Script automatically
of frames determined in offset field).
select them.
creates controllers for the following bounce parame-
ters: Amplitude, Gravity, MaxJumps 1 This one is for layer/keyframes arrangements.
Shift+Click: Reversal clone, like a “Time reverse
(Frequency), Jump In/Out(turns on and off the over-
keyfrmes”. 2 Changes the offset order: Top-down,
shoot in the beginning of the motion)
down-top, random.
Alt+Click: If selected only one layer — creates the
Click: Arrange the layers or keys(depends on
common controller for all properties.
selection) to playhead.
If selected several layers — creates Null with Alt+Click: Arrange layers to CompStart time.
a common controller for all properties. Shift+Click: Arrange layers to the first layer in
current order InPoint.
Vector & Shape layer toolset Add Null
1 2
3 4
And the last very important thing is the panel 3 Converts selected Vector layers to Adds Null and automatically parent selected layers
for work with vector graphics and shape layers. Shape Layers. to it. Works even with 3D layers
1 This button allows you to extract selected Alt+Click: Converts selected Vector layers, remove Select layers you want to control with Null object
objects of Shape Layer contents group onto artboards and source layers and press this button. Null will be positioned to the
separate layer. average anchor point of selection. If one layer se-
Shift +Click: Converts selected Vector layers and
lected — null object will be positioned to its anchor
Click: Extract selected content group objects remove artboards.
point.
Alt+Click: Extract selected items and delete Source 4 You have probably dealt with this kind of
Layers/contents group objects problem. Rectangular empty groups are created
around your paths, these are artboards from
2 This button allows you to merge selected Shape
illustrator.
Layers into one Shape Layer.
Click: Remove artboards
Click: Merge ShapeLayers
Alt+Click: Removes empty groups
Alt+Click: Merge and delete source layers
