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After Effects MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol server for Adobe After Effects. Enables AI assistants to control After Effects through a WebSocket-based CEP panel.

Requirements

• Adobe After Effects 2021+ (versions 18.x - 26.x)
• Node.js 18+
• pnpm

Installation

git clone https://github.com/Brandkick/after-effects-mcp.git
cd after-effects-mcp
pnpm install
just setup

Configuration

Add to Claude Code config (~/.claude.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aftereffects": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/after-effects-mcp/build/index.js"]
    }
  }
}

Usage

1. Claude Code starts the MCP server automatically
2. Open After Effects
3. Open the panel: Window > Extensions > MCP Bridge

Setup: JPEG Output Template

For exportCompFrame to work, create a JPEG output template in After Effects:

1. Create any composition
2. File > Export > Add to Render Queue
3. Click "Output Module" settings
4. Set Format to "JPEG Sequence"
5. Set Quality to 50-70% (faster previews, smaller files)
6. Optionally resize: check "Resize" and set to 50% or a fixed size like 960x540
7. Click the template dropdown (top of dialog)
8. Select "Save As New Template..."
9. Name it exactly: JPEG Sequence
10. Click OK

This only needs to be done once per After Effects installation.

MCP Tools

Tool	Description
run-script	Execute any command (see Commands below)
getHelp	List all available commands
createComposition	Create a new composition
setLayerKeyframe	Set a single keyframe
setLayerKeyframes	Set multiple keyframes (batch)
setLayerExpression	Apply expressions to properties
setEffectKeyframes	Animate effect properties (batch)
importFootage	Import files into project
addToRenderQueue	Queue composition for render
exportCompFrame	Export single frame as PNG for visual verification

Commands

All commands can be called via run-script. Use getHelp to see full documentation.

Project

• getProjectInfo, newProject, saveProject, saveProjectAs, closeProject
• createFolder, moveProjectItem, deleteProjectItem
• importFootage, importPlaceholder, replaceFootage

Composition

• listCompositions, getActiveComposition, createComposition
• setCompSettings - Modify duration, work area, frame rate, motion blur

Layers

• createTextLayer, createShapeLayer, createSolidLayer, addLayerToComp
• getLayerInfo, setLayerProperties - Name, transform, timing
• setLayerFlags - Visibility, solo, shy, locked, motion blur, 3D
• deleteLayer, duplicateLayer, reorderLayer, precomposeLayer
• setParentLayer, setTrackMatte
• setTextProperties - Font, size, color, justification

Animation

• setLayerKeyframe, setLayerKeyframes (batch)
• setLayerExpression
• getKeyframes, deleteKeyframe, deleteKeyframes (batch)
• setKeyframeEasing, setKeyframesEasing (batch)
• copyKeyframes

Effects

• applyEffect, applyEffectTemplate
• listEffects, listAvailableEffects, getEffectProperties
• setEffectKeyframe, setEffectKeyframes (batch)

Time & Markers

• setLayerTime - In/out point, start time, stretch
• enableTimeRemapping, setTimeRemap
• addMarker, getMarkers, removeMarker

Camera & 3D

• createCamera, createLight
• setCameraProperties, setLightProperties
• set3DLayer, setMaterialOptions

Masks & Shapes

• addMask, setMaskPath, setMaskProperties, deleteMask
• addShapePath, setShapePathVertices, addShapeModifier

Render

• addToRenderQueue, renderQueue, queueInAME
• getRenderQueueStatus, clearRenderQueue
• exportCompFrame - Visual verification

Utility

• getSelection, setSelection
• beginUndoGroup, endUndoGroup, getUndoGroupStatus
• getPropertyInfo, listFonts

MCP Resources

Resource	Description
aftereffects://compositions	List all compositions
aftereffects://workflow-guide	Visual verification workflow guide

Development

just setup   # Build and install CEP panel with debug mode
just build   # Build only
just start   # Start MCP server (for testing)
just clean   # Remove build directory

Architecture

Claude Code <--stdio--> MCP Server <--WebSocket:8765--> CEP Panel <--CSInterface--> ExtendScript

See ARCHITECTURE.md for design principles.

Project Structure

after-effects-mcp/
├── src/
│   ├── index.ts              # MCP server, tool definitions
│   ├── websocket-server.ts   # WebSocket server
│   ├── logger.ts             # Logging utility
│   ├── shared/
│   │   ├── commands.ts       # Command registry (single source of truth)
│   │   └── config.ts         # Configuration and timeouts
│   └── cep/                   # CEP extension
│       ├── CSXS/manifest.xml
│       ├── index.html
│       ├── js/main.js         # WebSocket client
│       └── jsx/modules/       # ExtendScript (modular)
│           ├── 00-polyfills.jsx
│           ├── 01-helpers.jsx
│           ├── 10-project.jsx
│           ├── 11-layer.jsx
│           ├── 12-keyframe.jsx
│           ├── 13-time.jsx
│           ├── 14-render.jsx
│           ├── 15-camera.jsx
│           ├── 16-mask.jsx
│           ├── 17-shape.jsx
│           ├── 18-selection.jsx
│           ├── 19-discovery.jsx
│           └── 99-dispatcher.jsx
├── scripts/
│   ├── install-cep.js
│   ├── build-jsx.ts          # Concatenates JSX modules
│   └── generate-cep-config.ts
├── tests/
├── justfile
└── package.json

License

MIT