What It Does
AE Shapes Blender turns two or more shape paths into smooth transitions. Select your paths, click a button, and it generates a four-layer system: calculation layer, spine layer (controls blend direction), blend layer (renders output), and master layer (holds originals). Changes to master paths update the entire blend automatically.
The script handles paths with different vertex counts and open/closed states, detecting mismatches and offering fixes. Works best with Bézier paths of similar complexity.
Key Features
Two blend methods. Blend Along Spine sticks paths to a guide curve you control. Blend Directly merges paths without a guide.
Spine replacement. Swap the spine path to change how shapes transition. Paths follow the new curve.
Advanced properties (toggle on for more control): Stretch and scale shapes, offset positioning, loop for seamless backgrounds, fill with one or two color interpolations, stroke with adjustable widths and colors, opacity trimming from start/end with feathering, twist transitions.
Path utilities. Match Vertices equalizes point counts across paths. Shift Vertex moves starting points forward or backward. Reverse Paths flips direction. Open/Close Paths changes path closure state. All work on selected paths inside or outside blends.
Blend management. Add or remove paths from existing blends. Replace individual paths. Reverse blend order. Freeze/Unfreeze converts expressions to static values (useful for performance or SVG export via Bodymovin).
Color and opacity interpolation. Apply gradual transitions between fill colors, stroke colors, or opacity values across the blend.
Who It’s For
Motion designers animating shape layers for titles, transitions, or abstract backgrounds. Useful if you build looping animations or need precise control over how shapes morph into each other. The freeze function helps when exporting blends as SVG for use in Illustrator or other programs.
Requires After Effects 2020 or later with JavaScript expression engine (the script prompts to switch from Legacy ExtendScript if needed).
Pricing
Pay-what-you-want pricing with a suggested price of $32 (on sale from $59). Single user and floating server licenses available. Trial version included. All sample projects and an instruction PDF come with purchase.