What It Does
ASH Syntax Highlighter applies real code-editor syntax highlighting to After Effects text layers. Select a text layer containing actual code, pick a language and theme, and the plugin automatically colors syntax elements using an established highlighting library. Designed for FUI (futuristic user interface) artists who need to display plausible code screens without manually selecting and coloring every keyword.
Key Features
Language detection. Automatically identifies the programming language or choose manually from roughly 300 supported languages.
Custom themes. Includes 5 native code-editor themes (the kind you’d see in VS Code or Sublime Text). Create, remove, and share custom themes, plus preview them before applying.
Expression-driven masks. Results use expressions for color effects on different token types (keywords, base text, etc.), which you can fine-tune or animate.
Preserves existing animation. Retains any animators already applied to the text layer, such as typewriter effects, so you can layer syntax highlighting on top of motion.
macOS limitation. The plugin is incompatible with macOS 12.3 and newer due to operating system issues.
Compatible with After Effects CS6 through 2025.
Who It’s For
Motion designers creating screen graphics for sci-fi films, tech interfaces, or any project requiring realistic code displays. Saves time over manual color selection and reduces errors in complex syntax.
Pricing
This is a pay-what-you-want model, meaning you decide the price. A free trial is available with limits: the first 10 lines of code, the first 3 themes, and ends after 7 days or 7 launches. Developed in collaboration with Alan Fregtman.