What It Does
Automation Toolkit lets you build custom automation buttons in After Effects without writing any code. Instead of learning JavaScript or expressions, you use a visual interface to design script-like functions called Automations. These run with a single click, handling repetitive tasks across layers, comps, render settings, and project items.
The free version limits you to 10 automations and 3 categories. The pro version removes these caps and adds keyboard shortcuts and shared network storage for team workflows.
Key Features
Visual automation builder. Assemble automations from over 280 properties and actions using dropdown menus and simple logic blocks. No error messages, no syntax to memorize. Available actions include layer manipulation (rename, recolor, parent, apply presets), project control (create comps, manage folders, import files), keyframe operations (add, delete, offset), render queue management (templates, output modules), and file operations (read/write external files, import image sequences).
Layer tagging and version switching. Tag layers to specific versions and switch between them instantly. Useful when testing alternate versions of elements or managing multiple design iterations.
Conditional logic and loops. Use if/then logic to target specific items (e.g., only layers with names starting with “BG”) and loop through layers, comps, keyframes, or project items to apply changes in bulk.
Drag and drop organization. Rearrange automations and categories by dragging them within the panel. Import automation files by dropping them directly into the interface.
Shareable automation files. Export your automations as files and share them with other users running the free or pro version. Team members can run shared automations without building them from scratch.
External file support. Read and write external files, including CSV data for working with spreadsheet-based workflows (e.g., importing data from Google Sheets or Excel).
Render queue control. Manage render queue items, apply output module templates by name, adjust settings (resolution, frame rate, time span), and trigger renders from your custom buttons.
Who It’s For
Useful for editors handling repetitive project setups, motion designers managing complex layer hierarchies, or studios with standardized workflows. If you find yourself doing the same multi-step operation repeatedly (renaming layers, applying specific presets, organizing comps), this tool lets you turn it into a one-click button.
Also works for teams needing to standardize processes across multiple machines. The pro version’s shared storage feature lets everyone use the same library of automations from a network drive.
Pricing
Pay what you want, including free. The free version includes all core functionality but caps you at 10 automations and 3 categories. No keyboard shortcuts or team sharing.
The pro version (regular $29, often discounted) unlocks unlimited automations and categories, adds keyboard shortcut support, and enables shared network storage for multi-user access. It’s a one-time purchase, not a subscription. Users who owned the older version of this tool get the new pro version at no charge.
