What It Does
LayerRender lets you export individual layers from After Effects without opening Media Encoder. Add the effect to an adjustment layer, set in and out points to define your render range, and export directly to formats like H.264, H.265, ProRes, DNxHD, Cineform, and VP9. It uses FFmpeg under the hood (automatically downloaded if not installed) and processes renders using all available CPU cores.
Key Features
Layer-level rendering. Most After Effects renderers work at the composition level. LayerRender targets specific layers, making it faster to export intermediate stages or individual elements without pre-comping.
Direct FFmpeg access. Choose from extensive presets for common codecs or customize FFmpeg parameters through the Options window. The plugin sends 8-bit or 16-bit lossless RGB (or RGBA for alpha-supporting codecs) directly to FFmpeg without intermediate files.
Multi-core processing. Renders use all CPU cores for faster export compared to single-threaded workflows.
Separate audio export. Optionally generates a 16-bit 48kHz WAV file alongside your video.
Container flexibility. Pick your output container by changing the file extension (.mp4, .mov, .mkv, etc.).
Who It’s For
This is built for editors working with complex comps who need to deliver client previews or intermediate renders without the overhead of Media Encoder. You’ll need to be comfortable with codec settings and render parameters. The plugin works best at full resolution with 32-bit color depth to avoid clipping out-of-range data (though 8-bit and 16-bit are supported).
Technical Notes
Set “RAM for other applications” to 4GB or higher to prevent system crashes from FFmpeg memory usage. The playhead must be on the active part of the layer for rendering to work. Only use the effect on an adjustment layer, not directly on footage layers.
The trial version renders H.264 up to 720p without watermarks. Codec, preset, and options controls are locked until you activate a license.
Pricing
$30 for a single-user license. Floating server licenses available for multi-seat setups.