What It Does
loopFlow converts still images into seamless looping animations, often called cinemagraphs or plotagraphs. You define two masks to set the flow area and direction, and the plugin generates animation by sliding a section of the image along a mesh between those masks. This works for continuous fluid motion like flowing water, billowing smoke, drifting particles, and flames, as well as animating hair, fur, fabrics, or repeating patterns.
Key Features
The plugin gives you control over how the animation flows. You define the animated area using two masks, which determine both the region that moves and the direction of movement. Animation direction can move forward or backward, and you have three blend options: linear, soft noised, or wiped. Each layer’s blend transition can be controlled with curves for precise timing.
Optional distortion adds natural variation to the motion instead of a rigid mechanical loop. Speed Ramp lets you dynamically adjust flow speed throughout the animation. The FlowMap feature allows noise shapes to follow the direction of your mask, adding complexity to the motion without manual keyframing.
Loop options give you control over when the cycle starts or stops. This matters when you need the animation to play continuously or pause at specific points in your composition.
Who It’s For
Useful for motion designers creating social media content, title sequences, or background elements where a static image needs subtle movement. Photographers and video editors working on cinemagraphs for advertising or editorial projects will find this addresses the specific workflow of animating selective areas while keeping other parts still.
If you regularly need to add motion to product photography, landscape shots, or any still image where traditional animation would be time-consuming, this provides a mask-based workflow that doesn’t require frame-by-frame work.
Pricing
loopFlow uses a pay-what-you-want model. You choose your own price when purchasing. The developer suggests a regular price of $20.00, but you can pay more or less depending on your budget and how much value it provides for your projects. This is a one-time purchase with no subscription or recurring fees.
The plugin works with After Effects versions from CC 2014 through 2026. Current version is 1.3.3. Available through aescripts.com.