What It Does
Paint Link bridges After Effects and Photoshop for frame-by-frame animation. With one click, it creates a dynamic PSD file that updates After Effects in real time as you paint in Photoshop. No manual saving, rendering, or file shuffling required.
Key Features
Real-time sync. Changes made in Photoshop appear in After Effects instantly. The workflow video was recorded in real time to demonstrate the speed.
Automatic file management. Paint Link syncs individual PSD files to specific keyframes on your timeline. You paint on the current frame in Photoshop, and the plugin handles version control automatically.
Customizable onion skin. View previous and next frames as reference layers while painting. The onion skin adapts to different animation styles, whether you’re rotoscoping footage or drawing cel animation from scratch.
One-click setup. A single button creates the Photoshop link and starts the workflow. The plugin handles the connection and file paths.
VFX mode. Added in version 1.0.7, this mode optimizes the workflow for visual effects work where you’re painting directly onto live-action frames.
Collaboration-friendly. Project files can be shared with team members. The plugin includes relinking tools if files are moved or paths change.
Who It’s For
Useful for rotoscoping, cel animation, and any workflow that involves painting or drawing on individual frames. The real-time preview makes it practical for iterative work where you need to see how your strokes look in context with the rest of the comp.
Setup Requirements
Photoshop needs three settings adjusted before Paint Link works:
- Disable color profile warnings (Color Settings preferences)
- Enable Remote Connections in Photoshop plugins
- Set the connection password to “aescripts”
These are one-time changes. The plugin will detect incorrect installations and provide instructions.
Pricing
Paint Link costs $149.95 for a single user license. A trial version is available to test the workflow before purchasing. The plugin is included free with Lockdown 3.
