What It Does
Pins & Boxes replaces complex layout expressions with two simple concepts: pins and boxes. Pins attach to the boundaries of text layers or other elements and move automatically when content resizes. Boxes (shape layers, solids, or precomps) resize themselves to always encompass their assigned pins. Change your text length, and the entire layout updates without touching a single expression.
Key Features
Pins. Create anchor points on any layer’s bounding box. When the mother layer changes size, pins move with it. Parent other layers to these pins to position them relative to the mother layer.
Boxes. Select pins from one or multiple layers, and generate a box that auto-resizes to contain them. Control margins, borders, and whether to render as a full box or single line.
Hierarchical layouts. Pins work on parented layers and nested structures. Create boxes around groups of layers, then pin new elements to those boxes. Build complex multi-level layouts step by step.
Animation controls. Boxes include percentage-based controls for scale, anchor, and offset. Animations stay proportional regardless of box size changes, so your in/out transitions work at any content length.
Motion graphics template support. Dynamic layouts function inside mogrts without requiring Pins & Boxes on the end user’s system. Edit text in Premiere Pro and the layout updates automatically.
Scripting API. Call API.newPins() and API.newBox() from your own scripts. Integrate into automated pipelines or custom workflow tools. KBar integration lets you trigger any function from a toolbar button.
Who It’s For
Motion designers building lower thirds, title cards, or data visualizations where text length varies. Template developers who need bulletproof layouts for client handoff. Anyone tired of writing bounding box expressions that break when you add a word.
Pricing
Pins & Boxes uses pay-what-you-want pricing. The suggested price is $39.99 for a one-time purchase. Eligible previous customers may qualify for reduced upgrade pricing. A trial version is available to test before buying.