What It Does
Native After Effects shape layers give you almost no granular control over rounded rectangles. RectControl replaces that with a dedicated layer type that exposes every rectangle property as an individually animatable parameter, from width and height down to per-corner roundness and curvature.
Built by Adam Sacks, it targets UI and SaaS animation work, where morphing panels, buttons, and cards are a constant requirement, but the controls apply to any project involving animated rectangles.
Key Features
Individual corner control. Width, height, alignment, and corner roundness are all separate animatable properties. Corners can be linked or set independently, and curvature can be switched between convex and concave.
Squircle support. For Apple-style panel aesthetics, RectControl includes a squircle corner mode alongside standard rounded corners.
Nine-region null creation. With one click, you can generate nulls tied to any of nine anchor regions on the rectangle. These are useful for dynamically pinning elements inside or outside the shape, or for attaching gradient fill and stroke start and end points so they move with the rectangle as it resizes.
Figma rectangle conversion. Rectangles imported from Figma via Overlord can be converted into RectControl layers in one click, preserving existing fill, stroke, and corner roundness values.
Preset and default saving. Frequently used rectangle configurations can be saved as presets or set as the new default, reducing setup time across a project.
9-point grid for regular layers. The alignment tools are not limited to RectControl layers. The nine-point grid works on shape layers, solids, text, images, and precomps, letting you change anchor points or add parent and child nulls without opening a separate panel.
Shareable projects. Projects can be handed off to animators who do not have RectControl installed. Effect controls remain editable for them. Adding new nulls or adjusting alignment does require RectControl to be present.
Who It’s For
Motion designers working on UI walkthroughs, SaaS product demos, or any animation where rounded rectangles need to morph between states. Also useful for anyone who wants tighter null-based control over layer positioning without relying on additional alignment panels.
Pricing
RectControl is a one-time purchase at $8 USD (regular price $10, currently on sale). A free trial is available on the aescripts product page. Compatible with After Effects 2020 through 2026.
