AE MCP Server

# Adobe After Effects MCP Server - Requirements Document ## Overview This document outlines the requirements for creating a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables AI assistants to interact with Adobe After Effects through a standardized interface. ## Project Goals ### Primary Objectives - Enable AI assistants to read, create, and modify After Effects projects programmatically - Provide a secure, standardized interface for AE automation - Support common motion graphics and video editing workflows - Maintain compatibility with After Effects' existing scripting ecosystem ### Secondary Objectives - Enable batch processing of multiple projects - Support template-based project creation - Provide render queue management capabilities - Allow for asset management and organization ## Functional Requirements ### 1. Project Management - **Create new projects** with specified settings (frame rate, resolution, duration) - **Open existing projects** from file paths - **Save projects** to specified locations - **Export project information** (metadata, structure, assets) - **Close projects** safely with cleanup ### 2. Composition Operations - **Create compositions** with custom settings - **Modify composition properties** (dimensions, frame rate, duration, background color) - **Duplicate compositions** with optional modifications - **Delete compositions** with dependency checking - **List all compositions** in a project ### 3. Layer Management - **Add layers** (solid, text, shape, footage, adjustment) - **Modify layer properties** (position, scale, rotation, opacity, effects) - **Duplicate layers** within or across compositions - **Delete layers** with confirmation - **Reorder layers** in the composition stack - **Apply effects** to layers with parameter control ### 4. Asset Management - **Import footage** (video, images, audio) into projects - **Organize assets** in folders within the project panel - **Replace footage** sources while maintaining references - **Export assets** from projects - **Manage asset proxies** for performance ### 5. Animation and Keyframes - **Set keyframes** for animatable properties - **Modify keyframe values** and timing - **Apply easing** (ease in/out, custom curves) - **Create simple animations** (fade in/out, scaling, movement) - **Copy and paste keyframes** between properties/layers ### 6. Text and Graphics - **Create text layers** with formatting options - **Modify text content** and styling - **Create shape layers** with basic shapes - **Apply and modify effects** (color correction, blur, etc.) - **Work with masks** for layer composition ### 7. Rendering and Export - **Add compositions to render queue** - **Configure render settings** (format, quality, output path) - **Start and monitor rendering** progress - **Batch render** multiple compositions - **Export specific frame ranges** ### 8. Template System - **Create project templates** with placeholders - **Instantiate templates** with custom content - **Define template parameters** (text, images, colors, durations) - **Validate template requirements** before instantiation ## Non-Functional Requirements ### Performance - Operations should complete within 5 seconds for simple tasks - Batch operations should provide progress feedback - Memory usage should be optimized for large projects - Support for background/asynchronous operations ### Reliability - Graceful error handling with descriptive messages - Automatic recovery from common failure scenarios - Project state validation before destructive operations - Comprehensive logging for debugging ### Security - Validate all file paths to prevent directory traversal - Sanitize text inputs to prevent injection attacks - Limit resource usage to prevent system overload - Require explicit permission for destructive operations ### Compatibility - Support After Effects CC 2020 and newer versions - Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, macOS) - Maintain compatibility with existing AE scripts and expressions - Follow Adobe's scripting best practices ## Technical Constraints ### Adobe After Effects Limitations - ExtendScript-based automation (JavaScript ES3 compatibility) - Limited multi-threading capabilities - File I/O restrictions in some contexts - Memory limitations for large operations ### MCP Protocol Requirements - JSON-RPC 2.0 message format compliance - Proper resource and tool registration - Standardized error response formats - Capability advertisement and negotiation ## User Stories ### Content Creator - "As a content creator, I want to generate multiple social media posts from a template so I can maintain consistent branding across platforms." - "As a content creator, I want to batch process logo animations with different text so I can quickly create branded content." ### Video Editor - "As a video editor, I want to automatically organize imported footage into folders so I can maintain project structure." - "As a video editor, I want to apply consistent color grading across multiple compositions so I can maintain visual consistency." ### Motion Graphics Artist - "As a motion graphics artist, I want to create parametric animations that I can easily modify so I can iterate quickly on designs." - "As a motion graphics artist, I want to export animation presets that I can reuse across projects." ## Success Criteria ### Minimum Viable Product (MVP) - Successfully create and modify basic compositions - Import and organize assets - Apply simple effects and animations - Render compositions to video files - Handle common error scenarios gracefully ### Full Feature Set - Complete template system implementation - Advanced animation controls - Comprehensive asset management - Batch processing capabilities - Integration with external asset libraries ## Assumptions and Dependencies ### Assumptions - Users have Adobe After Effects installed and licensed - Users have basic familiarity with After Effects concepts - Network connectivity for MCP communication - Sufficient system resources for After Effects operations ### Dependencies - Adobe After Effects (CC 2020+) - ExtendScript engine - MCP client implementation - Node.js runtime for the MCP server - File system access permissions ## Risks and Mitigation ### Technical Risks - **ExtendScript limitations**: Mitigate by implementing workarounds and using CEP extensions where needed - **After Effects API changes**: Maintain version compatibility matrix and provide graceful degradation - **Performance issues**: Implement operation queuing and progress monitoring ### Business Risks - **Adobe policy changes**: Monitor Adobe's terms of service and API policies - **Licensing concerns**: Ensure compliance with Adobe's automation guidelines - **User adoption**: Provide comprehensive documentation and examples ## Future Enhancements ### Phase 2 Features - 3D layer support and camera controls - Advanced expression integration - Plugin effect integration - Real-time preview capabilities ### Phase 3 Features - Machine learning-assisted automation - Cloud rendering integration - Collaborative editing features - Advanced template marketplace integration