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After Effects MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol server for Adobe After Effects. Enables AI assistants to control After Effects through a WebSocket-based CEP panel.

Requirements

• Adobe After Effects 2021+ (versions 18.x - 26.x)

• Node.js 18+

• pnpm

Installation

git clone https://github.com/Brandkick/after-effects-mcp.git
cd after-effects-mcp
pnpm install
just setup

Configuration

Add to Claude Code config (~/.claude.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aftereffects": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/after-effects-mcp/build/index.js"]
    }
  }
}

Usage

1. Claude Code starts the MCP server automatically

2. Open After Effects

3. Open the panel: Window > Extensions > MCP Bridge

Setup: JPEG Output Template

For exportCompFrame to work, create a JPEG output template in After Effects:

1. Create any composition

2. File > Export > Add to Render Queue

3. Click "Output Module" settings

4. Set Format to "JPEG Sequence"

5. Set Quality to 50-70% (faster previews, smaller files)

6. Optionally resize: check "Resize" and set to 50% or a fixed size like 960x540

7. Click the template dropdown (top of dialog)

8. Select "Save As New Template..."

9. Name it exactly: JPEG Sequence

10. Click OK

This only needs to be done once per After Effects installation.

MCP Tools

Commands

All commands can be called via run-script. Use getHelp to see full documentation.

Project

• getProjectInfo, newProject, saveProject, saveProjectAs, closeProject

• createFolder, moveProjectItem, deleteProjectItem

• importFootage, importPlaceholder, replaceFootage

Composition

• listCompositions, getActiveComposition, createComposition

• setCompSettings - Modify duration, work area, frame rate, motion blur

Layers

• createTextLayer, createShapeLayer, createSolidLayer, addLayerToComp

• getLayerInfo, setLayerProperties - Name, transform, timing

• setLayerFlags - Visibility, solo, shy, locked, motion blur, 3D

• deleteLayer, duplicateLayer, reorderLayer, precomposeLayer

• setParentLayer, setTrackMatte

• setTextProperties - Font, size, color, justification

Animation

• setLayerKeyframe, setLayerKeyframes (batch)

• setLayerExpression

• getKeyframes, deleteKeyframe, deleteKeyframes (batch)

• setKeyframeEasing, setKeyframesEasing (batch)

• copyKeyframes

Effects

• applyEffect, applyEffectTemplate

• listEffects, listAvailableEffects, getEffectProperties

• setEffectKeyframe, setEffectKeyframes (batch)

Time & Markers

• setLayerTime - In/out point, start time, stretch

• enableTimeRemapping, setTimeRemap

• addMarker, getMarkers, removeMarker

Camera & 3D

• createCamera, createLight

• setCameraProperties, setLightProperties

• set3DLayer, setMaterialOptions

Masks & Shapes

• addMask, setMaskPath, setMaskProperties, deleteMask

• addShapePath, setShapePathVertices, addShapeModifier

Render

• addToRenderQueue, renderQueue, queueInAME

• getRenderQueueStatus, clearRenderQueue

• exportCompFrame - Visual verification

Utility

• getSelection, setSelection

• beginUndoGroup, endUndoGroup, getUndoGroupStatus

• getPropertyInfo, listFonts

MCP Resources

Development

just setup   # Build and install CEP panel with debug mode
just build   # Build only
just start   # Start MCP server (for testing)
just clean   # Remove build directory

Architecture

Claude Code <--stdio--> MCP Server <--WebSocket:8765--> CEP Panel <--CSInterface--> ExtendScript

See ARCHITECTURE.md for design principles.

Project Structure

after-effects-mcp/
├── src/
│   ├── index.ts              # MCP server, tool definitions
│   ├── websocket-server.ts   # WebSocket server
│   ├── logger.ts             # Logging utility
│   ├── shared/
│   │   ├── commands.ts       # Command registry (single source of truth)
│   │   └── config.ts         # Configuration and timeouts
│   └── cep/                   # CEP extension
│       ├── CSXS/manifest.xml
│       ├── index.html
│       ├── js/main.js         # WebSocket client
│       └── jsx/modules/       # ExtendScript (modular)
│           ├── 00-polyfills.jsx
│           ├── 01-helpers.jsx
│           ├── 10-project.jsx
│           ├── 11-layer.jsx
│           ├── 12-keyframe.jsx
│           ├── 13-time.jsx
│           ├── 14-render.jsx
│           ├── 15-camera.jsx
│           ├── 16-mask.jsx
│           ├── 17-shape.jsx
│           ├── 18-selection.jsx
│           ├── 19-discovery.jsx
│           └── 99-dispatcher.jsx
├── scripts/
│   ├── install-cep.js
│   ├── build-jsx.ts          # Concatenates JSX modules
│   └── generate-cep-config.ts
├── tests/
├── justfile
└── package.json

License

MIT