View source for Adobe After Effects

{{Short description|Digital motion graphics and compositing software}}
{{Use mdy dates|cs1-dates=ly|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Adobe After Effects
| logo = Adobe After Effects CC 2026 icon.svg
| screenshot = Adobe After Effects screenshot.png
| caption = Adobe After Effects 2025 running on [[Windows 10]]
| author = [[Company of Science and Art]]
| developer = {{plainlist|
* CoSA (1993)
* [[Aldus Corporation]] (1993–1994)
* [[Adobe Inc.|Adobe]] (1994–present)
}}
| released = {{start date and age|1993|1}}
| latest release version = 2025 (25.4)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/whats-new.html |title=Release Notes, After Effects |date=September 20, 2025 |website=helpx.adobe.com |language=en-US |access-date=September 20, 2025 |archive-date=2023-01-08  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108101113/https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/whats-new.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2025|08|14}}
| programming language = [[C/C++]]<ref>{{cite book |url=https://readthedocs.org/projects/ae-plugin-sdk-guide/downloads/pdf/latest/ |title=After Effects SDK Guide |series=Release 22.0.0 |publisher=Adobe |date=Oct 18, 2022 |archive-date=2023-02-19  |access-date=2021-03-06  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219052932/https://readthedocs.org/projects/ae-plugin-sdk-guide/downloads/pdf/latest/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| operating system = * [[Windows 10]] (x64 only) V20H2 or later
* [[macOS]] Monterey v12.0 or later
| genre = [[Visual effects]], [[Motion graphics]], [[Compositing]], [[Computer animation]]
| license = [[Trialware]], [[Software license#Proprietary software licenses|Proprietary]], term
| website = {{URL|https://www.adobe.com/products/aftereffects.html|adobe.com/aftereffects}}
}}
'''Adobe After Effects''' is a digital  [[visual effects|effects]], [[motion graphics]], and [[digital compositing|compositing]] [[application software|application]] developed by [[Adobe Inc.]]; it is used for [[animation]] and in the [[post-production]] process of [[film making]], [[video games]] and [[Television studio|television production]]. Among other things, After Effects can be used for [[chroma key|keying]], [[Match moving|tracking]], compositing, and [[animation]]. It also functions as a very basic [[non-linear editor]], audio editor, and media [[transcoding|transcoder]]. In 2019, the program won an [[Academy Award]] for scientific and technical achievement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/news/9-scientific-and-technical-achievements-be-honored-academy-awards|title=9 SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENTS TO BE HONORED WITH ACADEMY AWARDS|date=December 12, 2018|website=Oscars.org {{!}} Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|language=en|access-date=February 14, 2019|archive-date=2024-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404055511/https://www.oscars.org/news/9-scientific-and-technical-achievements-be-honored-academy-awards|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
After Effects was originally created by David Herbstman, David Simons, Daniel Wilk, David M. Cotter, and Russell Belfer<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cosa.com/codenames-credits.html |title=AE Codenames & Credits |website=cosa.com |access-date=March 14, 2019 |archive-date=2022-12-06  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206125513/http://cosa.com/codenames-credits.html |url-status=live }}</ref> at the [[Company of Science and Art]] in [[Providence, Rhode Island]]. The first two versions of the software, 1.0 (January 1993)<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cgw.com/Publications/CGW/2013/Volume-36-Issue-3-Mar-Apr-2013-/Adobe-After-Effects-Turns-20.aspx|title=Adobe After Effects Turns 20|last=Simons|first=David|work=Computer Graphics World|access-date=December 26, 2018|year=2013|issue=3|volume=36|archive-date=2023-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130141717/https://www.cgw.com/Publications/CGW/2013/Volume-36-Issue-3-Mar-Apr-2013-/Adobe-After-Effects-Turns-20.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> and 1.1, were released there by the company. CoSA with After Effects was acquired by [[Aldus Corporation]] in July 1993, which in turn was acquired by Adobe in 1994. Adobe acquired [[Adobe PageMaker|PageMaker]] as well. Adobe's first new release of After Effects was version 3.0.

===Third-party integrations===
After Effects functionality can be extended through a variety of third-party integrations. The most common integrations are: [[Plug-in (computing)|plug-ins]], [[script (computing)|scripts]], and [[Adobe Creative Cloud#Extensions|extensions]].<ref name="AdobeExtensions">{{cite web |title=After Effects extensions, scripts, and plug-ins |url=https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/scripts.html |website=Adobe Help Center |publisher=Adobe Inc. |access-date=2025-05-23 |archive-date=2025-06-15  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250615112321/https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/scripts.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Plug-ins===

Plug-ins are predominantly written in C or C++<ref>{{cite web |title=SDK Audience — After Effects SDK Guide 1.0.0 documentation |url=https://ae-plugins.docsforadobe.dev/intro/sdk-audience.html?highlight=c%20%20#sdk-audience |website=ae-plugins.docsforadobe.dev |access-date=2021-02-10  |archive-date=2024-01-19  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119164240/https://ae-plugins.docsforadobe.dev/intro/sdk-audience.html?highlight=c%20%20#sdk-audience |url-status=live }}</ref> and extend the functionality of After Effects, allowing for more advanced features such as [[Particle system|particle systems]], [[Physics engine|physics engines]], 3D effects, and the ability to bridge the gap between After Effects and another.

===Scripts===

After Effects Scripts are a series of commands written in both JavaScript and the [[ExtendScript]] language.

After Effects Scripts, unlike plug-ins, can only access the core functionality of After Effects.
Scripts are often developed to automate repetitive tasks, to simplify complex After Effects features, or to perform complex calculations that would otherwise take a long time to complete.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What are After Effects Scripts? {{!}} Saving Time in Motion |url=https://madebyloop.co.uk/blog/what-are-after-effects-scripts/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=madebyloop.co.uk |language=en |archive-date=2023-12-01  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201070000/https://madebyloop.co.uk/blog/what-are-after-effects-scripts/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Scripts can also use some functionality not directly exposed through the graphical user interface.<ref>{{cite web |title=Overview — After Effects Scripting Guide 0.0.1 documentation |url=https://ae-scripting.docsforadobe.dev/introduction/overview |website=ae-scripting.docsforadobe.dev |access-date=2021-02-10  |archive-date=2021-10-18  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018124527/https://ae-scripting.docsforadobe.dev/introduction/overview/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Extensions===

After Effects Extensions offer the ability to extend After Effects functionality through modern web development technologies like HTML5, and Node.js, without the need for C++.<ref>{{cite web |title=Adobe CEP APIs {{!}} Adobe Developer Connection |url=https://www.adobe.com/devnet/creativesuite/articles/adobe-cep-apis.html |website=www.adobe.com |access-date=2021-02-10  |archive-date=2021-07-30  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730155723/https://www.adobe.com/devnet/creativesuite/articles/adobe-cep-apis.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

After Effects Extensions make use of Adobe's Common Extensibility Platform or CEP Panels, which means they can be built to interact with other Adobe CC apps.<ref>{{cite web |title=Creative Cloud Extension SDK - CC extension resources {{!}} Adobe I/O |url=https://www.adobe.io/apis/creativecloud/cep.html |website=www.adobe.io |access-date=2021-02-10  |archive-date=2022-01-26  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126172806/https://www.adobe.io/apis/creativecloud/cep.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Similar products==
* [[Nuke (software)|Nuke]] – [[The Foundry Visionmongers|The Foundry]]
* [[Autodesk Flame|Flame]] – [[Autodesk Media and Entertainment|Autodesk]]
* [[Apple Motion|Motion]] – [[Apple Inc.]]
* [[VSDC Free Video Editor]]
* [[Natron (software)|Natron]]
* Autograph – Left Angle
* Video Star — Frontier Group (for IOS only)
* [[Boris RED]] – [[Boris FX]]
* [[SilhouetteFX|Silhouette]] – [[Boris FX]]
* [[Blackmagic Fusion|Fusion]] – [[Blackmagic Design]]
* HitFilm – Artlist
* [[CapCut]] – [[ByteDance]]

While not dedicated to compositing, the open source software [[Blender (software)|Blender]] contains a limited node-based compositing feature which, among other things is capable of basic keying and blurring effects.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.blender.org/features-gallery/features/|title=Blender features page|access-date=March 19, 2011|archive-date=2013-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806194300/http://www.blender.org/features-gallery/features/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/tech/simpsons-used-adobe-character-animator-create-live-episode-139775.html|title=How 'The Simpsons' Used Adobe Character Animator To Create A Live Episode|date=May 18, 2016|work=cartoonbrew.com|access-date=December 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2015/05/gif-masters-can-three-seconds-4-colors/|title=What GIF Masters Can Do With Three Seconds and 4 Colors|first=Kyle|last=VanHemert|magazine=wired.com|date=May 11, 2015|access-date=December 15, 2016}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Lottie (file format)]], a standard for the [[JSON]] export of an After Effects animation.

* [https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/kb/supported-file-formats.html After Effects Supported formats].

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}

{{AdobeCS}}
{{Adobe Systems}}
{{Compositing Software}}
{{Animation editors}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Adobe software|After Effects]]
[[Category:Adobe Creative Suite|After Effects]]
[[Category:Video editing software]]
[[Category:Compositing software]]
[[Category:Visual effects software]]
[[Category:Animation software]]
[[Category:Aldus software]]
[[Category:1993 software]]