After Effects Expression & Script Development
Write complex After Effects expressions and scripts
What You Can Do
You can generate, debug, and optimize After Effects expressions and scripts that automate animations, create complex motion effects, and extend AE functionality. Claude helps you write production-ready expressions from scratch, troubleshoot failing scripts, and master AE's expression language to solve motion graphics challenges faster.
Features
from simple ease-and-wheel to position tracks, scale animations, and dynamic parenting logic
identify syntax errors, logic bugs, and performance issues with step-by-step explanations
create ExtendScript (.jsx) files to batch-process compositions, organize layers, or export sequences
refactor slow expressions to reduce render time without sacrificing visual quality
understand how time, thisLayer, valueAtTime, and other AE functions work in your expressions
access pre-built expressions for common tasks: counter text, wave distortion, camera rig automation, staggered animations
ensure your expressions use correct JavaScript and AE's ExtendScript dialect
Example Output
Expression Example:
// Wiggle animation with easing
freq = 3; // frequency in Hz
amp = 50; // amplitude in pixels
wiggle(freq, amp)
Script Example:
// Change selected layers' opacity to 75%
var comp = app.project.activeItem;
for (var i = 1; i <= comp.selectedLayers.length; i++) {
comp.selectedLayers[i-1].opacity.setValue(75);
}
Common Pattern: Linear expression for counting animation frames with text layer — Claude provides full working example with composition markers.
What's Included
- SKILL.md: Complete After Effects expression and scripting reference
- Expression Template Library: 15+ ready-to-use expressions for common tasks (wiggle, counter, offset, easing)
- Script Templates: Batch operations, layer organization, export automation
- Debugging Checklist: Common expression errors and solutions
- ExtendScript Best Practices: Performance tips, error handling patterns
- Time-Based Animation Guide: Working with frameRate, time, and timecode
- Function Reference: AE expression and script functions with examples
Who It's For
- Motion graphics designers — automate keyframe generation and complex animations
- VFX artists — script repetitive compositing tasks and create dynamic effects
- Video editors — batch-process footage and automate layer workflows
- Animators — build procedural animations with expressions instead of manual keyframes
- Technical directors — extend AE with custom ExtendScript automation
Best For
- Writing and debugging expressions that move text, shapes, and cameras
- Creating automation scripts to batch-process compositions or export sequences
- Optimizing slow expressions that cause render bottlenecks
- Generating procedural animations without manual keyframing
- Troubleshooting expression errors and logic problems with detailed explanations
You might also like
You can architect efficient multi-camera editing workflows optimized for Final Cut Pro, plan robust synchronization strategies across multiple camera angles, and design realistic production timelines that prevent bottlenecks. This skill transforms complex multicam shoots into streamlined editorial pipelines tailored to your team size, budget, and output deadlines.
by majiayu000
You can rapidly produce news stories from research to publication, automatically optimizing content for web, social media, and email platforms. Claude helps you generate SEO-friendly headlines, craft engaging social snippets, structure compelling narratives, and manage your publishing workflow—all while maintaining editorial quality and deadline pressure.
by majiayu000
Analyze out-of-band (OB) signal patterns to detect degradation, intermittency, and latency anomalies. Generate failover runbooks that automate detection-to-recovery workflows, reducing MTTR. Execute blind diagnostics when primary channels fail, identifying root causes through log correlation and metric analysis.
by majiayu000
You generate production-ready design briefs from client requirements, automatically check dozens of designs for brand consistency violations, and orchestrate batch workflows with approval checkpoints. This skill ensures every design aligns with your brand guidelines while accelerating your design approval cycle by weeks.
by majiayu000
You can organize intricate multi-track timelines with nested sequences, manage high-resolution and proxy workflows, and generate detailed technical specifications for multi-format delivery across broadcast, streaming, and archival standards. Claude analyzes your project structure, tracks media dependencies, and creates implementation roadmaps that ensure smooth handoff to colorists, sound designers, and delivery teams.
by majiayu000
Generate polished sports segment scripts complete with stat callbacks, narrative hooks, and compelling angles — in minutes instead of hours. Get interview question briefs with talking points and live ad-lib suggestions that keep your anchors prepared and articulate. Transform raw game data and story ideas into broadcast-ready copy your newsroom will love.
by majiayu000
You transform Sketch design files into production-ready design system documentation and component specifications. Claude analyzes your Sketch designs and generates comprehensive developer handoffs—component catalogs, design tokens, responsive behavior specs, and accessibility guidelines—eliminating manual documentation work and ensuring design-to-development accuracy.
by majiayu000
Analyze your Premiere Pro projects to identify performance bottlenecks, memory issues, and rendering inefficiencies. You'll receive targeted optimization recommendations, automation scripts, and troubleshooting guidance tailored to your specific system configuration and project complexity. Claude becomes your technical production consultant, helping you resolve crashes, slow timelines, and resource conflicts.
by majiayu000