After Effects - Expression Library
The ultimate expression library handling tool
Last updated
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The ultimate expression library handling tool
Last updated
Was this helpful?
Expression Library is a whole new way to work with expressions using everything you already know and taking your workflow to the next level! It gives you access to a smart library that intelligently adds your expressions into organised folders and folder structures as well as bringing a whole new set of powerful functions to the expression toolkit allowing you to take your workflow to the next level! What can I say, the power is truly in your hands…
Now if you get just as frustrated as me when it comes to organisation… having 100’s of files located under a folder called “After Effect Expressions” or you’ve gone one further and create an awesome spreadsheet filled with these beautiful little things called expressions. Then you know for a fact trying to add one of these expressions to a project is one of the WORST experiences life can ever throw at you ( I mean, maybe not the worst but it’s pretty high up there! ).
Trying to figure out what you should call it
Trying to remember what it does
Trying to remember the layer type it was supposed to go on
Trying to remember the property it applied to
Trying to remember if it was for Javascript, or Extendscript, 3D, or 2D.
Heaven for bid you tried to actually modify it…
Or maybe you was just being reckless and decided to add a bunch of effect controls
But yes if you work in after effects and have looked at an expression, every single one of these has come up! But nothing fixes it… until now!! Seriously
I plan to!! And Smart libraries deals with literally 100% of the above* *bar the naming.. I mean you still have to come up with some sort of name.
and oh boy/girl/tomboy/female/male/young woman/young man/trans-girl/trans-boy/gender fluid/agender/androgynous/bi-gender/non-binary/demi-boy/genderqueer/gender nonconforming/tri-gender/all genders/intersex are you going to love it!!!!
I’ve got you covered duck!! With the extra ability to add customised functions directly into your expressions you can now add any controller effects to your layer! Still don’t know what that means exactly?
No problemo! - want a slider added to your layer when you apply the awesome expression?
Add this line to your expression
addSliderControl(‘thisLayer’,’slider name’,slider value);
Bam! You have a slider added to your layer with the given name and value!
And we have you covered again! Easily add master layers that can control your expressions! Not only that but you can also select your own master layer before you apply the expression oh and and and and you can even combine effects or separate them, allowing a single effect to control multiple expressions!! Or separate them for more refined control!
The library
Automatically add expressions to the library based on the property
Add 3D, 2D, javascript and Extendscript icons to the expression
Save expressions
Save Selected Keyframes
Delete expressions
Get expression information
Load a video related to the expression
Add controllers to the expression
Add controllers to the layer itself
Add controllers to a master layer
Add new controllers or merge them together
Add a master null to the comp
Import / export
Export
Export libraries to a single file
Lock expressions so they can’t be exported by other people
Import
Import a library file for windows and mac
Applying
Apply expressions to a layer
Apply expressions to a property
Apply expressions across multiple layers and properties
Apply keyframes to a property
Deleting
Delete expression after they have been created
Delete effects related to the expressions
No problem I completely understand! So I built this tutorial video to really go through things even further!! yup, I’ve covered everything you need to know and I can assure you now, you will love it!