$git clone https://github.com/Dakkshin/after-effects-mcp✨ A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for Adobe After Effects that enables AI assistants and other applications to control After Effects through a standardized protocol.
| 1 | # 🎬 After Effects MCP Server |
| 2 | |
| 3 |  |
| 4 |  |
| 5 |  |
| 6 |  |
| 7 | |
| 8 | ✨ A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for Adobe After Effects that enables AI assistants and other applications to control After Effects through a standardized protocol. |
| 9 | |
| 10 | <a href="https://glama.ai/mcp/servers/@Dakkshin/after-effects-mcp"> |
| 11 | <img width="380" height="200" src="https://glama.ai/mcp/servers/@Dakkshin/after-effects-mcp/badge" alt="mcp-after-effects MCP server" /> |
| 12 | </a> |
| 13 | |
| 14 | ## Table of Contents |
| 15 | - [Features](#features) |
| 16 | - [Core Composition Features](#core-composition-features) |
| 17 | - [Layer Management](#layer-management) |
| 18 | - [Animation Capabilities](#animation-capabilities) |
| 19 | - [Setup Instructions](#setup-instructions) |
| 20 | - [Prerequisites](#prerequisites) |
| 21 | - [Installation](#installation) |
| 22 | - [Update MCP Config](#Update-MCP-Config) |
| 23 | - [Running the Server](#running-the-server) |
| 24 | - [Usage Guide](#usage-guide) |
| 25 | - [Creating Compositions](#creating-compositions) |
| 26 | - [Working with Layers](#working-with-layers) |
| 27 | - [Animation](#animation) |
| 28 | - [Available MCP Tools](#available-mcp-tools) |
| 29 | - [For Developers](#for-developers) |
| 30 | - [Project Structure](#project-structure) |
| 31 | - [Building the Project](#building-the-project) |
| 32 | - [Contributing](#contributing) |
| 33 | - [License](#license) |
| 34 | |
| 35 | ## 📦 Features |
| 36 | |
| 37 | ### 🎥 Core Composition Features |
| 38 | - **Create compositions** with custom settings (size, frame rate, duration, background color) |
| 39 | - **List all compositions** in a project |
| 40 | - **Get project information** such as frame rate, dimensions, and duration |
| 41 | |
| 42 | ### 🧱 Layer Management |
| 43 | - **Create text layers** with customizable properties (font, size, color, position) |
| 44 | - **Create shape layers** (rectangle, ellipse, polygon, star) with colors and strokes |
| 45 | - **Create solid/adjustment layers** for backgrounds and effects |
| 46 | - **Create camera layers** with configurable zoom and position |
| 47 | - **Create null objects** for animation control |
| 48 | - **Modify layer properties** like position, scale, rotation, opacity, timing |
| 49 | - **Toggle 2D/3D mode** for layers |
| 50 | - **Set blend modes** (normal, multiply, screen, etc.) |
| 51 | - **Track matte** support (alpha, luma, inverted) |
| 52 | - **Duplicate layers** with optional rename |
| 53 | - **Delete layers** from composition |
| 54 | - **Create/modify masks** with feather, expansion, and opacity |
| 55 | |
| 56 | ### 🌀 Animation Capabilities |
| 57 | - **Set keyframes** for layer properties (Position, Scale, Rotation, Opacity, etc.) |
| 58 | - **Apply expressions** to layer properties for dynamic animations |
| 59 | - **Batch set properties** across multiple layers at once |
| 60 | |
| 61 | ## ⚙️ Setup Instructions |
| 62 | |
| 63 | ### 🛠 Prerequisites |
| 64 | - Adobe After Effects (2022 or later) |
| 65 | - Node.js (v14 or later) |
| 66 | - npm or yarn package manager |
| 67 | |
| 68 | ### 📥 Installation |
| 69 | |
| 70 | 1. **Clone the repository** |
| 71 | ```bash |
| 72 | git clone https://github.com/Dakkshin/after-effects-mcp.git |
| 73 | cd after-effects-mcp |
| 74 | ``` |
| 75 | |
| 76 | 2. **Install dependencies** |
| 77 | ```bash |
| 78 | npm install |
| 79 | # or |
| 80 | yarn install |
| 81 | ``` |
| 82 | |
| 83 | 3. **Build the project** |
| 84 | ```bash |
| 85 | npm run build |
| 86 | # or |
| 87 | yarn build |
| 88 | ``` |
| 89 | |
| 90 | 4. **Install the After Effects panel** |
| 91 | ```bash |
| 92 | npm run install-bridge |
| 93 | # or |
| 94 | yarn install-bridge |
| 95 | ``` |
| 96 | This will copy the necessary scripts to your After Effects installation. |
| 97 | |
| 98 | ### 🔧 Update MCP Config |
| 99 | |
| 100 | #### Option 1: Using .mcp.json (Recommended for Claude Code) |
| 101 | The repository includes a `.mcp.json` file for easy configuration. Copy or reference it in your MCP settings: |
| 102 | |
| 103 | ```json |
| 104 | { |
| 105 | "mcpServers": { |
| 106 | "AfterEffectsMCP": { |
| 107 | "command": "node", |
| 108 | "args": ["PATH/TO/after-effects-mcp/build/index.js"] |
| 109 | } |
| 110 | } |
| 111 | } |
| 112 | ``` |
| 113 | |
| 114 | #### Option 2: Manual Configuration |
| 115 | Go to your client (e.g., Claude or Cursor) and update your config file: |
| 116 | |
| 117 | ```json |
| 118 | { |
| 119 | "mcpServers": { |
| 120 | "AfterEffectsMCP": { |
| 121 | "command": "node", |
| 122 | "args": ["C:\\Users\\Dakkshin\\after-effects-mcp\\build\\index.js"] |