Author Tools

Videobolt's Author Tools is an After Effects extension which acts as a hub for various expressions and scripts which are supported by our online template editor and extend default AE functionality
EXTENSION
Install & Run Author Tools
Author Tools Basics
Text Tools
Media Tools
Layer Tools
Music Tools
Install & Run Author Tools
Videobolt Author Extensions Installer is a desktop application that helps you install and manage Videobolt extensions for Adobe After Effects. It is available for both Windows and Mac OS.
Download Author Tools
    System requirements:
  • Windows 10 and later.
  • MacOS versions 11.6.0 and later.
    • Windows Download
    MacOS Download
    Run Author Tools
    To open Author Tools extension in Adobe After Effects, click Window > Extensions > Videobolt Author Tools.
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    Author Tools Basics
    Categories
    The panel consists of 4 categories: General, Text, Layer, Viz & Lyrics and Favorites.
    Run a Tool
    In the Author Tools panel, click Run button in the bottom left to run the selected tool or double click.
    Favorite a Tool
    In the Author Tools panel, select the Tool you with to favorite and click Favorite button in the bottom right.
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    Tool Types
    In short, the tool in question operates in two modes: as a Script or an Expression.
      When you select a tool and click Run:
  • If it's a Script Tool, it executes the script.
  • If it's an Expression Tool, it applies the expression to the property you've selected in the timeline.
    • If the expression doesn't apply automatically for some reason, you can use the Copy button. This action copies the expression to your clipboard, allowing you to manually paste it into the Expression field in your project.
    For those interested in understanding the underlying mechanics of the tool, a Code button is provided. Clicking this opens a dialog displaying the tool's code, offering insight into how the tool functions.
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    Text Tools
    Text Fit and Align
    Text Fit and Align automatically resizes and positions text in After Effects to ensure it fits within a specified area, maintaining readability and design consistency regardless of text length.
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    Text Stick
    Stick or attach to another text layer, ensuring it moves and scales in tandem with the parent text, especially useful for maintaining layout integrity in dynamic templates.
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    Text Size Settings
    Generate a text size settings control for your template, allowing users to adjust the size of the text. Every text layer containing Text Fit and Align or Text Stick will automatically update to reflect the new size.
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    Text Background
    Create a shape layer behind your selected text, allowing you to easily add a background to your text. The shape layer will automatically resize to fit the text, and can be customized to include a border, rounded corners, and more. Text layer must have Text Fit and Align or Text Stick applied.
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    Text Background Multiple
    Similar to Text Background but allows you to create a single background layers behind multiple texts. Text layers must have Text Fit and Align or Text Stick applied.
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    Remove VB Text Effects
    Scans entire project and removes all Videobolt text effects from selected layers.
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    Timer
    Current time in HH:MM:SS format.
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    Countdown
    Countdown in HH:MM:SS format.
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    Time Debug
    Print current time/total time/current frame/total frames to easily debug problems related to time.
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    Media Tools
    Image Placeholderize
    Image Placeholderize is designed for cropping and managing images that extend beyond the desired boundaries. To use it effectively, here are the steps you should follow:
      Steps
  • Select the composition (or multiple compositions) in the Project Panel.
  • Run the Image Placeholderize tool.
  • The tool will automatically render a single frame from each selected composition and import the new render into your project.
    • By following these steps, you can ensure that your images are correctly sized and positioned within your placeholder compositions.
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    Video Placeholderize [windows]
    Video Placeholderize is designed for cropping, trimming and managing videos that extend beyond the desired boundaries. To use it effectively, here are the steps you should follow:
      Steps
  • Select the composition (or multiple compositions) in the Project Panel.
  • Run the Video Placeholderize [windows] tool.
  • The tool will automatically render a video *.mp4 from each selected composition and import the new render into your project.
    • By following these steps, you can ensure that your video are correctly sized, trimmed and positioned within your placeholder compositions.
    This tool is only available for Windows users. We are working on a MacOS version.
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    Layer Tools
    Dynamic Solid Layer
    Dynamic centered solid layer, auto resizing to fit the composition.
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    Dynamic Adjustment Layer
    Dynamic centered adjustment layer, auto resizing to fit the composition.
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    Center
    Positions the selected layers at the center of the composition dynamically using expression on a position property.
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    Fill
    Scale the selected layers to always match the composition size using expression on a scale property.
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    Center & Fill
    Combines Center and Fill tools.
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    Fit or Zoom
    Fits or Zooms selected layer to the composition size using expressions on position and scale properties.
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    Px to %
    Converts selected layers position from pixels to percentage to maintain the same position relative to the composition size.
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    Duplicate
    Duplicate the selected layers based on user input.
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    Absolute Position
    Stick a layer to a specific position in the composition relative to the composition size.
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    Reset Transformations
    Reset position, scale, rotation and opacity of the selected layers to their defaults values.
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    Randomize 2D Transformations
    Randomize 2D position, scale, rotation and opacity of the selected layers.
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    Randomize 3D Transformations
    Randomize 3D position, scale, rotation and opacity of the selected layers.
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    Remove Transformation Expressions
    Remove expressions from position, scale, rotation and opacity of the selected layers.
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    Music Tools
    Apply React Animator
    Applies React Animator preset to the selected layer and outputs a value for you to connect your property to.
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    Add React Animator Controls
    This script will scan your *.aep and add default music visualizer beat controls. Every React Animator in your project will be connected to the specific set of controls added on 'Beat frequency range' layer.
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    Add Spectrum Controls
    This script will scan your *.aep and add default music visualizer spectrum controls. Every Audio Spectrum in your project will be connected to the specific set of controls added on 'Spectrum Settings' layer.
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    Timeline Animation
    Animate timeline from 0% to 100% based on song length.
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    Song Timer
    Show timecode in the HH:MM:SS (current) - HH:MM:SS (end) format.
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    Add Lyrics placeholder to song comp
    Please ensure you already have a song comp.
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    Lyrics Trigger Animator
    Applies Trigger animator. Pleanse ensure you have already added VB Lyrics to your project.
    Lyrics Steps Animator
    Applies Steps animator. Pleanse ensure you have already added VB Lyrics to your project.
    Lyrics Pulse Animator
    Applies Pulse animator. Pleanse ensure you have already added VB Lyrics to your project.