aep-parser 0.5.1

A .aep (After Effects Project) parser

aep_parser

An After Effects file parser in Python!
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About The Project

This as a .aep (After Effects Project) parser in Python. After Effects files (.aep) are mostly binary files, encoded in RIFX format. This parser uses Kaitai Struct to parse .aep files and return a Project object containing items, layers, effects and properties. The API is as close as possible to the ExtendScript API, with a few nice additions like iterators instead of collection items.

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Installation

uv (recommended)

uv add aep-parser

pip

pip install aep-parser

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Usage

import aep_parser

# Parse an After Effects project
app = aep_parser.parse("path/to/project.aep")
project = app.project

# Access application-level info
print(f"AE Version: {app.version}")

# Access every item
for item in project:
    print(f"{item.name} ({type(item).__name__})")

# Get a composition by name and its layers
comp = next(c for c in project.compositions if c.name == "Comp 1")
for layer in comp.layers:
    print(f"  Layer: {layer.name}, in={layer.in_point}s, out={layer.out_point}s")

    # Access layer's source (for AVLayer)
    if hasattr(layer, "source") and layer.source:
        print(f"    Source: {layer.source.name}")
        # Get file path if source is footage with a file
        if hasattr(layer.source, "file"):
            print(f"    File: {layer.source.file}")

# Access render queue
for rq_item in project.render_queue.items:
    print(f"Render: {rq_item.comp_name}")
    for om in rq_item.output_modules:
        # Settings are a dict with ExtendScript keys
        video_on = om.settings.get("Video Output", False)
        print(f"  Output: {om.name}, video={video_on}")

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Roadmap

See the open issues for a full list of proposed features and known issues.

If you encounter a bug, please submit an issue and attach a basic scene to reproduce your issue.

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Contributing

See the full Contributing Guide on GitHub.

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License

Distributed under the MIT License.

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Contact

Aurore Delaunay - [e-mail]

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Acknowledgments

• aftereffects-aep-parser in Go
• Kaitai Struct
• The invaluable Lottie Docs
• After Effects Scripting Guide
• AE version parsing

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