py-aep 0.9.0

A package for working with After Effects AEP files.

py_aep

py_aep is a Python package for working with After Effects AEP files.

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About

After Effects files (.aep) are mostly binary files, encoded in RIFX format. This package uses struct to parse .aep files and return an Application object containing a project, items, layers, effects and properties. The API is very close to the ExtendScript API, with a few nice additions like iterators.

Features

Supported

• Reading .aep files
• Modifying most properties, including some that are not accessible through ExtendScript such as gradients, render settings, output module settings, etc. (Differences from ExtendScript for more details)
• Adding and removing keyframes on any property - including mask paths, source text, markers, orientation and gradients - with static/animated transitions matching After Effects' own output
• Adding new compositions and folders, moving items between folders
• Creating layers: solids, nulls, shapes, cameras, lights, text (point, box and vertical text)
• Removing items and layers; moving and duplicating layers
• Importing footage files and image sequences, setting proxies
• Render queue management: adding compositions, removing and duplicating items, adding output modules, applying render/output templates from the AE preferences
• Saving to a new .aep file
• Interpolation between numeric keyframe values

Limited support

• Essential graphics: controllers and override UUIDs are exposed but automatic resolution between them is not implemented
• Properties that are synthesized by After Effects at runtime and not stored in the binary are supported but some might be missing or inaccurate
• Some Text layers attributes are missing

Not supported

• Expression evaluation
• Runtime things such as System information, preferences, available color spaces, UI state, etc.

Installation

uv (recommended)

uv add py-aep

pip

pip install py-aep

Getting started

import py_aep

app = py_aep.parse("myproject.aep")
project = app.project
comp = project.compositions[0]

# Modify composition settings
comp.frame_rate = 24

# Modify a layer property
comp.layers[0].transform.opacity.value = 50

# Save to a new file
project.save("modified.aep")

For more examples, see the Quick Start guide.

Roadmap

See the open issues for a 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.

Contributing

See the full Contributing Guide on GitHub.

Contact

Aurore Delaunay - [e-mail]

Acknowledgments

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