FriedAutoFX

Overview

FriedAutoFX is a collection of After Effects scripts that automate repetitive motion graphics tasks: layer renaming, null parenting, expression application, and batch export configuration.

Why I built it

Motion graphics work involves a lot of repetitive setup. I built these scripts to cut project setup time significantly, and realized they were useful enough to sell.

Technical highlights

• –ScriptUI panels for persistent in-app tool access
• –Batch layer operations using AE's internal DOM via ExtendScript
• –Expression library system for applying and managing complex rigs
• –JSON-based preset storage for reusable workflow configurations

Hardest engineering problem

After Effects' ExtendScript environment is ES3-era JavaScript. Modern patterns like async/await don't exist, so complex multi-step operations required careful callback choreography.

What I learned

Shipping paid tools requires documentation and support infrastructure that takes as much work as the tool itself.

Stack

Links