after-effects-mcp MCP — 使用场景, 安装 & 实时演示

为什么要用

核心特性

14+ tools: comps, layers, cameras, nulls, keyframes, expressions, masks
ExtendScript bridge panel polls for commands — runs in the AE process
Works with Claude Code via .mcp.json; other clients via manual config
Supports blend modes, 3D layers, track mattes, mask feather/expansion
Batch property updates via batchSetLayerProperties

实时演示

实际使用效果

after-effects.replay ▶ 就绪

0/0

安装

选择你的客户端

~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json · Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "after-effects": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "after-effects-mcp"
      ],
      "_inferred": true
    }
  }
}

打开 Claude Desktop → Settings → Developer → Edit Config。保存后重启应用。

~/.cursor/mcp.json · .cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "after-effects": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "after-effects-mcp"
      ],
      "_inferred": true
    }
  }
}

Cursor 使用与 Claude Desktop 相同的 mcpServers 格式。项目级配置优先于全局。

VS Code → Cline → MCP Servers → Edit

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "after-effects": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "after-effects-mcp"
      ],
      "_inferred": true
    }
  }
}

点击 Cline 侧栏中的 MCP Servers 图标，然后选 "Edit Configuration"。

~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "after-effects": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "after-effects-mcp"
      ],
      "_inferred": true
    }
  }
}

格式与 Claude Desktop 相同。重启 Windsurf 生效。

~/.continue/config.json

{
  "mcpServers": [
    {
      "name": "after-effects",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "after-effects-mcp"
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Continue 使用服务器对象数组，而非映射。

~/.config/zed/settings.json

{
  "context_servers": {
    "after-effects": {
      "command": {
        "path": "npx",
        "args": [
          "-y",
          "after-effects-mcp"
        ]
      }
    }
  }
}

加入 context_servers。Zed 保存后热重载。

claude mcp add after-effects -- npx -y after-effects-mcp

一行命令搞定。用 claude mcp list 验证，claude mcp remove 卸载。

使用场景

实战用法： after-effects-mcp

Generate template-based lower thirds from a CSV

👤 Motion graphics artists making 10+ lower thirds per episode ⏱ ~20 min intermediate

何时使用： You have a CSV of names/titles and don't want to type each into a comp.

前置条件

After Effects 2022+ with the bridge panel installed — npm run install-bridge, then open mcp-bridge-auto.jsx and tick 'Auto-run commands'
MCP added via .mcp.json — Point to build/index.js and restart your client

步骤

Create the base comp

Create a composition 'LT_01' 1920x1080 29.97 5s black background.✓ 已复制

→ Comp appears in AE
Add name + title text layers

Add text layer 'Dr. Jane Doe' bottom-left at (120, 900) 72pt. Add text layer 'Lead Scientist' below at (120, 960) 36pt.✓ 已复制

→ Layers visible
Add in/out animation with keyframes

Set position keyframes: both text layers slide in from x=-400 between frames 0-15 and slide out from frames 120-135.✓ 已复制

→ Animated lower third

结果： A working lower third template you can duplicate/edit per row in the CSV.

注意事项

Bridge panel isn't checked 'Auto-run' — commands queue forever — Open the panel and verify the checkbox every time AE relaunches
Too many commands at once causes AE UI freeze — Batch via batchSetLayerProperties rather than 100 individual calls

搭配使用： filesystem

Build an expression-driven data visualization

👤 Motion designers doing infographics ⏱ ~20 min advanced

何时使用： You want shapes that animate from a data array without keyframing each.

步骤

Create base shape

Create a shape layer 'bar_01' — rectangle, center-anchored, 80x0 at (200,900).✓ 已复制

→ Shape at zero height
Attach expression

On bar_01 Scale.y, set expression that grows from 0 to [value] over 30 frames, eased.✓ 已复制

→ Expression applied, plays correctly

结果： One shape + expression that you can replicate per data point via a loop.

Duplicate a base layer and tweak properties per copy

👤 Anyone replicating a design across N items ⏱ ~10 min beginner

何时使用： You have one styled logo and need 12 variations positioned around a circle.

步骤

Duplicate N times

Duplicate layer 'logo_base' 12 times, name them logo_00 through logo_11.✓ 已复制

→ 12 layers present
Position each

For each logo_NN, set position to a point on a 400px radius circle around (960,540), angle = NN * 30 degrees.✓ 已复制

→ Ring of logos

结果： A cleanly arranged group in seconds.

组合

与其他 MCP 搭配，撬动十倍杠杆

after-effects + davinci-resolve

Build motion graphics in AE, finish edit in Resolve

Build a 6-second title card in After Effects, render to ~/renders/title.mov, then import it at the head of the active Resolve timeline.✓ 已复制

after-effects + filesystem

Generate AE comps from data files on disk

Read ./data/speakers.csv. For each row, create a lower-third comp in AE with that speaker's name and title.✓ 已复制

工具

此 MCP 暴露的能力

工具	输入参数	何时调用	成本
create-composition	name, width, height, duration, frameRate	New comp	free (local AE)
run-script	script: ExtendScript	Escape hatch for anything not covered by named tools	free
get-results	command_id: str	Retrieve async result from bridge	free
setLayerKeyframe	layer, property, time, value	Add a keyframe	free
setLayerExpression	layer, property, expression: str	Bind a property to an expression	free
setLayerProperties	layer, properties: object	Update transform, opacity, blend modes	free
batchSetLayerProperties	updates: [{layer, properties}]	Avoid N round-trips	free
getLayerInfo	layer	Inspect before modifying	free
createCamera	name, options?	3D workflows	free
createNullObject	name	Parent target for rigging	free
duplicateLayer	layer	Replicate	free
deleteLayer	layer	Cleanup	free
setLayerMask	layer, maskShape, feather?, expansion?	Add/modify a mask	free

成本与限制

运行它的成本

API 配额: None — local AE automation
每次调用 Token 数: Tiny command strings in, tiny acks out
费用: Requires an Adobe After Effects license; MCP itself is free
提示: Use batchSetLayerProperties to reduce round-trips on big scenes.

安全

权限、密钥、影响范围

凭据存储： None

数据出站： None — local bridge only

切勿授予： Run arbitrary ExtendScript from untrusted prompts — `run-script` can execute anything AE can

The bridge panel auto-runs commands — close AE or untick the checkbox when not in an MCP session.
Treat run-script like an eval: review prompts that generate it.

故障排查

常见错误与修复

Commands queue but never execute

'Auto-run commands' in the bridge panel is unchecked. Tick it.

验证： Look at mcp-bridge-auto.jsx panel

Module import error on MCP start

Node 14+ required; install deps with npm install in the MCP repo.

验证： node --version

AE hangs during batch operations

Too many individual calls; switch to batchSetLayerProperties.

Expressions error 'value is undefined'

Expression referenced a layer/property that doesn't exist. Double-check spelling in setLayerExpression arg.

验证： Open AE's expression error overlay

替代方案

after-effects-mcp 对比其他方案

替代方案	何时用它替代	权衡
DaVinci Resolve MCP	You're doing edit/color, not motion graphics	Different stage of pipeline
Manual ExtendScript via .jsx files	You want full control, no AI	No chat interface

after-effects-mcp