Skip to Content
DocumentationAfter Effects plugin

After Effects plugin

Plainly Videos plugin is an open-source extension for After Effects, that connects Plainly Videos to After Effects. This plugin allows Plainly users to collaborate seamlessly with the Plainly platform directly from within After Effects.

Installation

Plainly Videos plugin is available for both Windows and MacOS. There are multiple ways to install the plugin:

  • Through Creative Cloud - plugin is available in the Creative Cloud  marketplace. Recommended
  • Using ZXP/UXP installer - install the plugin using ZXP/UXP installer. Advanced
  • Manual installation - install the plugin manually through command line. Advanced

The easiest and most reliable method is to install the plugin through the Creative Cloud marketplace. All you have to do is to acquire it from the marketplace, and then install it through the Creative Cloud app. This will automatically install the plugin in the correct location, and you will be able to use it right away.

Please visit the installation guide  on GitHub for more details on how to install or uninstall the plugin.

Getting Started

Once the plugin is installed, you can access it from the Window > Extensions > Plainly Videos menu in After Effects. The plugin will open a new panel where you can start using it.

To unlock the full potential of the plugin, you need to connect it to your Plainly Videos account. You can do this by clicking on the Settings in the sidebar and entering your Plainly Videos API key.

For extra security, it’s advised to provide a PIN code to your API key. This PIN code will be required every time you close the plugin and restart it. This makes sure your Plainly API key is stored encrypted on your machine and no other person having access to your workstation can read it.

Usage

Main focus of the plugin is to minimize the time spent on collecting and preparing assets for Plainly, while also minimizing the potential for human error.

Export

Export a zip file containing the project file, all assets and fonts used in the project. This zip file can then be uploaded to Plainly Videos as a custom project, for you to setup templates and render videos.

Export files

To export files, select the Export option in the sidebar. Select the Destination folder where the zip file will be saved, and make sure to tick Open location to open the folder after the export is complete.

Plainly videos plugin export zip tab

Upload zip file

Next step is pretty simple. Go to Upload project  page, and select the zip file you just exported. From here, follow the Templates guide to setup your templates and render videos.

Upload

If you have connected the plugin to your Plainly videos account, you can also upload the project directly from the plugin. This will automatically upload the zip file to Plainly Videos, skipping the packaging step completely.

Upload project

To upload the project, select the Upload option in the sidebar. Select the Upload new, and fill in the project data. Plugin will automatically collect all project files and assets, zip them, and upload the zip file to Plainly Videos, with the project data you provided.

Plainly videos plugin upload project tab

Once the upload is complete, you will see a success message in the plugin. You can then go to the Projects  page to see the uploaded project.

Projects

To see all uploaded projects on Plainly Videos platform, navigate to the Projects tab in the sidebar. This will show a list of all your Plainly projects, including the one currently linked to your local After Effects project.

When using the plugin, you can create a new Plainly project, or link an existing one to the currently opened, working After Effects project. Linking is done automatically when you upload a new project through the plugin. This link allows you to:

  • Edit an existing Plainly project directly from After Effects using the Upload tab.
  • Avoid creating duplicate projects when making updates.
  • See more detailed information about the project, such as the current status, number of templates, local and remote version.

By linking your After Effects project to a Plainly project, you’re essentially telling the plugin “This is the online project, I want to keep updating from this file”.

Projects tab contains the following actions:

  • If you don’t have a linked project, you can use the Link action to link the current working project with the one uploaded on Plainly Videos.
  • If you wish to unlink the project, use the same Link (unlink) action.
  • Renders action redirects you to Renders page on Plainly Videos, to see all related renders to this project.

Source code

The plugin source code is open-source and it’s available on GitHub  where you can make contributions, open issues, request features, etc.

There you can also find the installation instructions, features, changelog , developer guide, and other useful information.

FAQ

What is the Plainly Videos plugin?

The Plainly Videos plugin is an open-source extension for After Effects that integrates Plainly Videos directly into the After Effects workflow. It enables seamless collaboration with the Plainly platform for easier project setup, asset export, and video rendering.

Can I track and manage uploaded projects in the plugin?

Yes. Under the Projects tab, you can:

  • View all uploaded projects.
  • See the currently linked local project.
  • Link/Unlink the current project to a remote version.
  • Click Renders to view render history on Plainly Videos.
Changelog