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BLBlender

After Effects Link

by blenderVfxMaster·Workflow

Images © blenderVfxMaster. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Earns its place in the Superhive library for handling render channel names, including Cryptomatte, across the Blender-to-After Effects handoff.

What is After Effects Link?

After Effects Link connects Blender to After Effects, sending render sequences into a new or updated composition without manual file management. Clicking "Send to After Effects" in Blender lands your sequence in an AE composition with matching resolution, frame rate, and layer organization. The addon detects frame ranges and imports them as proper sequences, and can handle either a single frame snapshot or a full sequence.

Two transfer modes are available: Cache to After Effects sends straight from Blender's render cache for quick preview, while final quality export sends saved files for finishing work. Compositions are created or updated to match Blender output, layers are centered and scaled with names preserved, and render passes such as Cryptomatte, Beauty, and RGB are supported. Multi-format handling covers both image and video.

It is designed for motion designers, VFX artists, and anyone who finishes Blender renders in After Effects. The addon includes free updates within the current major version, plus email, ticket, and community chat support.

Who is After Effects Link best for?

After Effects Link is best for motion designers and VFX artists who finish Blender renders in After Effects.

How much does After Effects Link cost?

After Effects Link is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Smart sequence handling detects frame ranges and imports them as proper sequences
  • Choice between a single frame snapshot and a full sequence
  • Cache mode sends straight from Blender's render cache for preview, with a separate final quality export
  • Auto composition setup creates or updates an AE comp to match Blender output resolution and aspect
  • Layer organization centers and scales layers while preserving names
  • Render channel support for Cryptomatte, Beauty, RGB, and other passes
  • Multi-format support for both image and video

Tags

#blender#after effects#compositing#vfx#cryptomatte#render#workflow#motion graphics

Frequently asked questions

Does After Effects Link work with Blender 3.0 and After Effects CC 2020?

After Effects Link supports Blender 3.0 and later, and After Effects CC 2020 and later. On the operating system side it runs on Windows 10 and 11, and macOS 13 or newer. Before use, you configure the AE bridge by setting the After Effects executable path in the addon preferences, so the two applications can communicate. Check that your Blender and After Effects installations fall within these supported ranges for the transfer workflow to function as described.

How do I install After Effects Link in Blender?

After Effects Link installs through Blender's add-on system: go to Edit > Preferences > Add-ons and install the provided .zip file. After enabling it, configure the AE bridge by setting the After Effects executable path in the addon preferences. From there you render your animation or single frame in Blender, then use the Cache to After Effects or Send to After Effects button to push the result into a composition.

What render passes does After Effects Link preserve?

After Effects Link handles Cryptomatte, Beauty, RGB, and other render passes when transferring from Blender to After Effects. Channel names are carried over so passes such as Cryptomatte arrive with their proper names intact. The addon also preserves layer names and organizes layers by centering and scaling them within the composition, which is created or updated to match your Blender render resolution, aspect, and frame rate.

Is After Effects Link free to use?

After Effects Link is listed as free here in the catalog. It includes free updates within the current major version, along with support through email and ticket handled via the Superhive inbox, plus a community chat for real-time help. For current licensing details and any seat or studio terms, refer to the developer's page before use, since availability and terms shown here may differ from what the developer currently offers.

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