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AEAfter Effects

Cloners + Effectors

by Crunchy·Motion Graphics

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

Why we like it

Cloners + Effectors earns its place in the aescripts library for its effector-driven approach to animating many layers at once, backed by compatibility that reaches from CS6 up to After Effects 2026.

What is Cloners + Effectors?

Cloners + Effectors is a procedural animation system for After Effects, especially useful when you need to animate multiple layers at the same time. Rather than key framing every layer individually, it lets you drive the motion with effectors.

The system includes a set of path-based tools available in After Effects 2018 and above: a Path cloner, a Path Point cloner, a Path effector, and a Path Ends effector. You can build an audio setup for animating to the audio spectrum of an audio track, duplicate a cloner system or an effector, and bake results without keeping the option to unbake. Cloner layers can be parented, and Offset Variation is no longer linked to Offset.

It runs across a broad span of After Effects versions, from CS6 through the 2026 release, and works with Windows and HiDPI panels. A former trial limit of 20 clones has been removed. It's listed here as free, and a video overview of the features is available.

Who is Cloners + Effectors best for?

Cloners + Effectors is best for animating multiple layers at the same time in After Effects using effectors rather than key framing each layer.

How much does Cloners + Effectors cost?

Cloners + Effectors is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Animate multiple layers with effectors instead of key framing every layer
  • Path cloner, Path Point cloner, Path effector, and Path Ends effector (After Effects 2018 and above)
  • Audio setup for animating to the audio spectrum of an audio track
  • Duplicate a cloner system or an effector
  • Bake without keeping the ability to unbake
  • Cloner layers can be parented
  • Works with Windows and HiDPI panels

Tags

#After Effects#procedural animation#cloners#effectors#motion graphics#aescripts#audio spectrum

Frequently asked questions

Does Cloners + Effectors work with After Effects CS6?

Cloners + Effectors supports a wide range of After Effects versions, from CS6 and CC through CC 2014, CC 2015, CC 2015.3, and every yearly release from CC 2017 up to 2026. That means both older installations and current ones are covered. The one exception is the set of path-based tools, which are only available in After Effects 2018 and above. So while the core system runs on CS6, those specific cloners and effectors need a newer release. For the current version and full details, check the developer's page.

Which Cloners + Effectors features require After Effects 2018 or later?

Cloners + Effectors includes four path-based tools that are only available in After Effects 2018 and above: the Path cloner, the Path Point cloner, the Path effector, and the Path Ends effector. If you run an earlier release such as CS6 or CC 2015, those specific tools won't be present, though the rest of the procedural animation system still works across the supported versions. To use the path tools, you'll need After Effects 2018 or a later release. See the developer's page for the complete feature breakdown.

Is Cloners + Effectors free?

Cloners + Effectors is listed as free here in the catalog. Its history notes that a former trial limit of only 20 clones has been removed, so that earlier restriction no longer applies. Licensing terms can change over time, and the plugin has previously gained support for floating licenses, so check the developer's page for the current licensing details before downloading. That page will carry the most accurate and up-to-date information on how it's distributed.

Can Cloners + Effectors animate to an audio track?

Cloners + Effectors can create an audio setup for animating to the audio spectrum of an audio track. That means you can drive the animation from sound rather than setting keyframes by hand for each layer, which fits the plugin's broader approach of animating multiple layers at the same time using effectors. A video overview of the features is available if you want to see more. For further details, visit the developer's page.

Alternatives to Cloners + Effectors

Also in Motion Graphics for After Effects.

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