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AEAfter EffectsPRPremiere Pro

Glasswork

by Pixel Sorter Studio·VFX

Images © Pixel Sorter Studio. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Glasswork earns its place in the toolfarm library as a GPU-rendered filter dedicated to glass looks, pairing four patterns with size, angle, and frostiness controls in a single plugin for After Effects and Premiere Pro.

What is Glasswork?

Glasswork is a video filter for After Effects and Premiere Pro that adds glass effects over your footage. Created by Gabriel Grenier and Vincent Raineri, it renders on the GPU and lets you produce frosty or distorted glass looks using a range of patterns and styles.

The plugin ships with four pattern options: Stripes, ZigZag, Rhombuses, and Waves. An interface with a set of settings gives control over the result, including size, angle, and frostiness, so you can shape the effect to suit the shot.

Glasswork runs in After Effects 2022 through 2025, Premiere 2022 through 2025, and Media Encoder 2021 through 2025, on Windows and Mac with Intel and Apple Silicon. It requires OpenGL 3.3+ support and will not work on a headless machine. A demo video is available, and the plugin is listed here as free.

Who is Glasswork best for?

Glasswork is best for editors and motion designers adding frosty or distorted glass effects to footage in After Effects or Premiere Pro.

How much does Glasswork cost?

Glasswork is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • GPU rendering for glass effects
  • Frosty or distorted glass looks applied over footage
  • Four patterns: Stripes, ZigZag, Rhombuses, and Waves
  • Adjustable size, angle, and frostiness settings
  • Interface with a set of controls over the result
  • Support for After Effects, Premiere, and Media Encoder on Windows and Mac (Intel and Apple Silicon)

Tags

#glass effect#GPU rendering#After Effects#Premiere Pro#video filter#distortion#frosted glass

Frequently asked questions

Does Glasswork work with After Effects 2022?

Glasswork supports After Effects 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, so 2022 users are covered. Beyond After Effects, it also works with Premiere 2022 through 2025 and Media Encoder 2021 through 2025. The plugin runs on both Windows and Mac, including Intel and Apple Silicon machines. As long as you are on a supported host version and meet the OpenGL 3.3+ requirement, you can apply the glass effect directly to your footage. For versions outside this range, check the developer's page for the latest compatibility details.

Does Glasswork run on Apple Silicon Macs?

Glasswork runs on Mac with both Intel and Apple Silicon processors, as well as on Windows. Whichever platform you use, the plugin relies on the GPU for rendering and needs OpenGL 3.3 or later support. One limitation to note is that Glasswork will not work on a headless machine, so a system with a display and graphics support is required. If your Mac meets these conditions and runs a supported host version, you can add frosty or distorted glass effects to your footage.

Which glass patterns does Glasswork include?

Glasswork includes four patterns: Stripes, ZigZag, Rhombuses, and Waves. On top of the pattern choice, the plugin lets you adjust settings such as size, angle, and frostiness to change how the glass looks over your footage. Effects can be frosty or distorted, and everything renders on the GPU. This combination of patterns and adjustable settings is handled through the plugin's interface inside After Effects or Premiere Pro.

Is Glasswork free?

Glasswork is listed here as free. Pricing and licensing can change over time, so for current terms it is best to check the developer's page before you download. The plugin is a collaboration between Gabriel Grenier and Vincent Raineri and works across After Effects, Premiere, and Media Encoder on Windows and Mac. Once installed on a supported host version that meets the OpenGL 3.3+ requirement, you can start applying glass effects to your footage.

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