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AEAfter Effects

GridGuide

by mamoworld tools·Workflow

Images © mamoworld tools. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Part of the aescripts library, GridGuide has been maintained since its 2017 release, with updates continuing through 2025 that covered OS compatibility, UI adjustments and licensing.

What is GridGuide?

GridGuide is an After Effects tool from mamoworld tools built for working with grids and guides in motion design. It creates automatic layouts, snappable guide grids and modifiable shape layer guides.

GridGuide requires Photoshop to be installed on your system and will launch Photoshop if it isn't already running. On After Effects CC 16.1 and later, it uses the newer scripting features to create guides without launching Photoshop, which makes guide creation faster. Its "Convert Grids to Guides" command may take a few seconds to take effect.

Compatibility spans a wide range of releases, from CS4 through to After Effects 2026, including the CC and CS versions in between. First released in 2017, GridGuide reached version 1.1.009 with an update in November 2025 that fixed online activation connection issues and updated the underlying license framework.

Who is GridGuide best for?

GridGuide is best for motion designers who work with layouts, grids and guides in After Effects and have Photoshop installed.

How much does GridGuide cost?

GridGuide is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Automatic layouts for arranging elements
  • Snappable guide grids
  • Modifiable shape layer guides
  • "Convert Grids to Guides" command, which may take a few seconds to take effect
  • Requires Photoshop installed and launches it automatically if it isn't already running
  • Compatible with After Effects from CS4 through 2026

Tags

#GridGuide#After Effects#guides#grids#layout#motion design#mamoworld tools

Frequently asked questions

Does GridGuide require Photoshop to be installed?

GridGuide requires Photoshop to be installed on your system, and it will launch Photoshop automatically if the application isn't already running. That dependency applies to older setups; on After Effects CC 16.1 and later, GridGuide uses the newer scripting features to create guides directly, so it no longer needs to launch Photoshop, and guide creation runs faster on those versions. If you're on a recent After Effects release you'll benefit from that speed-up, though Photoshop still appears in the listed requirements here.

Which After Effects versions does GridGuide support?

GridGuide supports a broad span of After Effects versions, from CS4 up through the 2026 release, including CS5, CS5.5, CS6, CC, the CC 2014 to 2019 versions, and the yearly 2020 to 2026 releases. Over time, updates have kept it working with newer systems, including a fix for macOS Catalina compatibility, support for newer operating systems, and a UI adjustment for the CC2025 version. That wide range makes GridGuide usable across both legacy and current After Effects installations.

Is GridGuide free to use?

GridGuide is listed as free here, so you can add it without a purchase in this catalog. For current licensing terms, check the mamoworld tools page directly, since licensing details can change over time. Recent updates touched the licensing side: version 1.1.009 fixed online activation connection issues and updated the license framework, and an earlier release added support for time-limited licenses. If you run into activation questions, the developer's page is the best place to confirm the latest details.

How long does "Convert Grids to Guides" take in GridGuide?

GridGuide's "Convert Grids to Guides" command may take a few seconds to take effect, so a short pause after running it is expected rather than a sign of a problem. The feature has been refined over time; an early fix addressed an error with long compositions that previously reported an issue setting the work area duration. If you're converting grids in a lengthy comp, that fix means the command should complete without that error on current versions.

Alternatives to GridGuide

Also in Workflow for After Effects.

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