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AEAfter EffectsPRPremiere Pro

Hacksaw

by MEGAKRUNCH·VFX

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

Why we like it

Hacksaw earns its place in the aescripts library as a displacement plugin that runs in both After Effects and Premiere Pro, with native Apple Silicon and MFR support added in its 1.0.2 update.

What is Hacksaw?

Hacksaw is a displacement plugin for Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro. It transforms footage with randomly generated displacement patterns, and the same effect is available in both applications.

Version 1.0.2 added support for Multi-Frame Rendering and native Apple Silicon, along with compatibility for After Effects and Premiere Pro 2022. This release also fixed an entry point error on certain platforms and improved handling of floating licenses and online validation. The plugin first launched in July 2021.

Compatibility reaches back through several older releases, covering After Effects from CS6 through 2021 and the matching Premiere Pro versions. A demo video is available on the developer's page. This entry is listed as free in our catalog, so check the developer's page for current licensing.

Who is Hacksaw best for?

Hacksaw is best for applying randomly generated displacement patterns to footage in After Effects and Premiere Pro.

How much does Hacksaw cost?

Hacksaw is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Displacement effect applied to footage
  • Randomly generated displacement patterns
  • Works in both After Effects and Premiere Pro
  • Native Apple Silicon support
  • Multi-Frame Rendering (MFR) support
  • Compatibility with After Effects and Premiere Pro 2022

Tags

#displacement#after effects#premiere pro#aescripts#footage#apple silicon#mfr

Frequently asked questions

What After Effects and Premiere Pro versions does Hacksaw support?

Hacksaw supports a wide range of releases across both hosts. On the After Effects side it runs on versions from CS6 through CC and up to 2021, including CC 2014, 2015, 2015.3, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Premiere Pro coverage matches, spanning CS6 through 2021 with the same intermediate releases. Version 1.0.2 also added support for After Effects and Premiere Pro 2022. If you're on a version within these ranges, the plugin fits your setup.

Does Hacksaw run natively on Apple Silicon Macs?

Hacksaw added native Apple Silicon support in version 1.0.2, released April 15, 2022. That same update introduced support for Multi-Frame Rendering and for After Effects and Premiere Pro 2022, and it fixed an entry point error that appeared on certain platforms. If you're working on an Apple Silicon machine, update to at least 1.0.2 to get native support rather than relying on earlier builds from the July 2021 launch.

Is Hacksaw free to use?

Hacksaw is listed as free here in our catalog. Its 1.0.2 update notes improved handling of floating licenses and online validation, so some licensing setup may be involved depending on how you obtain and activate it. Licensing terms can change over time, so for the most accurate and current details it's best to check the developer's page on aescripts before relying on the plugin in a shared render setup.

Does Hacksaw work in Premiere Pro as well as After Effects?

Hacksaw is built for both Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro, so its displacement effect is available in either host. It transforms footage using randomly generated displacement patterns, and its version 1.0.2 update added compatibility with both applications' 2022 releases. Premiere Pro support spans versions from CS6 through 2021, matching the After Effects coverage, so editors working across both applications can use the same plugin.

Alternatives to Hacksaw

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