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Handy Particles Pro

by PENCIL Park·Motion Graphics

Images © PENCIL Park. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Handy Particles Pro earns its place in the aescripts library for pairing After Effects particle creation with a direct export path to Rive.

What is Handy Particles Pro?

Handy Particles Pro is an After Effects extension from PENCIL Park for building particle systems in motion design. You can create effects from basic shapes like ellipses and stars, or move into custom shapes. The extension gives control over size, movement, burst effects such as explosions and implosions, a range of effects, and color customization.

A defining feature is export to Rive: you can send particles directly from your After Effects projects to Rive. A BURST option is available for Rive and Lottie usage, and you can select the folder where your JSON particles are saved. The extension is described as user-friendly and covers both primitive and custom shapes.

The current version is 1.0.3, updated on January 13, 2025, which added a helper with respawn for loops. Handy Particles Pro runs on After Effects 2025, 2024, 2023, and 2022. It's part of the aescripts library and listed here as free, so check the developer's page for current licensing details.

Who is Handy Particles Pro best for?

Handy Particles Pro is best for motion designers building particle animations in After Effects who want to export particles to Rive.

How much does Handy Particles Pro cost?

Handy Particles Pro is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Particle systems built from primitive shapes like ellipses and stars, or from custom shapes
  • Control over particle size and movement
  • Burst effects including explosions and implosions
  • Color customization alongside a broad range of effects
  • Export particles directly from After Effects projects to Rive, with a BURST option for Rive and Lottie usage
  • Option to select the folder where JSON particles are saved
  • Helper with respawn for loops, added in version 1.0.3

Tags

#After Effects#particles#particle system#motion design#Rive#Lottie#PENCIL Park

Frequently asked questions

Which After Effects versions does Handy Particles Pro support?

Handy Particles Pro is compatible with After Effects 2025, 2024, 2023, and 2022. If you're running one of those versions, the extension fits into your setup for building particle systems from primitive or custom shapes. For versions outside that range, check the developer's page on aescripts before installing, since compatibility isn't confirmed beyond those four releases. Version 1.0.3 is the current release, last updated on January 13, 2025, so the developer's page is the best place to verify the latest supported versions.

Can Handy Particles Pro export particles to Rive and Lottie?

Handy Particles Pro can export particles directly from your After Effects projects to Rive. Alongside Rive, a BURST option was added for both Rive and Lottie usage. You can also select the folder where your JSON particles are saved. This export path lets you move particle work created in After Effects into Rive rather than keeping it inside After Effects alone. For the specifics of the Rive and Lottie workflow and any setup steps, the developer's page on aescripts covers the current details.

Is Handy Particles Pro free?

Handy Particles Pro is listed as free in this catalog. Licensing terms can change over time, so the developer's page on aescripts is the place to confirm the current cost and any usage conditions before you download it. The extension comes from PENCIL Park and is distributed through the aescripts library, where you'll find the latest version, version 1.0.3, and its download details. Checking there keeps you aligned with whatever the developer currently offers.

What changed in Handy Particles Pro 1.0.3?

Handy Particles Pro reached version 1.0.3 on January 13, 2025, which added a helper with respawn for loops. Earlier updates in the same series introduced the option to select the folder for saving your JSON particles in 1.0.2, and a BURST option for Rive and Lottie usage in 1.0.1. The initial release, version 1.0.0, arrived on October 1, 2024. For the full changelog and any updates beyond 1.0.3, the developer's page on aescripts is the source to check.

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