by GothLab·Motion Graphics
Images © GothLab. Used for product review; image policy.
MoleculeGen° earns its place for pairing circle pack shape generation with per-element controls and dedicated Cinema 4D renderer parameters, covering 2D and 3D output within After Effects.
MoleculeGen° is an extension for Adobe After Effects that calculates and generates intricate circle pack shapes. It supports a range of animations built from circle patterns, spanning flat 2D graphics through to 3D.
Each element can be controlled individually for position, rotation, fill, and stroke. Batch placement manages multiple layers and adjusts entire groups of circles at once, with settings for uniform circle size, the amount of circles, and batch size. You can add extra strokes and set their amount, and choose from over 200 color themes.
For dimensional work, dedicated 3D parameters target the Cinema 4D renderer inside After Effects, including an extrusion setting that requires the Cinema 4D renderer to be enabled. The extension is compatible with After Effects CC 2019 through the 2024 release and was last updated in June 2024. A demo video is available.
MoleculeGen° is best for after Effects artists creating animations from intricate circle pack shapes, in both 2D and 3D.
MoleculeGen° is completely free to download and use.
MoleculeGen° supports After Effects CC 2019 along with the 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 releases. If you are running any version in that range, the extension is listed as compatible. To use it, you also need to enable 'Allow Scripts to Write Files and Access Network' under Edit > Preferences > Scripting and Expressions. For versions outside this range, check the developer's page for current details before installing.
MoleculeGen° installs most easily through the aescripts + aeplugins manager, which handles the setup for you. You can also install it manually using the ZXP installer. After installation, open After Effects and enable 'Allow Scripts to Write Files and Access Network' under Edit > Preferences > Scripting and Expressions so the extension can run properly. Once that preference is set, MoleculeGen° is ready to use inside After Effects.
MoleculeGen° includes an extrusion setting that requires the Cinema 4D renderer to be enabled in After Effects. The extension also provides dedicated 3D parameters built for the Cinema 4D renderer, so that renderer needs to be active to use them. If you want extruded, dimensional graphics rather than flat circle pack shapes, switch your composition's renderer to Cinema 4D. The extension covers a range of animations from 2D to 3D built on circle patterns.
MoleculeGen° is listed as free in this catalog. Licensing terms can change over time, so for the most current information it is best to check the developer's page directly. The extension is developed by GothLab and creates intricate circle pack shapes and animations. It installs through the aescripts + aeplugins manager or the ZXP installer, and it works across After Effects CC 2019 through the 2024 release.
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