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AEAfter Effects

PhysicDesk

by MotionDesk·Simulation

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

Why we like it

PhysicDesk earns its place in the aescripts library for handling both viewport simulation and native keyframe baking, keeping physics setup and final animation in the same environment.

What is PhysicDesk?

PhysicDesk is a real-time 2D physics simulator that runs directly inside the After Effects viewport, and the developer describes it as fast and accurate. Scenes are built from dynamic, static, and animated bodies, which you connect using pivot, weld, spring, wheel, and rope joints.

Beyond rigid bodies, PhysicDesk adds force zones for wind, magnets, portal, and explosions, along with particle emitters, fracture, soft bodies, and sound-driven motion. Once a simulation looks right, every motion path bakes into native After Effects keyframes that remain fully editable and ready to render.

Version 1.6.23 is the initial release, dated June 8, 2026, and it lists compatibility with After Effects 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. A demo video showing the plugin is available on YouTube.

Who is PhysicDesk best for?

PhysicDesk is best for after Effects artists building 2D physics-driven motion who want to simulate in the viewport and bake the result into editable keyframes.

How much does PhysicDesk cost?

PhysicDesk is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Real-time 2D physics simulation running inside the After Effects viewport
  • Dynamic, static, and animated body types for building scenes
  • Pivot, weld, spring, wheel, and rope joints for connecting bodies
  • Force zones for wind, magnets, portal, and explosions
  • Particle emitters, fracture, soft bodies, and sound-driven motion
  • Bakes motion paths into native, fully editable After Effects keyframes
  • Compatible with After Effects 2022 through 2026

Tags

#physics simulation#2D physics#After Effects#motion graphics#particles#soft bodies#keyframe baking#aescripts

Frequently asked questions

Which After Effects versions is PhysicDesk compatible with?

PhysicDesk lists support for After Effects 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, and 2022, covering five recent versions. If you run one of these releases, the plugin is built to work with your setup. For versions outside this range, check the developer's page before installing, since compatibility beyond the listed releases isn't confirmed. The current build is version 1.6.23, dated June 8, 2026, which is the initial release of the plugin.

Can I edit PhysicDesk simulations after baking them?

PhysicDesk bakes every motion path from a simulation into native After Effects keyframes. Because these are standard keyframes rather than a locked simulation, they stay fully editable, so you can adjust the animation with the tools you already work in, and the result is ready to render. This means you can set up the physics in the viewport first, then refine the baked motion directly in your composition afterward.

Is PhysicDesk free to use?

PhysicDesk is listed as free here. That said, licensing terms can change over time, so the developer's page on aescripts is the best place to confirm the current details before you download. Pricing and license specifics beyond the free listing aren't detailed on this card, so checking the source directly ensures you have the most accurate information for your project or studio before committing to it.

What joints and force zones does PhysicDesk include?

PhysicDesk connects bodies with pivot, weld, spring, wheel, and rope joints, giving several ways to link objects in a scene. For forces, it provides zones for wind, magnets, portal, and explosions. Alongside these, the plugin includes particle emitters, fracture, soft bodies, and sound-driven motion, so a single scene can combine rigid-body dynamics with softer effects and reactive movement. All of this simulates in real time inside the After Effects viewport.

Alternatives to PhysicDesk

Also in Simulation for After Effects.

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