by Satori·VFX
Images © Satori. Used for product review; image policy.
Pixel Melt earns its place in the aescripts library, where it sits at popularity rank 67, for taking a single idea — independent stretching and displacement of pixels — and exposing it through direction, spread, shading and curve-mapping controls. A demo video is available.
Pixel Melt, developed by Satori, simulates independent stretching and displacement of pixels within After Effects and Premiere Pro. It applies to various image distortions, including melting simulation and scanlines separation with modulation ability.
The effect is built around a set of controls. Direction sets which edge the melting occurs towards, while Spread defines the maximum stretching of pixels per melt step. Shading keeps pixels plainly stretched or applies a Sine Wave, Triangle Wave, or Linear Ramp Up or Down, and Shading Phase can be animated for an additional effect. Scanline modulation is shaped by Amplitude, Period, Phase, Exponent and Invert parameters. Velocity and spread curve mapping include Phase and Floor settings alongside a Graph that visualizes the mapping.
Additional options include Wrap, where pixels reappear from the opposite side rather than falling beyond the visible area, a Fullscreen Stretch post-effect, Off-screen Reach, and Fade Start and Fade End for dimming scanline ends. Version 1.0.1 is compatible with After Effects and Premiere Pro releases from CS6 through 2026.
Pixel Melt is best for creating melting simulations, scanlines separation and pixel-based image distortions in After Effects and Premiere Pro.
Pixel Melt is completely free to download and use.
Pixel Melt supports After Effects 2026 along with 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, CC 2019, CC 2018, CC 2017, CC 2015.3, CC 2015, CC 2014, CC and CS6, so the effect runs on both current and older installations. The same plugin also works in Premiere Pro across an equivalent range of releases, letting you apply melting and scanline effects in either host. Since version 1.0.1 covers this compatibility list, check the developer's page to confirm your exact build before installing.
Pixel Melt runs in Premiere Pro across 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, CC 2019 and older releases down through CS6. Version 1.0.1 included a fix for a low-level exception (AEVideoFilter:11) that had occurred in Premiere Pro on macOS, so recent builds address that issue. Alongside Premiere Pro, the plugin supports the equivalent After Effects releases, meaning the same stretching and displacement effect is available in both hosts. For your specific version, confirm compatibility on the developer's page before installing.
Pixel Melt includes Graph parameters that visualize velocity and spread curve mapping. As of version 1.0.1, those graphs update instantly while you tweak the relevant parameters and adapt their color to the selected color theme, but both of those behaviours are noted as After Effects only. The plugin still functions in Premiere Pro, where these particular graph conveniences do not apply.
Pixel Melt is listed as free in this catalog, though licensing terms can change over time. Check the developer's page for current details before downloading so you have the accurate terms for your use. The current version is 1.0.1, released on March 7, 2025, which followed the initial 1.0.0 release from April 2, 2024. That update added instant graph refresh and adaptive graph colors in After Effects, plus a Premiere Pro exception fix on macOS.
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