by Paul Tuersley·Motion Graphics
Images © Paul Tuersley. Used for product review; image policy.
pt_Multiplane earns its place in the After Effects library for its wide version support, spanning CS4 through 2025, and for handling the full multiplane setup — z-axis layer moves, camera options, and compensating scale expressions — straight from layered Photoshop and Illustrator files.
pt_Multiplane is a script for After Effects that adds motion and depth to still images by converting layered Photoshop or Illustrator files into 3D multiplanes. It applies expressions that let you move layers freely along the z-axis without changing the look of the shot from the original camera position. The multi-plane effect it recreates was made famous by the film "The Kid Stays in the Picture."
Applying the multiplane sets up the scale expressions the script uses to compensate as layers shift in depth, and you can target specific layers in a comp or let it apply to all of them. Auto Arrange distributes layers along the z-axis within a specified range, with an option for random placement. Layers that were previously animated or scaled get a null controller, and you can choose to always use nulls or delete them once your Z Position adjustments are done.
You can set up a 1 node camera with a Position property or a 2 node camera that adds a Point of Interest, and choose a lens preset for the multiplane camera. A Bake/Remove option strips out the scale expressions when you're finished. The script lists compatibility from After Effects CS4 through 2025.
pt_Multiplane is best for adding motion and depth to still images, and turning layered Photoshop or Illustrator files into 3D multiplanes in After Effects.
pt_Multiplane is completely free to download and use.
pt_Multiplane lists compatibility with a broad range of After Effects versions, from CS4 through the CC releases and the yearly versions up to 2025, including 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020. The same range is listed as its requirements, so if you're running any of these versions the script should be supported. For builds not named in that list, check the developer's page to confirm before installing.
pt_Multiplane works with layered Photoshop or Illustrator files, converting them into 3D multiplanes inside After Effects. It adds expressions that let you move the individual layers along the z-axis without changing how the shot looks from the original camera position. When you apply the multiplane, you can either select specific layers in a comp first or let it apply to all layers, which sets up the scale expressions the script uses to compensate as layers move in depth.
pt_Multiplane includes a Bake/Remove option for taking out the scale expressions once you've finished adjusting your layers. In many cases you can leave the expressions applied, but you should remove them if you plan on animating the Scale or Z Position properties. The scale expressions exist to compensate when layers are moved on the z-axis, so removing them frees those properties for your own keyframes.
pt_Multiplane is listed as free here in the catalog. Licensing and distribution terms can change over time, so for current details it's best to check Paul Tuersley's developer page, where a demo video is also available. Since the entry is listed as free, you can add depth to layered Photoshop or Illustrator files without a purchase, though confirming the license on the developer's page remains the safest route.
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