by MotionDesk·Simulation
Images © MotionDesk. Used for product review; image policy.
Soft Body 2 earns a spot in the toolfarm library for bringing soft objects and collisions to After Effects with a choice of Quick or Advance engines. A demo video is available.
Soft Body 2 is an After Effects plugin from MotionDesk that creates soft objects with collisions. It ships with two engines, Quick and Advance, and works with shape layers, text and pre-comps. The plugin describes itself as simple and easy to use.
Version 2 adds the Advance engine, which can bend images and layers, along with a multi-collider selector and a new UI. You can create multiple colliders for each soft body object and adjust advanced settings for the soft layer. The Quick engine includes an auto animation feature called Wobble.
A couple of limitations apply: the plugin has restrictions when working with very small or very thin objects as a soft body, and the Quick engine softens sharp angles on soft bodies. Soft Body 2 supports After Effects from CC 2019 through 2025. A demo video is available.
Soft Body 2 is best for after Effects artists creating soft objects with collisions from shape layers, text or pre-comps.
Soft Body 2 is completely free to download and use.
Soft Body 2 lists compatibility with After Effects 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and CC 2019, so it runs on both the latest release and several earlier versions. The same range is listed under its requirements. Because it covers everything from CC 2019 up to 2025, most current and recent After Effects installations should be able to run it. If you're on a version outside that range, check the developer's page before installing to confirm support for your setup.
Soft Body 2 is listed as free in this catalog. No specific pricing or licensing terms are provided here beyond that, so for the current download conditions and any usage terms it's best to check MotionDesk's own page. Licensing details can change over time, and the developer's site is the most reliable place to confirm how the plugin is offered before you add it to your After Effects setup.
Soft Body 2 includes two engines. The Quick engine offers an auto animation feature called Wobble, and it softens sharp angles on soft body objects. The Advance engine was added in version 2 and can bend images and layers. Both engines work alongside features like multiple colliders per soft body object and advanced settings for the soft layer. Which engine you pick depends on the kind of soft body behaviour you're after.
Soft Body 2 works with shape layers, text and pre-comps in After Effects. You can turn these into soft body objects and create multiple colliders for each one. Keep in mind two stated limitations: the plugin has restrictions when working with very small or very thin objects used as a soft body, and the Quick engine softens sharp angles on soft bodies. These limitations apply to soft bodies rather than colliders.
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