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AEAfter Effects

States

by Hasan Atallah·Workflow

Images © Hasan Atallah. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

States earns its place in the aescripts library for storing composition variations as switchable states without duplicate comps. It arrives as an initial 1.0.0 release covering After Effects 2022 through 2025.

What is States?

States is an After Effects tool from Hasan Atallah that stores the values of properties, animations, and effects so they can be saved as reusable presets. Those presets can cover individual layers or entire compositions.

The approach is non-destructive experimentation: you create and switch between multiple states of a composition without duplicating comps or saving endless versions. Design variations stay organized inside one project, which simplifies revision management. Unlike expression-based solutions that can make previews sluggish, States runs without performance penalties.

On a logo layer, for example, you can save one Layer State with a bounce scale-up animation and another with a fade-in plus slide, then switch instantly between the two without affecting anything else in the comp. States can be rendered, and turned into a template for Mogrts. For client work, that means presenting multiple ideas and tracking revisions while comparing options quickly.

Who is States best for?

States is best for after Effects artists managing multiple design variations and client revisions within a single project.

How much does States cost?

States is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Stores values of properties, animations, and effects as reusable presets for individual layers or entire compositions
  • Create and switch between multiple states of a composition without duplicating comps or saving endless versions
  • Runs without performance penalties, unlike expression-based solutions that can make previews sluggish
  • Keeps design variations organized inside one project for simplified revision management
  • Render all states
  • Turn states into a template for Mogrts

Tags

#After Effects#presets#Mogrt#workflow#revision management#animation states#motion graphics

Frequently asked questions

Which After Effects versions does States support?

States is compatible with After Effects 2025, 2024, 2023, and 2022, covering several recent releases of the application. The current version is 1.0.0, published on September 4, 2025 as the initial release. If you run a version outside that range, check the developer's page before installing to confirm it will work with your setup, since those four versions are the ones listed as compatible.

Does States slow down previews the way expression-based setups can?

States is built to run without performance penalties, so it does not carry the preview slowdown that expression-based solutions can introduce. That lets you create and switch between multiple states of a composition without duplicating comps or saving endless versions. Because the variations live inside one project rather than relying on live expressions, you can experiment with motion, colors, or layout changes and still roll back or compare options without the sluggish previews those setups sometimes cause.

Can States turn my variations into Motion Graphics templates?

States can be turned into a template for Mogrts, After Effects' Motion Graphics templates, and all states can be rendered directly. Each saved state stores the values of properties, animations, and effects, and can apply to individual layers or entire compositions. For example, one logo Layer State might hold a bounce scale-up animation while another holds a fade-in plus slide, letting you switch between the two instantly without affecting anything else in the comp before you render or export them.

Is States free to use?

States is listed as free in this catalog, so there is no purchase figure to report here. Licensing terms can change over time, though, so check Hasan Atallah's page on aescripts for the current details before you download it. The version offered is 1.0.0, the initial release from September 4, 2025, and it supports After Effects 2025, 2024, 2023, and 2022 if you want to confirm it fits your workflow first.

Alternatives to States

Also in Workflow for After Effects.

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