by Neel Motion Works·Motion Graphics
Images © Neel Motion Works. Used for product review; image policy.
TinkerType earns its spot in the aescripts library by concentrating position, rotation, fill color, and blur controls into a single text layer, with the 1.2 update extending support up to After Effects 2025.
TinkerType, developed by Neel Motion Works, is an After Effects tool for breaking up animations with full control, all from a single text layer. The single-layer approach keeps its controls in one place.
TinkerType works across four properties: position, rotation, fill color, and blur. Two of these carry a requirement. Fill color depends on the Fill effect being applied to the layer, and blur depends on the Gaussian Blur effect being applied. With those effects in place, TinkerType can drive the matching properties.
On compatibility, TinkerType runs in After Effects from CC 2019 through the 2025 release, including the 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 versions. Version 1.2 brought 2025 compatibility along with an updated license framework. TinkerType is listed here as free, and it earns its place in the aescripts library as a compact, single-layer method for controlling animation.
TinkerType is best for after Effects users who want to break up animations across position, rotation, fill color, and blur from one text layer.
TinkerType is completely free to download and use.
TinkerType supports a broad range of After Effects releases, running from CC 2019 up through the 2025 version. In between, it covers 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, so most recent installations of After Effects are included. Support for the 2025 release specifically arrived with version 1.2, released on January 25, 2025, which added 2025 compatibility. If you're on an older build than CC 2019, you fall outside the listed range, so it's worth confirming your exact After Effects version against these before installing.
TinkerType controls four properties, and two of them rely on native After Effects effects being present on the layer. Fill color works only when the Fill effect has been applied, and blur works only when the Gaussian Blur effect has been applied. Position and rotation don't carry that requirement. If the fill color or blur controls aren't responding as expected, the first thing to check is whether the matching effect is actually on the layer. Adding the required effect first, then working through TinkerType, keeps those two properties available for animation.
TinkerType is listed here as free, so you can add it to After Effects at no cost. Licensing terms can change over time, though, and the most current details live with the developer. Version 1.2 specifically included an updated license framework, so it's a good idea to review the current arrangement on Neel Motion Works' aescripts page before relying on it in a project. That developer page is also the place to confirm any conditions tied to the free download.
TinkerType version 1.2, released on January 25, 2025, brought two documented changes: compatibility with After Effects 2025 and an updated license framework. The prior release, version 1.1, dates back to September 20, 2020, so 1.2 arrived after a long gap. If you were on an earlier version and want 2025 support, moving to 1.2 is what provides it. For the complete version history, check Neel Motion Works' page on aescripts, which lists the changelog entries in full.
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