by Rune Gangsø·Workflow
Illustrative cover generated by AnyPlugins — no product screenshot available.
Tool Launcher stands out in the aescripts library for consolidating scripts, expressions, menu commands and effects into a single configurable launcher with shareable config files.
Tool Launcher gives After Effects users a central way to organise and run their tools. Load folders of scripts and place them in a searchable list or in dedicated toolbars, and show interfaces for scripts that normally have to sit in the ScriptUI folder or Window menu inside pre-docked panels. It ships with multiple panels: tl_panel for showing script interfaces, tl_list for a searchable list of all tools, and tl_bar for customizable toolbar panels that can be duplicated to create multiple toolbars.
Beyond scripts, tools can be defined as raw JavaScript written directly inside Tool Launcher, an expression applied to all selected properties, any After Effects menu command, an OS command run from your terminal, an effect added to all selected layers, or an animation preset applied to selected layers. A single settings window handles all options, tools and toolbars.
Config files can be stored in any location and copied between computers, carrying settings, icons and toolbars with them. You can create shareable config files with tools pre-configured with modifier keys and icons, and import ft-toolbar config files.
Tool Launcher is best for after Effects users who want to organise scripts, menu commands, expressions and effects into searchable lists and custom toolbars.
Tool Launcher is completely free to download and use.
Tool Launcher is compatible with After Effects 2021, 2020, CC 2019, CC 2018, CC 2017, CC 2015.3, CC 2015 and CC 2014, covering a wide span of releases. The current version is 1.4.3, last updated in August 2020, which fixed a wrong version number carried over from 1.4.2. The 1.4.2 release addressed MacOS Catalina compatibility. If you run a newer version of After Effects, check the developer's page to confirm it works with your setup before relying on it in production.
Tool Launcher supports several tool types beyond loading script files. You can write JavaScript directly inside Tool Launcher, define an Expression that applies to all selected properties, run any After Effects Menu Command, execute an OS command from your terminal, add an Effect to all selected layers, or apply Animation Preset files to selected layers. Each of these can be placed in a searchable list or on a customizable toolbar, giving you a single place to trigger different kinds of actions in After Effects.
Tool Launcher stores its config file in any location you choose, and you can copy that config file between computers. When you do, all your settings, icons and toolbars are included, so your configured environment carries over. You can also create shareable config files with tools already set up, complete with modifier keys, icons and toolbars, and import ft-toolbar config files. A central settings window manages all of these options, tools and toolbars in one place.
Tool Launcher is listed here as free. Because licensing and terms can change, check the developer's page on aescripts for the current details before downloading. The listing covers version 1.4.3, and a demo video is available if you want to see the panel before installing. Storing the config file anywhere and copying it between machines is part of the feature set, so once installed you can carry your configuration across setups without additional purchase.
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