MGFX, A free after effects script for file management with source code.

Do you ever simply want to open after effects and begin testing and researching without a proper folder structure first? Does this same file end up in the finished project? We've all been there, so, yeah. We put a lot of effort into structuring our file system so that it can be handed off to other animators, studios, or simply opened after a while without getting lost in the shuffle.

When I was working on the FUI animation for the movie Hobbs & Shaw, I had been there a lot and it significantly affected my productivity. Organizing the hundreds of Illustrator files I had to work with required a lot of effort. To make that procedure simpler, I gained a little understanding of programming and created a simple script.. Now, with the script I can organize everything with a click of a button. I don't have to worry about folder structure, comps, precomps or other files I use in my project. I can just focus on doing the work. Also, it's super easy to add multiple formats or folders.

Features

• Folder Structure - Create a folder structure with names- *comps, ai, images, psd, plates and sound in the project panel.
• Import File - Imports a file into the after effects project.
• Move Comps - Move all the compositions into the "*comps" folder.
• Move Vector files - Move all the ai & eps into the "ai" folder.
• Move Images - Move all the png, jpg & exr's into the "images" folder.
• Move PSD files - Move all the psd files into the "psd" folder.
• Move Footages - Move all the mp4 & mov into the "plates" folder.
• Move Sound - Move all the mp3 & wav into the "sound" folder.
• Delete Empty Folder - Delete all the empty folder in the project panel.

Installation

• Copy the MGFX.jsx into your "Support Files\Scripts\ScriptUI Panels" directory.
• Inside After effects, Go to Edit > Preferences > Scripting & Expressions and enable Allow Scripts to Write Files and Access Network.
• Now, you can find the dockable script in Windows > MGFX 1.0.jsx

Known Issues

• Sometimes you have to click the button in the script few times to transfer all the files into the folder.

Source Code

I developed the script with the aid of some wonderful folks online and a lot of what I learnt from the internet. I'm giving up the source code to anyone who wants to enhance the script and gain knowledge from it since I just want to spread love. With a few little script modifications, you may also alter the folder names and add new filetypes. You are free to copy, remix, transform, redistribute & build upon the material in any medium or format. Please don't sell it online.

Download Links

Google Drive Link - https://drive.google.com/file/d/10_OWDyvqixQjx6HdOmM8xz31yCtwEFmI/view?usp=sharing

Please use Google Drive link if the Download button is not working for you.

MGFX by Saransh Sharma is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

Motion design has become an important part of the creative process in the creative industry. It has been a driving force behind many modern trends and classics.

Motion design is a form of art that is becoming more and more popular with each passing day. Motion design is often used in Feature films, commercials, advertising, and music videos to create a certain mood or feeling for the viewer. Motion design can also be found in logos, branding designs, and other forms of graphic design. Explainer videos and Product videos are another examples of Motion design.

Motion designers are often considered artists because they use their creativity to create beautiful animations that are not only pleasing to the eye but also tell a story or evoke an emotion from viewers. They work with both digital and analog tools to create these animations which include things like Adobe After Effects, Cinema 4D, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and others.

My name is Saransh. I have relocated a lot; right now, I'm residing in Berlin. I had the good fortune to encounter a large diversity of culture throughout my life because I was born and raised in India. Up to now, I have resided and worked in Berlin, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Bangalore, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Gurugram. I make friends everywhere, but maintaining friendships is a whole other story. I have been working since high school. I chose extra curricular activity as computer class and because I was not eligible to sit in the Computer science class, I ended up in Web design class. We were taught HTML, CSS and VBscipt. I used this knowledge to start creating websites and start experimenting with stuff that we were not yet taught. I was so curious. With this knowledge I landed my very first gig through a cousin to make a website for a printing firm. I still remember the names, people and my first cheque. It was a hassle and a bit chaotic because at that time I had limited knowledge of not only my skills but also how to handle a client. They had expectations because they were paying, regardless of my experience. Instead of turning their expectations down I start researching, learning and finding solutions online of all the things that they want which I cannot do. And I think this was the start of me building this nature of becoming a problem solver. No matter what challenges I face I always look for "How can I solve this?" or "What's the alternative?". This habit has taught me a great deal. I have learned so many tools, tips and created my own solutions to problem not only in my field but in any field that I dig in. From Web design, Web development, Graphic design, Motion design, Product design, App development, AR/VR and so many other things. I even started my own e-commerce jewellery store as an experiment to learn everything I can about this field. Not only how to build a brand but also how to sustain a brand, social media marketing, product inventory, delivery and gazillion other things. It was exhausting but it was so much fun and I learned a lot. I became Jack of all trades. Highly adaptive to my environment and always eager to learn more. I worked in 2 continents but I worked on freelance projects for clients all over the world. Feature Films, Television Series, Advertising, Commercials, Social Media, Corporate, and so many other amazing things. There's no big or small gig, for me every gig is an opportunity to learn something new and grow even more. There's so much to learn and every knowledge is so valuable. I am a full time motion designer since few years now but I still use my knowledge of web and other things to create cool meaning-full stuff. Don't limit your challenges. Challenge your limits.