How to Install After Effects Presets

Written by Richard Marczewski Jr. | Edited by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: December 13, 2024 Fact Checked

In Adobe After Effects, Animation Presets are a combination of keyframes, properties, effects, and expressions that you can save and reuse. For example, if you create an animated text effect using several effects and settings, you can save all those effects and settings as a preset and apply them in other projects.^{[1]
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Research source} You can save presets and transfer them to another computer, or you can download them from the internet. This wikiHow article teaches you how to install After Effects presets.

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Aquire After Effects presets. After Effects presets are created in After Effects and saved as a ".ffx" file. You can transfer them from another computer or download them from the internet. Most websites require a subscription to download After Effects presets. The following are a few websites where you can download After Effects presets:
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Locate the After Effects User Presets folder. Open File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac and use the following steps to navigate to the After Effects User Presets folder:^{[2]
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- Open your Documents or My Documents folder.
- Open the Adobe folder.
- Open the After Effects CC (version number) folder.
- Open the User Presets folder.
  - If you don't see a User Presets folder, you can make one or save a preset in After Effects to create one automatically).
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You can drag and drop individual ".ffx" files, or drag and drop an entire folder full of ".ffx" files.^{[3]
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After Effects has a dark blue icon that says "Ae" in the middle. Click the After Effects icon to open After Effects.
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Locate the "Effects & Presets" menu. By default it is in the panel to the right in After Effects.
- If you don't see the "Effects & Presets" menu, click Window in the menu bar at the top, and then ensure "Effects & Presets" is checked.
It's the icon with four horizontal lines and and an arrow pointing down. It's in the upper-right corner of the "Effects & Presets" menu. Click this icon to display a pop-up menu.
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Click Refresh List. It's at the bottom of the pop-up menu. After Effects will scan the User Presets folder for new presets and add them to the list of presets.^{[4]
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- You can find your installed preset below "User Presets" below "Animation Presets" in the "Effects & Presets". Click and drag a preset into the timeline at the bottom to apply a preset.
- If your presets are not showing up in your After Effects folder, make sure you install them in the folder for the correct version of After Effects. If you have used multiple versions of After Effects, you may have an separate After Effects folder for the different versions of After Effects you have used. If you are using After Effects 2020, and you put your presets in the User Presets folder for After Effects 2015, they will not show up in After Effects 2020.
- After Effects presets are not backwards compatible with older versions of After Effects.^{[5]
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Is Adobe After Effects better than Premiere Pro?

Richard Marczewski Jr.
Digital Media Specialist
Richard Marczewski Jr. is a Digital Media Specialist and owner of Creativity Scientist in Worcester, Massachusetts. With over 10 years of experience, he specializes in marketing, digital media, and content creation. He works with businesses as their outsourced storytelling partner and offers website development, videography, and e-commerce solutions. He started the hipster mustache trend in 2006 and is a classic Nintendo expert. Richard has an MBA in Management from Fitchburg State University.

Richard Marczewski Jr.

Digital Media Specialist

Expert Answer

Adobe Premiere Pro is best for video editing, while Adobe After Effects excels at advanced animations and motion graphics. Premiere Pro is user-friendly and is really great for beginners transitioning from apps like CapCut, which offers basic animation tools. After Effects, however, provides more advanced features like keyframe animations, 3D effects, and intricate motion design. The two work seamlessly together, so you can use After Effects for detailed graphics and easily integrate them into your Premiere Pro projects. If you’re focused on editing, stick with Premiere Pro. But if animation is your goal, After Effects is the better choice.

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