mcp

Tools reference

What your AI client can call: 35 tools. The 83 operations are available to the panel and every MCP client, and new capabilities arrive as operation types inside ae_propose_plan. Everything here reads, except the last group, which only ever changes the project through a plan.

Status and context

`ae_status`	Versions, panel connection and how fresh the project read is. Start here.
`ae_get_bootstrap_context`	A first look at the project: identities and counts.
`ae_get_current_context`	Active comp, current time and selected layers.
`ae_refresh_snapshot`	Read After Effects again after you edit by hand.

Inspect the project

`ae_get_project_overview`	A project summary: counts of each kind of item, and warnings.
`ae_find_project_objects`	Find layers by name, ID or type.
`ae_inspect_composition`	One comp's settings and a summary of each layer.
`ae_inspect_layer`	One layer's properties, grouped by path.
`ae_list_effects_and_expressions`	Effects, their controls and expressions in use.
`ae_trace_dependencies`	Nested comps, parents and mattes.
`ae_list_project_issues`	Missing sources, locked layers, off-canvas and transparent layers.
`ae_read_effect_notes`	What is known about an effect's controls: ranges and menu items from After Effects, labelled notes, and the values you keep using.

See and measure

`ae_capture_composition_frame`	Capture a frame to look at. extynt never uploads it, but your MCP client sees the image.
`ae_observe_frame`	Measure what is in a captured frame, in numbers.
`ae_measure_layer`	Real layer bounds and anchor, in comp pixels.

Solve motion

`ae_solve_arc_path`	Exact keyframes for motion along an arc, such as an orbit.
`ae_solve_stagger`	Staggered start times for a set of layers.
`ae_solve_keyframe_assistant`	Sequence layers end to end, wiggle a value, or thin out keyframes, worked out for you.

What this After Effects can do

`ae_list_native_operations`	How many typed operations exist and how many are verified here.
`ae_search_native_operations`	Find the typed operations a plan can use.
`ae_describe_native_operation`	Exact inputs for one operation.
`ae_search_host_capabilities`	Effects and presets installed on this computer.
`ae_describe_host_capability`	Controls of one installed effect.
`ae_search_fonts`	Fonts installed on this computer.

Build and check a request

`ae_get_build_kit`	Pass the request as written. Returns the exact operation shapes, units and worked examples it needs.
`ae_check_request`	Are you done? Checks a finished build against the request: every named feature present, nothing off-frame or clipped.

Plans and receipts

`ae_get_plan_status`	Where a plan is, with its verdict.
`ae_recall_plan`	Read a plan's operations back.
`ae_get_receipt`	The receipt of an applied plan.

Changes (always through a plan)

`ae_propose_plan`	Propose a plan of typed operations, or an SVG drawing. With apply set, it also approves the plan and returns the receipt.
`ae_amend_plan`	Edit a plan before it is approved.
`ae_create_vector_artwork`	Turn SVG into editable shape layers. After Effects 26 imports it natively. On 25, extynt converts it and approximates a few things, such as gradients.
`ae_approve_plan`	Approve a plan. The panel applies it, checks it and returns the receipt.
`ae_cancel_plan`	Cancel a plan before it runs.
`ae_undo_plan`	Undo an applied plan, its last step, or a whole job.