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This plugin is a dream for frame-by-frame animators. It introduces a fully customizable onion skin directly in the comp view. This feature allows you to see previous and upcoming frames as semi-transparent "ghosts," which is essential for maintaining fluid motion in cel animation. The onion skin can also be applied to an adjustment layer, helping you tweak any type of animation, not just cel.
For digital artists, brush variety is king. Paint & Stick v2.1.2c allows you to export your existing Adobe Photoshop brushes using a provided conversion tool and use them directly in After Effects. Furthermore, you can create new brushes on the fly: hold down a modifier key and click on any part of your composition to capture it as a new brush (complete with transparency).
If you want to optimize your animation workflow, let me know:
The biggest pain point addressed by this plugin is the ability to paint with context. After Effects' built-in tool only allows painting in the layer window, giving you zero visibility of the surrounding scene. Paint & Stick v2.1.2c destroys this barrier, allowing you to "paint directly in the comp window with any effects, track matters, adjustment layers, etc so you can paint and immediately see the final result". AEScripts Paint Stick v2.1.2c for After Effec...
The v2 release architecture drastically improves upon native After Effects tools by offering real-time rendering, an intuitive interface, and crucial frame-by-frame utility features.
This version ensures seamless operation with the latest Creative Cloud updates, fixing minor UI bugs that appeared in previous iterations. Standout Features 1. Paint in the Comp Window
The Sticky Pass is a specialized render pass exported from Cinema 4D or Maya that allows the plugin to track 3D geometry and surface positioning【1:L31-L32】【11:L10-L11】. This plugin is a dream for frame-by-frame animators
I can provide more specialized tips for your specific needs! Paint & Stick 2 - aescripts.com
Several learning resources are available:
AEScripts Paint Stick v2.1.2c is more than a plugin; it is an essential bridge between 2D and 3D worlds. Whether you are a motion graphics artist needing to slap decals on 3D geometry, a cel animator looking for onion skinning inside AE, or a compositor handling last-minute client revisions on a CG render, this tool offers a workflow that feels like magic. It successfully removes the technical barriers of 3D painting and replaces them with the familiar, intuitive act of drawing, making it a must-have tool for any serious After Effects user. The onion skin can also be applied to
I can provide tailored workflow tips or troubleshooting steps for your specific setup! Share public link
Optimized for better performance with large projects and complex comps.
In short, the most interesting thing is that , removing the tedious work of manual masking/tracking for certain types of shots (e.g., changing a logo color on a moving object, isolating a sky, or color-grading a specific moving element).
Creating complete frame-by-frame cel animation sequences entirely within After Effects.
The update (current as of late 2025) offers critical improvements in stability and compatibility for both macOS and Windows, maintaining its reputation as the go-to tool for traditional "cel" animation (frame-by-frame) within After Effects. Core Features of Paint & Stick 2.1.2c 1. Paint Directly in the Composition Window
