After Effects 24.1 is now available for download!

[nishu_kush]

After Effects 24.1 is Here

Greetings, After Effects Users!

The December release of After Effects 24.1 is here, packed with dedicated 3D-related features such as native model import, alignment tools, Image-Based Lighting, and high-fidelity, GPU-accelerated renders!

Seize the excitement of this update available now on the Creative Cloud desktop app. Let's explore the multitude of incredible possibilities.

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What's New

3D model import

Natively import 3D models (GLB, GLTF) with materials directly into After Effects and design your compositions in a unified space with 3D shapes and text.

Image-Based Lighting

Use 360-degree High Dynamic Range Image (HDRI) files as a light source to realistically place models into a scene with complementary lighting and shadows, making objects appear as though they naturally belong. 

Advanced 3D renderer 

Render 3D motion graphics with this high-performance, GPU-powered engine that offers high-quality antialiasing and transparency.

2D/3D interoperability

Seamlessly use 2D and 3D elements in the same composition to create more visually exciting and complex animations.

Animated lights and cameras 

Get creative flexibility by extracting lights and cameras from a 3D model to improve the lighting in your scene and create dynamic camera effects.

3D Snapping 

You can now snap layers in 3D space while dragging the constrained X, Y, and Z position handles of the 3D Gizmo. This includes the XY, XZ, and YZ combo handles of the 3D position gizmo.

3D model-driven effects

Combine 2D and 3D workflows in one composition. Effects that reference another layer, such as Displacement Map, Vector Blur, or Calculations, can use a 3D model layer as a source to create highly stylized renders. 

Refreshed animation presets 

Updated and improved existing animation presets that have a modernized look and are easier to configure.

Features in Beta

Import OBJ 3D models

Natively import OBJ 3D models into your project and drop them into your composite alongside other 2D and 3D layers.

What's Fixed

• Clearing the preferences from Startup and Repair no longer crashes After Effects.
• In the Properties panel, the Fill and Stroke colors no longer reset when switching from solid color to gradient and back.
• In the Properties panel, Stroke controls now correctly toggle when the Stroke checkbox is changed. 
• Changing the frame rate of a composition no longer causes the UI to freeze or lag.
• Keyframes on time stretched response design now correctly follow the cursor when dragged. 
• Blocked older version of Animation Composer that caused After Effects to crash.

How to update After Effects to 24.1

Open the Creative Cloud desktop application and click the Updates tab on the top left. Find After Effects in the list and click Update.

I don't see the update in my Creative Cloud desktop application. What should I do?

Click Help > Check for Updates from the Creative Cloud desktop application to refresh it.

If you are experiencing any issues, please create a new thread explaining your problem so we can help.

[Josie_]

Just a little confused, is 3D object importing now avail in 24.1 or do we still have to install Beta?

[VictoriaNece]

3D model import (GLB/GLTF files) is available in 24.1. OBJ import is still in beta.

[Josie_]

Ah ok, thats good to know. Thankyou

[Flix_799]

Projects from older versions of After Effects that use Cineware no longer work. I get a message that the file is corrupted.

Can someone confirm if this is happening to anyone else? Or maybe I should reinstall everything 😞

[nishu_kush]

That's not ideal. Does it happen with all the projects? Can you share the project file with us to test at our end? Feel free to DM me the download link if you don't want to share it publicly.

We're here to help.

Thanks,

Nishu

[Flix_799]

Hello Nishu, I sent you the project in a message.

In the meantime, I went back to the previous version AE, so I didn't try with more projects to see if the same thing happens.

Thank you

[Bruce5E80]

Hello, exactly the same isue here. Did you find a solution?

[Flix_799]

I reverted to After Effects version 24.0.3. Everything works in that version

[ödjfDH]

I have the exact same issue. Project Files work fine in the 2023 Version but won't open in 24.1.0

[eu7200]

I can't import PSD file. It's freezing and I have to force quit AE 24.1.0. In After  Effects 24 beta version this import is woking fine.

[nishu_kush]

Hi eu7200,

Sorry to hear that.

Could you share more details? Do you get any error messages? Does it only happen with the files that have text in it? Feel free to share the PSD file with us.

Looking forward to your response.

Thanks,

Nishu

[eu7200]

Hi, I'm working on Windows 11 all updates.

When I import a PSD file it's just freezing and I have to force shut down AE. Yes PSD file contain image and text.

[Chiara33009521ya4g]

Dear community I really don't know how to figure out the problem since I updated AE and ME 2023 and then to 2024. Rendering the queue in AE and media encoder too, is really impossible because it is too slow, taking more than 8 hrs for 3 min video. I've a powerful pc:
Processore 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-13700KF 3.40 GHz
RAM installata 64,0 GB (63,8 GB utilizzabile)
Nvidia Geforce msi 4070
Sistema operativo a 64 bit, processore basato su x64windows home 10.

I'm wondering if any of you found a solution, thanks in advance, Chiara

[Bhakiag340862590x9u]

Exciting news! After Effects 24.1 is now available for download! Looking forward to exploring the new features and enhancements. :rocket: #AfterEffects #Update

[Bhakiag340862590x9u]

Fantastic news! After Effects 24.1 is now ready for download! Can't wait to dive into the latest features and improvements. Thanks for the update! :glowing_star: #AfterEffects #Update

[Branded Productions]

Now introducing "Super Slow Clock Cooker" mode! All you have to do is open After Effects like normal, and add any new layer into any composition. This feature helps you double your hourly income by taking twice as long to do literally anything! It works on old systems and new systems alike! We guarantee this version will increase your render times by at least 200%! You're welcome, hourly compositors!

-Adobe

[Branded Productions]

But wait, there's more! Order now and recieve the Clock Quadrupler! That's right, to enable this feature, just open Premiere along side After Effects, and you will receive not double, but quadruple the render times! 4x the render 4x the hours! Who needs economic stimulus when you can have all this render time?!

[InfiniteWhale]

Who do you think works harder at Adobe - the dev team or the people who have to make excuses for AE? 

[Branded Productions]

Most assuredly, the latter.

[JHWJHW]

It's very frustrating indeed. I have rolled back to 2023 on the early buggy 2024 version. Come back to see that more bugs are forced on the users. Does anyone know what is the last stable version to use? Or don't bother to update? 

[֑nubnubbud]

Last stable version was CS6, and a brief moment in 2015, but technically using either opens you up to legal repercussions... because adobe sold someone else's software with it or something. I remember getting the email.

[InfiniteWhale]

Great.  I'm looking forward to seeing what features we've been asking for haven't been implemented and what new and exciting bugs will have me tearing my hair out. 

[Branded Productions]

Background Autosave? Nah... Layer Groups? Nah. After 25 years of AE compositing and feature requesting, I'd jump ship tomorrow if there were a comprable product with a dev team that listened to the user base.

[InfiniteWhale]

I honestly cannot get my head aaround their absolute refusal to implement basic changes that people have been crying out for for years, but it's worse than that now - it's not just refusing to add basic features, it's the fact that AE is functionally worse every year.  It's SO slow to use on both my edit computers in the office and at home (mac and PC) that even doing the basic stuff is taking twice as long.  They say "what are your specs" like it matters - the specs aare irrelevant when countless people have the same problem.  It needs major work to fix this broken app and nobody seems willing to put the effort in.  I cannot wait until I don't have to pay Adobe any more, so hopefully a rival will come along and make something that works.