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Custom Blocks ​

Custom Blocks let you build bespoke After Effects animations with the Seen plugin, and bring them into Studio as reusable, personalisable Blocks.

How to install Seen plugin ​

  1. Download the plugin from the Seen plugin download page.

    Download button on the Seen plugin download page

  2. Use ZXPInstaller to install it to After Effects.

    ZXPInstaller dialog installing the aeSeenPlug extension

  3. After the plugin is installed:

    • You can now find the plugin at window > extension > Seen.

      After Effects Window > Extensions > Seen menu

    • Open a new After Effects Project (it needs to be a new one) to be able to see the update plugin button, so you can update to the latest version of the plugin.

      Seen plugin panel showing an available update

  4. In Preferences: make sure that Allowed Scripts to Write Files and Access Network is ticked on.

    After Effects Preferences with Allowed Scripts to Write Files and Access Network ticked

How to use Seen plugin ​

  1. Clean your AE project and make sure you are following our AE guidelines.

  2. When your composition is ready to be exported, click the Analyze button. The plugin will check if the Comp will be supported by Seen.

    Seen plugin Analyze result showing errors found

  3. Adjust the project according to the error list, click Analyze again until no errors are found.

    Seen plugin Analyze result showing no errors found

  4. Choose a location for the export. Make sure the zip option is selected. Click Export.

    Export button in the Seen plugin panel

The whole zip can be uploaded as a Block inside Studio.

Guidelines ​

  1. All video layers need an audio track, or you will not be able to import the block.

    After Effects layer panel showing which layers have an audio track enabled

  2. Comp name can only contain letters, numbers, spaces, underscores and hyphens.

  3. The comp name will be used as the default block name in the library.

For example, an invalid comp name is rejected on upload:

Upload Block dialog showing an invalid project

Once the name follows the guidelines, the project validates successfully:

Upload Block dialog showing a valid project after fixing the comp name

How to import and personalise your block ​

  1. In your Blocks Library, use the Upload Block button and upload your zip file from the Seen plugin. Your new block can be found in My Library and added to your timeline.

    Upload Block dialog with a valid project ready to add to the library

  2. Add your personalisations to your project. Adding a preview value will automatically change the video to that value.

    Personalisations panel with a first_name field and preview value

  3. Select your text layer and add your personalisation value.

    Text layer editor with the first_name personalisation tag inserted

  4. Set your thumbnail by pressing Set thumbnail.

    Project panel with the Set thumbnail action

  5. Go to Review and generate a preview. After reviewing the final video, press Publish when you are happy with the results.

    Review page with personalisation fields, a generated preview, and the Publish button

Run will use the latest Published version of the project.

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