Motion graphics & effects

Motion Studio

Bring titles and graphics to life with compositions, animated layers and effects.

Effectcraft 0.6.0 · local browser engine · early release

✓ Compositions and layers✓ Text and shape animation✓ Keyframe editing✓ Graph controls✓ Effects and expressions✓ Browser export options

Browser exports and codecs can differ from the desktop app. Use the original desktop release when you need a native-only rendering workflow.

01 / Start your project

Create a composition and add text, shapes or footage.

02 / Make it yours

Set keyframes on layer properties and preview your animation.

03 / Save your work

Save the project and use the available export options. Inspect the result before publishing.

How to use Motion Studio

Press Open Motion Studio and wait for the Effectcraft engine to start. On a first visit it opens a demo project, which is a good way to see how a finished composition is put together.
Create a new composition for your own piece, and bring in footage or images with File ▸ Import. You can also drop files anywhere on the editor.
Add text, shape or solid layers and arrange them in the Timeline. Twirl a layer open to reach its Transform properties.
Select a layer, move the time indicator and press Alt+Shift+P to set a Position keyframe. Move to a later time, drag the layer somewhere new, and it animates between the two keyframes.
Drag effects from Effects & Presets onto a layer, then adjust them in Effect Controls.
Use File ▸ Save to keep an .ecproj project. In the browser, saving also downloads a copy of the project file.
Add the composition to the Render Queue, choose an output format, and render. Finished files download to your device.

Tips for better results

Use the property shortcuts. With a layer selected, press P for Position, S for Scale, R for Rotation or T for Opacity to show just that property. Alt+Shift with the same letter sets a keyframe at the current time.
Ease your keyframes. Select keyframes and press F9 for Easy Ease, so movement starts and stops gently instead of snapping.
Shape motion in the Graph Editor. The value and speed graphs show exactly how a property changes over time. Drag the handles to make a title glide in and settle.
Let expressions do repetitive work. A short expression such as wiggle(2, 20) adds a natural drift, and loopOut() repeats keyframes without copying them.
Plan for bundled fonts. The browser build does not read the fonts installed on your computer. Inter, Noto Serif and JetBrains Mono are always available, so design titles around them.
Check the render before publishing. Play the downloaded file in an ordinary video player or browser to confirm timing, colours and sound.

Formats and where your work is kept

Motion Studio suits animated titles, lower thirds, logo reveals, social-media intros and short explainer graphics. Projects are saved as readable, versioned JSON. The engine can also exchange animations as Lottie: File ▸ Export ▸ Lottie JSON… writes a composition for web or app players, and File ▸ Import ▸ Lottie… opens one as a new composition. Image sequences rendered in the browser download together as a single ZIP file.

Imported media, saved projects and settings live in your browser's private storage on this device, and the editor reopens your last session when you return. Clearing site data removes that copy, so keep the downloaded project file and your original footage somewhere safe.

Can I open After Effects projects?

No. Effectcraft follows After Effects' panels, shortcuts and keyframe behaviour, but it cannot open .aep or .aepx files, and After Effects plug-ins do not run in it.

Why is rendering slower than on a desktop app?

The browser build is limited to the resources your browser gives the page. Long renders run in the background, but complex effects, 3D layers and high resolutions take longer. Try a shorter work area or lower resolution while you are still testing.

Is my footage uploaded?

No. Footage and projects are processed by the engine in your browser and stay on your device.