Adding a Button
Click the + button in the grid to open the button editor. If the bar is empty, you can also click the “Add your first button” prompt or install a built-in preset.
Choosing an Action Type
The editor shows eight action types across the top. Click one to select it:
| Action Type | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Effect | Applies an effect to selected layers. Search installed effects by name or enter match name manually. |
| Preset | Applies an After Effects animation preset (.ffx or .ffxml) from a file path. |
| Expression | Sets an expression on a property of selected layers. Optionally target a specific property path. |
| Menu | Invokes an After Effects menu command by name or ID. The command ID is cached after first use for faster repeat execution. |
| Extension | Opens a CEP extension by its extension ID. |
| JSX | Runs a JSX or JSXBIN script file. The file path is stored, and the source can optionally be embedded for portability when exporting. |
| Scriptlet | Runs inline ExtendScript code you type directly into the editor. |
| Shell | Runs a shell command with optional arguments. |
Each action type shows its own configuration fields below the type selector. See the Action Types Reference for full details on every field.
Button Appearance
Below the action configuration, the Appearance section lets you customize how the button looks in the grid:
- Icon opens the icon picker. Choose from 700+ Lucide icons or paste a custom SVG.
- Color opens a color picker. Set a color to tint the button’s icon. Leave it unset for the default theme color.
- Label sets a text label displayed on the button. When set, the button shows both icon and text. If only text is set with no icon, the button shows text alone.
- Tooltip appears on hover to describe what the button does.
Modifier Actions
The Modifiers section lets you assign alternate actions to Shift, Alt, and Cmd (Ctrl on Windows). Toggle a modifier on with the switch, then configure its action type and settings independently.
When a user holds a modifier key while clicking the button, the modifier action runs instead of the primary action. Modifier tooltips appear on hover so users know what each modifier does.
A single button can cover up to four actions: the primary click plus three modifier variants. For example, one button could apply Gaussian Blur on click, Directional Blur on Shift+click, and Fast Box Blur on Alt+click.
Live Preview
While the editor is open, the grid shows a live preview of the button you are editing. The preview button has a dashed border and a subtle wiggle animation so you can distinguish it from saved buttons. Changes to the icon, color, or label update the preview in real time.
Editing an Existing Button
Long-press any button in the grid to enter edit mode. All buttons show pencil and X badges. Click the pencil badge to reopen the button editor with the existing configuration loaded.
You can also right-click a button to open its editor directly without entering edit mode.
To exit edit mode, click any empty space in the grid.
Wide Buttons
In the editor, you can mark a button as “wide” to span two columns in the grid. This is useful for buttons with longer text labels or for visual grouping.
Deleting a Button
In edit mode, click the red X badge on any button to remove it. This action is immediate and cannot be undone.