Add Odo to Motion Dock

  1. Click Edit layout in Motion Dock’s top bar.
  2. Click an empty area of the layout and choose Odo from the module picker.
  3. Click Exit layout mode to use the tool.

If Odo is already in this layout, use its existing slot.

Create the count

  1. Open a composition at least two seconds long. Deselect its layers so Odo creates a new text layer.
  2. In Odo, set From to 0 and To to 1000. Double-click either field to type, then press Enter. If the fields are hidden, open ⋯.
  3. Open ⋯ and click Reset for a plain number with thousands grouping. This resets the format and returns the look to Switch.
  4. Choose Settle, then click Create.
  5. Scrub the comp from time 0 to 2 seconds. This assumes the default Count Length of two seconds.

You should see a selected text layer named Odo at the comp center. It starts at 0 and lands on 1,000. Odo adds a number to the layer name if that name is already taken.

No comp means After Effects has no active composition. Open the comp in its viewer and try again.

Use your own text instead

Select one unlocked text layer, then click Apply. Odo replaces its displayed text with the count while keeping its font and style. The first key starts at that layer’s in point.

If you want a new layer while another is selected, hold Shift and click Create. A locked target shows Locked and is left unchanged.

Use Edit > Undo in After Effects to reverse an application. Later panel edits are live, as explained in Edit and retime a counter.