The Panel Doesn’t Appear
Check that the ZXP installed without errors, then restart After Effects. Open it from Window > Extensions > Sploosh.
The Lab Opens Empty or Shows an Error
The lab needs a moment to read your comp. If it shows an error, click Try again. If it keeps failing, close the lab window and open it again from the panel.
My Layers Aren’t in the Lab
- Layers only come in when they are selected as you click New or a starter, and Bring selected layers is on.
- In the lab, open Layers and use the add button with the layers selected in After Effects.
- Lights and cameras can’t be used. Hidden layers are listed as Hidden in AE.
- Your own layers need the lab to be opened from After Effects.
The Liquid Ignores My Moving Layer
Tick Follows its animation on that layer in Layers. Without it, Sploosh captures the layer once and treats it as still.
The Liquid Disappears or Stops Pouring
You’ve reached the Droplet budget. Raise it in World, make the Droplet size bigger, or change When full. With Hold, sources pause until drops leave the frame or drain.
Liquid can also leave through open edges of the frame. Close them under Walls.
The Bake Is Slow or the Project Is Heavy
Every droplet becomes a shape. To lighten a bake:
- Set Detail to Light in the settings.
- Set Colors to Solid colors.
- Lower the Droplet budget or raise the Droplet size.
- Or switch Droplets to Images (fast render).
After Effects Stops Responding During a Bake
That’s expected. After Effects is busy until the bake is written, and the lab comes back on its own. Bigger scenes take longer.
The Sploosh Is Longer Than My Comp
The bake keeps everything. Click Lengthen comp on the bake sheet to extend the comp and its work area as far as needed.