FAQ
Does Design Mode change my project as I edit?
Section titled “Does Design Mode change my project as I edit?”No. Every edit stays in Design Mode until you click Push, and an ordinary push is one After Effects undo step.
What can it edit?
Section titled “What can it edit?”Shape layers and everything in them, masks on any layer, and text layers (After Effects 2024 and newer). Effects and other layer types are left alone.
Is it live with After Effects?
Section titled “Is it live with After Effects?”No. Design Mode works on what it read at the pull, at that moment in time. Changes made in After Effects afterward need another pull.
Does it keep my animation?
Section titled “Does it keep my animation?”Yes. Push writes only what you changed. Editing a keyframed property adds a keyframe at the time you pulled. Push as new is the exception: it creates fresh layers with the artwork’s look only.
How much does it cost?
Section titled “How much does it cost?”See jakeinmotion.com/design-mode. A license can be active on two machines at once.
Where do I find my license key?
Section titled “Where do I find my license key?”In your order email and in your Lemon Squeezy account, along with your download. Find my key on the activation screen opens that page.
How many machines can I use it on?
Section titled “How many machines can I use it on?”Two at once per license.
How do I move my license to a new computer?
Section titled “How do I move my license to a new computer?”On the old computer, open License from the footer menu and click Deactivate this machine. Then activate on the new one with the same key. See Moving to a new machine.
Does Design Mode need the internet?
Section titled “Does Design Mode need the internet?”Only to activate and to check your license. Offline, it keeps working for 30 days from its last successful check. See Working offline.
What is in the footer menu?
Section titled “What is in the footer menu?”The three dots beside the gear in the footer open:
- User guide: opens this guide
- License: your license status and machines, with Re-check license, Use a different key and Deactivate this machine
- Submit feedback: send Jake a General feedback, Bug report or Feature request. Email is optional and only used to reply. Your Design Mode and After Effects versions and your operating system are sent with it.
- About: your Design Mode version and license status
How do I see what changed in a new version?
Section titled “How do I see what changed in a new version?”Click the bell at the right end of the footer to open What’s New. A dot on the bell means there are notes you have not read.
How do I update Design Mode?
Section titled “How do I update Design Mode?”When a newer version is out, a notice at the top of the canvas says so. Download it from your Lemon Squeezy account, then install the new .zxp the way you installed the first one.
Which version do I have?
Section titled “Which version do I have?”Open About from the footer menu.
What does it run in?
Section titled “What does it run in?”After Effects 2023 and newer, on Windows and macOS.
Where is my recovery draft stored?
Section titled “Where is my recovery draft stored?”In .jakeinmotion/shape-layer-panel inside your user folder, along with your license, shortcut presets and panel settings.
Can I copy shapes from other apps into it?
Section titled “Can I copy shapes from other apps into it?”No. Copy and paste work within Design Mode only. Bring artwork into After Effects first, then pull it.