AEScripts pt_CropPrecomps 2.3 Free Download

AEScripts pt_CropPrecomps 2.3 for After Effects WIN/MAC Windows & Macintosh Full Version Free Download

Working with layered Photoshop and Illustrator files inside Adobe After Effects often results in precompositions that retain the full document size rather than the actual size of their visible content. Large precomps create oversized bounding boxes, make anchor point placement less intuitive, complicate animation, and increase the amount of image data that After Effects must process during previews and rendering. While manual cropping is possible, it can be tedious when dealing with projects containing dozens or even hundreds of nested compositions.

AEScripts pt_CropPrecomps 2.3 for After Effects is a workflow automation script developed by Paul Tuersley that automatically crops nested precompositions to the visible image content while preserving their position within the parent composition. According to the official product page, the script is particularly useful for Photoshop imports created using Retain Layer Sizes or Cropped Layers, making imported assets significantly easier to animate and potentially improving rendering efficiency by reducing unnecessary processing areas.

Designed for motion designers, UI animators, broadcast designers, VFX artists, and Photoshop-based animation workflows, pt_CropPrecomps eliminates repetitive manual cropping and simplifies project organization.

What is pt_CropPrecomps 2.3?

pt_CropPrecomps is a utility script for Adobe After Effects that automatically resizes nested compositions to match the visible content inside them.

Instead of leaving every imported Photoshop group at the original document dimensions, the script calculates the actual visible pixels and crops each precomposition accordingly while maintaining its placement in the main composition.

According to the developer, the script works particularly well for:

Photoshop compositions
PSD imports
Nested precomps
UI animations
Screen graphics
Motion graphics
Layer organization
Production workflows

This creates cleaner compositions that are easier to animate.

Automatically Crop Nested Precompositions

The primary feature of pt_CropPrecomps is automatic precomp cropping.

According to the official documentation, the script scans nested compositions and resizes them to fit their visible image content rather than the original document dimensions.

This reduces unnecessary empty space surrounding imported assets.

The result includes:

Smaller composition sizes
Tighter bounding boxes
Easier object selection
Improved animation workflow

without requiring manual adjustments.

Optimized for Photoshop Imports

One of the main use cases for pt_CropPrecomps is Photoshop integration.

When PSD files are imported as compositions using Retain Layer Sizes (or Cropped Layers in older versions), After Effects often generates numerous nested compositions.

According to the developer, the script automatically crops these imported precomps, making them much easier to manipulate throughout the animation process.

This workflow is especially useful for:

UI animation
Interface design
HUD graphics
Mobile app animation
Website animation
Motion design

Easier Anchor Point Placement

Oversized compositions often create awkward anchor point positions.

After cropping, each precomposition’s bounding box closely matches its visible artwork.

This makes it easier to:

Rotate layers
Scale graphics
Animate transforms
Parent objects
Create motion graphics

without constantly correcting anchor point placement.

Improve Rendering Efficiency

Large transparent regions increase the amount of image area After Effects must evaluate.

According to the official product description, cropping unnecessary transparent regions can help reduce the amount of processing required during rendering and previews.

This is particularly beneficial when working with:

Large PSD files
Complex interfaces
Broadcast graphics
Multi-layer compositions

Retain Border Option

The script includes a Retain Border feature.

According to the documentation, artists can intentionally preserve extra space around cropped content by specifying a border amount instead of cropping tightly to the visible pixels.

This is useful when animations require:

Motion blur
Glows
Shadows
Particle effects
Future scaling
Extra animation space

while still reducing unnecessary composition size.

Crop Selected Precomps Only

Version 2 introduced additional flexibility.

According to the version history, users can choose to crop only selected precomposition layers instead of processing every nested composition in the project. Version 2.1 also added support for Photoshop vector masks and non-square pixel aspect ratios.

This allows more precise control over production workflows.

Supports Multiple Layer Types

The script is not limited to Photoshop layers.

According to the official documentation, pt_CropPrecomps works with most standard 2D layer types, including:

Image layers
Text layers
Shape layers

Adjustment layers and layers located completely outside the composition boundaries are ignored when calculating crop dimensions, while disabled layers are still included.

Illustrator Workflow Support

Although Illustrator files are not imported as nested compositions by default, the script can still be incorporated into Illustrator workflows.

According to the developer, artists can import Illustrator files using Composition – Layer Size, precompose selected layers manually, and then run pt_CropPrecomps to crop those newly created precompositions.

For complete product information, documentation, updates, and licensing details, visit the official product page:

https://aescripts.com/pt_cropprecomps/

Workflow Benefits

pt_CropPrecomps improves After Effects workflows through:

Automatic precomp cropping
Photoshop workflow optimization
Smaller bounding boxes
Better anchor point placement
Faster layer selection
Reduced transparent composition areas
Retain Border option
Selected precomp processing
Illustrator compatibility
Improved project organization

These features simplify complex PSD animation projects while reducing repetitive manual work.

Who Should Use pt_CropPrecomps?

Motion Designers

Animate Photoshop assets with cleaner and more manageable compositions.

UI Animators

Prepare interface graphics for efficient animation.

Broadcast Designers

Organize large layered design files before animation.

VFX Artists

Reduce oversized nested compositions in production projects.

Photoshop Users

Import layered PSD files with a more animation-friendly workflow.

Compatibility

According to the official AEScripts listing, pt_CropPrecomps 2.3 supports Adobe After Effects CS3 through After Effects 2025, including recent Creative Cloud versions. The script works with Photoshop imports, text layers, shape layers, and standard 2D layers while supporting Photoshop vector masks and non-square pixel aspect ratios.

Final Thoughts

AEScripts pt_CropPrecomps 2.3 is a practical workflow automation tool for artists who frequently animate layered Photoshop and Illustrator assets inside Adobe After Effects. By automatically cropping nested compositions to their visible content, improving anchor point placement, reducing oversized bounding boxes, supporting selective cropping, and providing flexible border controls, the script streamlines one of the most repetitive parts of PSD-based animation workflows. For motion designers and UI animators managing complex layered projects, pt_CropPrecomps offers a simple but highly effective productivity improvement.