A board for every project.
Drop files, paste images, links or text, drag compositions in. Export a board as JSON for another machine, or as a web page for someone without After Effects.
After Effects plugin
Nest
A workspace inside After Effects: images, videos, links, notes, timers and effect presets next to your project — and into the comp when you need them.
Collect. Organize. Create.
Stop switching between the browser, the desktop and After Effects to find one reference.
More than pictures.
Notes, tables and kanban for shots and approvals, link previews, embeds and Google files.
Save a look, apply it anywhere.
Store a layer’s effects as a node and apply them to any selected layer later.
From the board to the comp.
Open any node to import the file into the project or add it straight to the active composition.
Timers on the board.
Stopwatch with laps, countdown timer and Pomodoro — with a sound when time is up.
Notes that know your project.
Timestamps jump the video or comp to that moment; composition chips open the comp in one click.
References, right where you work.
Tech specs.
- Software
- Adobe After Effects
- Recommended version
- After Effects 2020 and newer
- Compatibility
- macOS & Windows
- Updates
- Free future updates
- License
- Single user or Studio license, commercial use
Documentation
Getting Started
Overview
Nest is a workspace board inside After Effects. Collect images, videos, links, notes, timers, effect presets and compositions next to your project. Arrange them on boards and bring them into your comp when you need them.
- Nest saves everything automatically. There is no Save button.
- Hover over a button for a tooltip. Tooltips can be disabled in Settings.
- Status messages at the bottom explain what happened or what is missing.
- Ctrl/Cmd + Z undoes the last change on the board.
Boards
Managing Boards
The strip under the title holds your boards. A new installation starts with the Welcome to Nest! board, a short tour of the different nodes.
- Click + on the left to create a board.
- Click a board to open it; drag it to change its order.
- Right-click for Rename, Export board, Export HTML or Delete.
- Empty boards are deleted immediately. Boards containing nodes ask for confirmation.
- Drag a board onto another board's canvas to create a link. Click that link to jump between boards.
Export and Share
Board JSON
Export board saves a .board.json file. Drop it onto the top of Nest to import the board on this or another computer.
HTML Export
Export HTML saves the board as a web page you can send to someone who does not have Nest.
Adding Nodes
Files, Paste and Search
- Drop files from your computer: images, videos, audio, PDFs and other documents.
- Paste an image, link or text with Ctrl/Cmd + V. Links become link nodes; text becomes a text node.
- Drag compositions from the AE Project panel onto the board. Click the node later to open the composition.
Search Titles
Type in the search field to find a node by its title.
Capture and Import
AE Screenshot captures the current frame of the active composition. Local File opens a file picker.
Text Node
Use Text Node in the toolbar for ideas, tasks, feedback or project notes. Click the node to open its editor and rename it in the title field.
The example shows a note from the starter board alongside its open editor. Notes also support checklists, quotes, formatting, translations and composition links.
Table and Kanban
Table
Create a small tracker for shots, tasks, references, approvals or client feedback.
Kanban
Organize cards into columns to track work from initial ideas through completion. Choose Table / Kanban in the toolbar.
Links, Embeds and Google Files
Link / Page Preview
Plain Link keeps a compact link card. Page Preview shows the page itself.
Embed Node
Paste embed code or a link to show a live player or page on the board.
Google File
Add a Drive, Docs, Sheets or YouTube link.
Effects Preset
Select a layer, or specific effects on that layer, in After Effects and click Effects Preset. Nest saves the effects as a node.
In its preview, Apply adds the saved effects to selected layers. You can also apply a single effect from the list.
Selection, Groups and Matrix Mode
Several Nodes
Drag on empty canvas to select multiple nodes. Ctrl/Cmd or Shift + click adds or removes a node from the selection.
Group places selected nodes inside a named frame. Moving the group moves everything inside. Use Ctrl/Cmd + C and Ctrl/Cmd + V to copy nodes, including between boards.
Matrix Mode
The grid button next to search lines nodes up in a grid. Drag a node to change its order. Click the grid button again to return to free arrangement.
Node Preview
Media and Files
Click a node to open its preview. Rename it using the title field at the top; the close button closes the preview.
Available Actions
- Import: bring the file into the Project panel.
- Add to Comp: import it and add it to the active composition.
- Download: save an online image or video into the project folder and turn the node into a local file.
- Open: open the link or file outside After Effects.
- Apply: apply an Effects Preset to selected layers.
A missing badge means the file has been moved or deleted on disk.
YouTube
YouTube links play directly in the preview.
To download video or audio into your project, first click Install in Settings > YouTube Download. This is a one-time helper installation of about 90 MB.
The Download button then offers quality options: Video in one column and Audio in the other.
Time Node
Stopwatch
Counts up. Use Lap to record times and add laps to notes.
Timer
Counts down from the duration you set.
Pomodoro
Alternates between work and break cycles. When a timer or phase ends, Nest plays a short sound and shows a notice. Timers continue running while you work on other boards.
Notes and Formatting
Every node can have notes. The Notes checkbox shows or hides them, and Nest remembers that choice for each node.
Formatting Tools
- Checklist: turn a line into a to-do item.
- Quote: create a quote block.
- Bold, Cursive, Marker: apply text styles.
- Translate: translate notes or selected text into English, Russian, Spanish, German, French or Portuguese.
- Pick color: sample an image or video. Click the resulting hex value to copy it.
- Reset: remove formatting from selected text, or the whole note if nothing is selected. Line breaks remain.
Timestamps and Composition Links
- Times such as 0:12 or 1:05:30 become clickable and jump the video or composition to that moment.
- Drag a composition from the Project panel into notes to create a comp chip. Click it to open the composition.
- Select text and click Add to comp to create a text layer in the active composition.
Settings
Interface
Open Settings using the gear in the top bar.
- Size (- / +): scale the entire panel.
- Color Style: W? Style, Blue, Mint, Amber, Rose, Violet, Black & White or Custom Color. Choose a color or enter a hex value.
- Show ToolTips: enable or disable hover hints.
Downloads and Local Data
YouTube Download
Install helper tools needed only for downloading from YouTube. The status indicates whether they are installed.
Remove Downloads
Deletes files downloaded by Nest and their nodes. Boards and settings remain.
Reset Settings
Restores interface settings and presets to defaults. Boards remain.
Clear Cache & Reset
Deletes all Nest data: boards, settings, presets and downloads. Restores the starter board.
About and Studio Links
About Nest contains the version, More about Nest, Leave a feedback and Join Discord. Connect W What? Studio includes the website, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Tips
Troubleshooting
Nothing Happened After a Click
Check the status message at the bottom. Most tools that communicate with After Effects need an open project, an active composition or a selected layer.
Accidentally Deleted a Node
Click Undo immediately or press Ctrl/Cmd + Z.
A File Is Missing
The file was moved or renamed. Drop it onto the board again.
Moving or Sharing a Board
Use Export board for a .board.json file to import into Nest on another computer. Use Export HTML to share with someone without Nest.
Starting Over
Use Settings > Clear Cache & Reset. This removes all Nest data.
Need Help?
Use Leave a feedback or Join Discord in Settings.
Keep every reference one click away.
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