Swatcheroo is a free colour‑swatch panel for Adobe After Effects that stores a history of colours as reusable swatches, lets you lock them, and supports configurable row numbers with keyboard shortcuts for applying and removing colours.
Developed by Zack Lovatt.
About Swatcheroo
Swatcheroo is a colour‑swatch panel for Adobe After Effects developed by Zack Lovatt. It maintains a history of colours as swatches that can be applied, locked, or removed directly within the application. Users apply a colour with SHIFT‑click and remove it with CMD (macOS) or CTRL (Windows)‑click. The panel allows you to set how many history rows are displayed, and locked swatches include helptip information for unlocking. Version 1.1.4 (released 9 March 2026) updated the licensing framework and resolved online activation connection issues. Swatcheroo is compatible with a wide range of After Effects releases, from CS6 through every CC version and all yearly builds up to After Effects 2026.
Features
- Colour swatch panel that keeps a palette inside After Effects
- History of colours held as swatches
- Configurable number of history rows
- Apply a colour with SHIFT and CLICK
- Remove a colour with CMD or CTRL and CLICK
- Lockable history swatches with helptip info for unlocking
- Compatibility spanning CS6 through After Effects 2026
Best for
After Effects artists and motion designers who need a quick, reusable colour palette and history while working on projects.
Frequently asked questions
Does Swatcheroo work with After Effects 2026?
Yes. Swatcheroo supports After Effects versions from CS6 through every CC release and all yearly builds up to After Effects 2026.
Is Swatcheroo free to use?
Swatcheroo is listed as free, but it uses an online license framework that may be updated, so you should verify the current terms on the developer’s site.
How do I apply and remove colours in Swatcheroo?
To apply a colour, hold SHIFT and click the desired swatch; to remove a colour, hold CMD (macOS) or CTRL (Windows) and click the swatch.
Can I change how many history rows Swatcheroo shows?
Yes. The panel includes a setting that lets you specify the number of history rows shown, which can be adjusted in the preferences.
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