TinkerType is a free After Effects plugin from Neel Motion Works that breaks up a single text layer’s animation into separate position, rotation, fill color, and blur controls, requiring the Fill and Gaussian Blur effects for those two properties.
Developed by Neel Motion Works.
About TinkerType
TinkerType, created by Neel Motion Works, provides a single‑layer workflow for animating position, rotation, fill color, and blur in Adobe After Effects. The plugin drives these properties from one text layer, keeping all controls consolidated. Fill color control only functions when the native Fill effect is applied to the layer, and blur control works only with the Gaussian Blur effect present. It supports After Effects CC 2019 through the 2025 release, covering versions 2020‑2024 as well. Version 1.2, released on January 25 2025, added compatibility with the 2025 version and introduced an updated licensing framework. The plugin is listed as free, though users should review the current license terms on the developer’s page before use.
Features
- Animatable position control
- Animatable rotation control
- Fill color control (requires the Fill effect applied to the layer)
- Blur control (requires the Gaussian Blur effect applied to the layer)
- Controls handled from a single text layer
- Compatible with After Effects CC 2019 through 2025
Best for
After Effects users who want to break up animations across position, rotation, fill color, and blur from one text layer.
Frequently asked questions
Does TinkerType work with After Effects 2025?
Yes. TinkerType supports After Effects versions from CC 2019 through the 2025 release, with version 1.2 adding explicit 2025 compatibility.
Why does TinkerType need the Fill and Gaussian Blur effects applied?
The Fill and Gaussian Blur controls rely on their respective native After Effects effects being present on the layer; without those effects, the plugin cannot drive fill color or blur.
Is TinkerType free to use?
TinkerType is listed as free, but licensing terms may change, so users should verify the current agreement on the developer’s page before using it in a project.
What changed in TinkerType version 1.2?
Version 1.2, released on January 25 2025, added support for After Effects 2025 and updated the plugin’s license framework.
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