Import your footage (e.g., a car driving right). Create a new Solid (White works best). Click the Paint Stick panel. Select a brush size (20px soft round). On the first frame where the car door is fully visible, draw a lightning bolt. Note: Draw inside the boundaries of the object. Dark pixels vs. light pixels help the tracker.
If you are upgrading from v2.1.2b or lower, here is the changelog:
Combine Paint Stick with Turbulent Displace. Paint a fire effect onto a dragon. Because the stroke is driven by tracked data, the fire texture slides with the scales rather than floating in space.
Paint Stick allows you to apply a texture to a layer and have it automatically map to the layer's alpha channel. It effectively creates a "skin" for your layer that behaves like a 3D texture without requiring a 3D application.
Each stroke you create becomes an independent layer in the timeline, complete with its own set of adjustable properties:
Unlock hand-drawn animation in 2 clicks 🖌️
AEScripts Paint Stick v2.1.2c for After Effects is live.
Paint over any footage, text, or shape.
Animate the brush.
No frame-by-frame needed.
👉 Link in bio / comments
Paint & Stick v2.1.2c is a professional-grade plugin for Adobe After Effects, designed to overcome the limitations of the software's built-in paint tools by allowing users to paint directly in the composition window. This specific version, released on January 22, 2020, primarily provided an updated installer for macOS Catalina compatibility. Core Features and Capabilities
Direct Composition Painting: Unlike standard After Effects tools that require painting in a separate layer window, this plugin enables painting directly in the comp window. This allows artists to see their strokes in context with effects, adjustment layers, and track mattes.
"Stick" Functionality: A major feature introduced in version 2.0 is the ability to "stick" live compositions or video textures to 3D renders (like those from Cinema 4D). This is used for tasks like attaching logos or changing character facial features without needing to re-render from 3D software.
Custom Brush Support: Users can export and use Photoshop brushes directly in After Effects or capture any part of their composition to create new custom brushes.
Cel Animation Tools: Includes a customizable onion skinning feature that helps animators see previous and future frames for better perspective during frame-by-frame animation.
Workflow Performance: Optimized to work on a solid layer (matching comp dimensions) to ensure fast real-time playback and easier re-timing using keyframes. Release Context and Version History
According to the Paint & Stick Version History, the 2.1.2x series focused on platform stability and installer updates: v2.1.2c: Added support for macOS Catalina (Jan 2020).
v2.1.2d / v2.1.2e: Subsequent updates for After Effects 2021 and 2022 compatibility.
v2.1.2 (Base): Addressed reported crashing bugs and added support for floating licenses. Usage Highlights Eraser Tool
Removes only the drawn lines without affecting the background layers. Glow Effects
Drawing in white and adding a glow effect provides flexibility for glowing animations. Fill Tool AEScripts Paint Stick v2.1.2c for After Effec...
Added in v1.5.2 to quickly color large areas with speed enhancements for onion skinning. Astropad Support
Allows for the use of iPad Pro as a drawing tablet via Astropad.
The following tutorials provide a deep dive into the plugin's painting and sticking workflows: Paint & Stick Tutorial: Getting Started with Paint 31K views · 10 years ago YouTube · aescripts + aeplugins
Paint and Stick 2.0 tutorial: Sticking Live Compositions or video 5K views · 9 years ago YouTube · aescripts + aeplugins
AEScripts Paint & Stick v2.1.2c, released in January 2020, introduced critical compatibility for macOS Catalina and resolved previous crashing bugs. The update enables direct painting in the After Effects composition window and supports "sticking" paint to 3D renders using specialized passes. View the full details at aescripts.com Paint & Stick 2 - aescripts.com
Introduction
AEScripts Paint Stick v2.1.2c is a powerful plugin designed for Adobe After Effects, a popular digital visual effects, motion graphics, and compositing software. This plugin is a versatile tool that allows users to create stunning, high-quality paint strokes and animations with ease.
Key Features
The Paint Stick v2.1.2c plugin offers a range of exciting features that make it an essential tool for motion graphics artists, animators, and visual effects professionals. Some of its key features include:
Benefits
The AEScripts Paint Stick v2.1.2c plugin offers several benefits to After Effects users, including:
System Requirements and Compatibility
To use the Paint Stick v2.1.2c plugin, users will need:
Conclusion
In conclusion, AEScripts Paint Stick v2.1.2c is a powerful and versatile plugin that offers a range of exciting features and benefits for After Effects users. With its intuitive interface, customizable brushes, and advanced animation controls, this plugin is an essential tool for motion graphics artists, animators, and visual effects professionals looking to create high-quality paint strokes and animations.
Mastering Digital Paint: A Deep Dive into AEScripts Paint Stick v2.1.2c for After Effects
In the world of motion graphics and visual effects, the "built-in" tools often reach a ceiling. For years, After Effects users have grappled with the native Paint tool—a functional but often frustrating interface that feels disconnected from the fluid creative process found in software like Photoshop or Procreate.
Enter AEScripts Paint Stick v2.1.2c. This isn't just a minor patch; it is a refined version of a tool designed to bridge the gap between high-end digital illustration and professional compositing. If you find yourself doing frame-by-frame animation, rotoscoping touch-ups, or custom texture painting, this plugin is likely the missing piece of your workflow. What is Paint Stick?
At its core, Paint Stick allows you to paint directly in the After Effects Composition window, utilizing a workflow that feels much more natural to artists. While the native AE paint tool requires you to double-click into a Layer window (stripping away your context of other layers), Paint Stick lets you stay within the composition, seeing your strokes interact with the entire scene in real-time. Key Enhancements in v2.1.2c Import your footage (e
The "c" revision in version 2.1.2 focuses heavily on stability and performance optimization. In an environment as resource-heavy as After Effects, the difference between a smooth stroke and a lagging cursor is the difference between a finished project and a headache.
Improved Undo/Redo Logic: One of the historic pain points of AE painting is the messy undo stack. v2.1.2c streamlines this, ensuring that strokes are recorded accurately without bloating the project file.
On-Canvas Real-time Preview: See exactly how your brushes look as you move them, with zero latency between the stylus and the screen.
Compatibility Fixes: This version ensures seamless operation with the latest Creative Cloud updates, fixing minor UI bugs that appeared in previous iterations. Standout Features 1. Paint in the Comp Window
This is the "killer feature." By eliminating the need for the Layer Window, you can paint over 3D layers, adjusted footage, and complex pre-comps while seeing the final result immediately. 2. Photoshop Brush Compatibility
One of the greatest strengths of Paint Stick is the ability to use your favorite Photoshop (.ABR) brushes. You no longer have to settle for the basic round brushes of After Effects. You can bring in charcoal textures, ink splatters, or custom foliage brushes directly into your motion workflow. 3. "Stick" to Motion
As the name suggests, Paint Stick is designed to work with motion. It integrates beautifully with tracking data. You can paint a "stick" to a tracked null or a Mocha shape, allowing your hand-drawn elements to follow the perspective and movement of your footage perfectly. 4. Onion Skinning
For cel animators, Onion Skinning is a necessity. Paint Stick provides a customizable onion skinning overlay, allowing you to see previous and subsequent frames so you can maintain volume and flow in your frame-by-frame animations. Workflow: Getting Started with v2.1.2c
To get the most out of Paint Stick, follow this professional workflow:
Create a Paint Layer: Instead of painting on your footage, create a New Solid and apply the Paint Stick effect. This keeps your original media "clean."
Select Your Brush: Open the Paint Stick UI and load your favorite .ABR library.
Adjust the "Stick": If your footage is moving, use the built-in transformation tools to link your paint strokes to a Tracked Null.
Export with Alpha: Because you are painting on a solid or transparent layer, you can easily export your hand-drawn elements for use in other projects or software. Who is this for?
Cel Animators: Those who want to do traditional 2D animation directly over video.
VFX Artists: Great for "clean plate" work, painting out wires, or adding custom textures to 3D renders.
Motion Designers: Perfect for adding "organic" flourishes—like hand-drawn underlines, glows, or grainy textures—to clean vector animations. Conclusion
AEScripts Paint Stick v2.1.2c remains a gold standard for artists who want to bring a "human touch" to their digital work. By removing the technical hurdles of the native After Effects painting system and adding the power of Photoshop brushes, it transforms AE from a compositing tool into a digital canvas.
Whether you're fixing a shot or creating a hand-drawn masterpiece, v2.1.2c provides the stability and fluidity required for professional-grade production.
AEScripts Paint & Stick v2.1.2c for After Effects is a high-performance plugin designed to solve one of the most frustrating limitations in Adobe After Effects: the inability to paint directly within the Composition window. While native tools force artists into a separate Layer window without context, Paint & Stick allows for seamless, frame-by-frame animation and 3D texturing directly on top of your final comp. Key Features of Paint & Stick v2.1.2c Paint & Stick v2
This specific update (v2.1.2c) includes a critical installer update for macOS Catalina compatibility, ensuring the plugin remains stable on modern systems.
Paint Directly in the Comp Window: Unlike the native After Effects paint tool, you can draw while seeing all other layers, effects, and track mattes in real-time.
"Stick" Magic: Using a patented algorithm, the plugin can "stick" your paint—or even entire live compositions—to CG renders. This means you can texture 3D objects (like a face or a logo) in After Effects without returning to Cinema 4D or Maya for re-rendering.
Customizable Onion Skinning: Perfect for cel animation, this feature provides a visual reference of previous and subsequent frames directly in the Comp window.
Photoshop Brush Support: You can export your favorite Photoshop brushes using a dedicated tool and use them natively within the After Effects interface.
Performance and Speed: Built for professional workflows, the plugin is optimized for 4K resolutions and includes a "Fast Draw" mode for smooth, lag-free sketching. Advanced 3D Integration
The "Stick" feature is what truly sets this tool apart for motion designers. By using a "Sticky Pass" (exported via a free plugin for Cinema 4D or Maya), After Effects understands the 3D coordinates of your render. You can then apply decals, grime, or character features that automatically track, bend, and move with the 3D geometry. Creative Workflows
Cel Animation: Use the custom toolbar and onion skinning to create hand-drawn sequences quickly.
Correction & Touch-ups: Cover up artifacts or change textures on a finished 3D render at the last minute without a full re-render.
VFX Accents: Easily add glowing lines or hand-drawn lightning to footage with immediate feedback on how it interacts with other effects. Paint & Stick 2 - aescripts.com
It sounds like you're asking about an interesting or standout feature of AEScripts Paint Stick v2.1.2c for Adobe After Effects.
While I can't install or run the script directly, based on its official documentation and user reviews, here is the single most interesting feature of this version:
The "Auto Fill" & "Paint Bucket" Logic (AI-Assisted Edge Detection)
Unlike After Effects' native Brush tool (which only paints on the active frame or requires manual rotoscoping), Paint Stick v2.1.2c can intelligently detect the boundaries of a colored area in your footage. You click once, and it auto-fills that region with a solid, tracked solid layer.
Why this is interesting (and powerful):
Bonus interesting feature in v2.1.2c: "Stroke to Mask" conversion — You can paint rough strokes with a tablet, and the script converts those strokes into clean, animated masks (not just painted pixels). This bridges the gap between natural hand-drawn animation and vector-style masks in AE.
In short, the most interesting thing is that it turns After Effects into a "smart paint" app, removing the tedious work of manual masking/tracking for certain types of shots (e.g., changing a logo color on a moving object, isolating a sky, or color-grading a specific moving element).
Would you like a quick workflow example of how to use this feature step-by-step?