The August 2025 (25.4) release presents new features, workflow improvements, and important fixes in After Effects.
Hold Command + Option on macOS or Ctrl + Alt on Windows, then drag your layers to create staggered layer or keyframe animations in the Timeline panel. The first layer you selected stays in place, while the last layer moves the full distance you drag. All layers in between are evenly spaced in time between the first and last.
You can offset keyframes using the same method—select keyframes across multiple layers, then hold the keyboard shortcut and drag to stagger their timing across layers.
Quickly Offset provides the following advantages:
- Automates the process of staggering layers or keyframes, eliminating the need to manually adjust each one in the timeline.
- Ensures the timing between layers is uniform, resulting in smooth, evenly spaced animations.
- Shifts layers without altering their keyframe animations, preserving the creative intent intact.
- Helps establish a natural, rhythmic flow in your animation, making it feel smoother and polished.
Learn more about how to quickly offset your layers and keyframes.
Use the Paste Text Formatting Only feature to paste a copied formatting, such as font, size, color, and style, without changing the actual text. Instead of manually matching text styles across layers or within a single text layer, you can use this feature to quickly apply formatting from one text element to another. This can help you maintain a consistent design and save time, especially in large projects with many text layers where the content varies but the styling needs to stay the same.
After copying the text with the formatting you want, select the text within a layer or the entire text layer where you want to apply the formatting, then do one of the following:
- Right-click and select Paste Text Formatting Only.
- Select Edit > Paste Text Formatting Only.
Learn how to paste only the copied text formatting to selected text in a layer or an entire layer.
After Effects supports importing and exporting HDR (High Dynamic Range) content, making it easier to manage colors accurately across different screens and platforms. This is made possible by using CICP (Coding-Independent Code Points) metadata, which helps ensure that colors and brightness levels stay consistent from editing to final output, no matter where the content is viewed.
Additonally, If you are working in a HDR compatible color space, you can now export your composition to PNG sequence with embedded HDR10 metadata.
Learn more about how After Effects supports CICP metadata.
Before applying effects to your project, it’s a good idea to understand what each one does. This approach can help you make intentional choices and reduce the need for trial and error.
To make this easier, use the Info buttons next to each effect in the Effects & Presets panel. These buttons link to detailed resources, allowing you to quickly learn about an effect’s purpose and behavior, without interrupting your workflow.
Browse the full range of effects available in After Effects.
Additional updates
After Effects now automatically relaunches when changes are made to preferences or features that require a restart, eliminating the need for you to manually quit and reopen the application. This seamless relaunch experience applies to scenarios such as enabling logging, installing scripts or ScriptUI panels, using the Startup & Repair function, and toggling effects in the Effect Manager.
Fixed issues
Check out the latest fixes, performance improvements, and more.
