AE Agent

Setup & API Keys

Configure your AI provider and license key. Takes less than 2 minutes.

Your API keys are stored locally inside After Effects on your machine. They are never sent to Synthetic's servers — only to your chosen AI provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, or Google).

Step-by-step configuration

Open After Effects and the panel

Launch After Effects, then go to Window → Extensions → AE Agent to open the panel.

Open Settings

Click the ⚙ icon in the top-right corner of the panel to open Settings.

Enter your license key

Paste your license key into the License Key field. Your key looks like:

XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX

Find it in your purchase email or at synthetic.com.ar/dashboard/licenses. Click Validate to confirm it's active.

Choose your AI provider and add your API key

Select your provider (Claude, GPT, or Gemini) from the tabs at the top of the panel, then paste your API key:

Anthropic (Claude)

Best results for complex multi-step tasks and reasoning.

Get your key at console.anthropic.com → API Keys

OpenAI (GPT-4o)

Fast responses, great for quick operations and batch tasks.

Get your key at platform.openai.com → API Keys

Google (Gemini)

Cost-efficient for high-volume usage. Gemini Flash is very fast.

Get your key at aistudio.google.com → Get API Key

Save and start

Click Save Settings. The panel closes Settings and returns to the chat. You're ready — type your first message.

Which model should I use?

Model	Best for	Speed
Claude Sonnet	Complex tasks, reasoning, multi-step operations	Fast
GPT-4o	Quick operations, batch tasks	Very fast
Gemini Flash	High-volume, cost-efficient usage	Fastest
Claude Opus	Most complex, nuanced tasks	Slower

API keys are sensitive — never share them. AE Agent stores them only in localStorage inside After Effects on your local machine. If you uninstall the extension, the keys are removed automatically.

AI usage costs

Your AE Agent subscription gives you access to the panel and tools. AI usage (tokens) is billed directly by your provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, or Google) to your account. A typical session uses a few cents worth of tokens. Synthetic never sees or charges for your AI usage.

Installation Chat vs Agent