Compositions

Compositions are the core containers in After Effects — timelines that hold layers.

Schema

Property	Type	Required	Default	Description
name	string	yes		Composition name
width	int	no	1920	Width in pixels
height	int	no	1080	Height in pixels
duration	number	no	10	Duration in seconds
framerate	number	no	30	Frames per second
pixelAspect	number	no	1	Pixel aspect ratio
color	string	no	000000	Background hex color
folder	string	no		Target project folder
layers	array	no		List of layers
markers	array	no		List of markers
essentialGraphics	array	no		Essential Graphics properties

Basic usage

Minimal composition (uses all defaults):

compositions:
  - name: My Comp

Creates a 1920x1080, 30fps, 10-second composition.

Custom settings

Override defaults as needed:

compositions:
  - name: Instagram Story
    width: 1080
    height: 1920
    duration: 15
    framerate: 30

  - name: 4K Master
    width: 3840
    height: 2160
    framerate: 24
    duration: 120
    color: 1a1a2e

Adding layers

Layers are defined in a layers array:

compositions:
  - name: Title Card
    layers:
      - name: background
        type: solid
        color: 000000
      - name: title
        type: text
        text: Chapter One

See Layers for complete layer documentation.

Composition nesting

Reference other compositions using the comp key on a layer:

compositions:
  - name: Lower Third
    width: 1920
    height: 200
    layers:
      - name: bar
        type: solid
        color: FF5500

  - name: Main Comp
    layers:
      - name: lower third
        comp: Lower Third  # Nests the Lower Third comp
        transform:
          position: [960, 980]

Order matters

Referenced compositions must be defined earlier in the YAML. Main Comp can reference Lower Third because Lower Third is defined first.

Placing in folders

Organize compositions in project folders:

folders:
  - name: Comps
  - name: Precomps
    parent: Comps

compositions:
  - name: Lower Third
    folder: Precomps

  - name: Main Comp
    folder: Comps

Markers

Add composition markers for navigation and scripting:

compositions:
  - name: Main Comp
    markers:
      - time: 0
        comment: "Intro"
      - time: 5
        comment: "Main Content"
      - time: 10
        comment: "Outro"

See Markers for full marker documentation.

Essential Graphics

Expose properties to the Essential Graphics Panel:

compositions:
  - name: Template
    layers:
      - name: title
        type: text
        text: "Edit Me"
    essentialGraphics:
      - title.text
      - title.transform.position

See Essential Graphics for full documentation.