Documentation
After Effects AI Plugin Setup & API Key Guide | ArbiFX
Install ArbiFX on Windows, add AFX to an AE layer, open Start and verify your API Key. Find plugin update steps, status explanations and troubleshooting.
Questions and answers
- How do I install an AI effects plugin for After Effects on Windows?
- After installation, how do I enable the AI effect on an AE layer?
- How do I configure an account API Key for the AE AI plugin?
- What is the sequence for generating my first AE effect from text?
- What should I check if the AE plugin cannot reach the server or verify my Key?
How do I install an AI effects plugin for After Effects on Windows?
ArbiFX currently provides a Windows X64 installer. Install Adobe After Effects first, close AE, download and extract the installer from the website, then run it with administrator permission. It locates the AE plugin directory. Reopen AE and find ArbiFX in the effect list.
Sources: Install the plugin · Five-minute start
Next step: After installation, how do I enable the AI effect on an AE layer?
After installation, how do I enable the AI effect on an AE layer?
Select a layer and add ArbiFX's AFX from Effects and Presets or the Effects menu. Click Start in Effect Controls to open that instance's window. Use a footage layer for filters, or follow the guide's adjustment-layer or solid-layer workflow for standalone particles and scenes.
Sources: Add the AFX effect in After Effects
Next step: How do I configure an account API Key for the AE AI plugin?
How do I configure an account API Key for the AE AI plugin?
Sign in to ArbiFX, create and copy a Key in dashboard API Key Management, then open API Settings in the plugin's Start window. Keep the default server, paste the Key and verify and save it. Configure a proxy only if your network needs one. Keep the actual Key private.
Sources: The Start window and API setup · Website dashboard
Next step: What is the sequence for generating my first AE effect from text?
What is the sequence for generating my first AE effect from text?
Complete ArbiFX registration, Windows installation and API Key setup. Add AFX to an AE layer, open Start and confirm verification. Enter a specific effect description and desired controls, then send it. Once applied, adjust Effect Controls or continue the same conversation with revision instructions.
Sources: Five-minute start · Describe and generate
Next step: Is there an AI tool that generates adjustable After Effects effects from text?
What should I check if the AE plugin cannot reach the server or verify my Key?
For ArbiFX connection errors, check the network and configure a proxy only if required, keeping the default server. For Key verification errors, check completeness, extra spaces and whether the Key was deleted. Verify and save again. Diagnose connection, credentials and account-credit messages separately.
Sources: The Start window and API setup · FAQ
Next step: How do I configure an account API Key for the AE AI plugin?
Install the plugin
Install and update the ArbiFX plugin on Windows.
Before you install
- You need 64-bit Windows with Adobe After Effects installed.
- Installation requires administrator rights.
- We recommend closing After Effects before installing.
Installation steps
- On the website home page, scroll to the Download section, choose Windows X64 as the platform and click the download button.
- Extract the downloaded archive and double-click the installer inside it.
- Allow the installer to run as administrator when prompted, then read and accept the license agreement.
- The installer finds the After Effects plug-in folder and installs there automatically. You don't need to choose a path.
- When installation finishes, start After Effects. ArbiFX now appears in the effects list.
Update
When a new version is released, the Start window shows an “ArbiFX … is available” notice. Click Visit website to download the new installer and install it over the current version. Please update promptly: credits cannot be refunded for generation failures caused by not updating in time.
Add the AFX effect in After Effects
Apply AFX to a layer and learn the status and buttons in Effect Controls.
Add the effect
- Select a layer in your composition. For filter-style effects, select the footage layer itself. For standalone particle or scene effects, we recommend creating a new adjustment layer or solid.
- In the Effects & Presets panel, search for or expand ArbiFX and drag AFX onto the layer. You can also use the Effect → ArbiFX → AFX menu.
- In the Effect Controls panel you will see an AFX: status row with Start and Reset buttons on the right.
Status
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Not Loaded | This AFX effect has no content yet. Click Start to generate one, or load an .afx file in the Start window. |
| Metadata Ready | The effect information is ready and waiting for the full content to be applied. |
| Applied Successfully | The effect was applied and is ready to preview and render. |
| Apply Error | The effect could not be applied. Generate again in the Start window, or load another .afx file. |
Buttons
- Start: opens the Start window for this effect, where you describe, generate and manage it.
- Reset: restores every parameter in Effect Controls to its default value. The generated effect itself is kept.
The Start window and API setup
Get to know the Start window and set up your API Key.
Layout
- Top bar: the AFX button on the left opens arbifx.com. On the right are the language switch, Text and font, OBJ assets, SVG assets, API Setting and the current status (for example Idle).
- Message area: shows each of your requests and the progress messages during generation.
- Input area: contains Effect description and Control parameters, plus tools for references, mentions, color, thinking level, save, load and send.
Change the interface language
Click the language button in the top bar to switch between English, 中文 and 日本語. The setting applies to every AFX effect and is remembered the next time you open the window.
Set up your API Key
- First, create a key in Dashboard → API Keys on the website and copy it (see “Website dashboard”).
- Click API Setting at the top of the Start window.
- Leave Server URL at its default value.
- If your network needs a proxy to reach the internet, enter the proxy address in Proxy. Otherwise, leave it empty.
- Paste your key into API Key and click Verify and Save.
- When verification succeeds, you'll see “Verified.” along with your current credit usage in the form “used / total”.
Once setup is complete, the hint in the input box changes from “Configure your API Key first.” to “Ready. Describe any effect to generate it instantly...”, which means you can start generating.
FAQ
If something isn't working, look for the answer here first.
The Start window keeps saying “Configure your API Key first.” What should I do?
Click API Setting in the top bar, paste the key you created in the Dashboard and click Verify and Save. Once you see “Verified.”, you can start generating.
Verifying my key says “Verification failed.”
Make sure the key was copied in full with no extra spaces and hasn't been deleted in the Dashboard. If you use a proxy, check that the proxy address is correct. If it still fails, create a new key and try again.
I see “The configured server is unreachable.”
Check your network connection. If you need a proxy to reach the internet, enter it in Proxy under API Setting. Leave Server URL at its default value.
I see “Insufficient account quota.”
Your account doesn't have enough credits for this generation. Subscribe to a plan, buy a credit pack or redeem a plan in Credits & Plan on the website, or try again with a lower thinking level.
Clicking Start shows “ArbiFX is already running. Close it to continue.”
Only one Start window can be open at a time. Close the Start window that's already open, then click Start on the other effect.
What if the generated effect isn't what I wanted?
Keep sending changes on the same effect, for example “more particles, warmer colors”. You can also make your description more specific, attach a reference image or raise the thinking level.
After opening a project, an OBJ or SVG slot shows “Asset issue”.
OBJ and SVG files are not packed into projects or .afx files. If a file was moved, renamed or deleted, choose it again in its slot.
Why didn't parameter names change when I switched languages?
An effect's title and parameter names use the language that was active when it was generated or loaded. For another language, switch languages and generate again, or reload the .afx file.
Do I get credits back if a generation fails?
If a generation fails on the server side, the credits are restored automatically. Credits can't be returned for failures caused by not updating the plugin, so please update as soon as you see a new-version notice.
Why does an effect page show only the cover?
Interactive preview requires signing in. Sign in first. Some works may temporarily offer only a cover image.
Downloading says I've reached today's download limit.
Free accounts can download 2 different works by other creators in any 24-hour period. With Starter, Pro or Max, downloads are unlimited.
What if I've lost my API Key?
The full key is shown only once, when it's created, and can't be viewed again. Delete the old key in the Dashboard, create a new one and set it up in the plugin again.
Is macOS supported?
The macOS version is coming soon. Only Windows is available for now.