xCloner Documentation
xCloner is an After Effects plugin that allows you to clone any type of layers, video, image, shapes layers, text, vectors etc. It's an After Effects effect plugin, so it's performance is excellent.
Installation & Licensing
The easiest way to install and license xCloner is via the aescripts + aeplugins manager app. To install a trial, select Add Trial from the Account menu.
Manual Installation
Windows
When you download your xCloner zip file, extract it and navigate to Windows folder and find xCloner.aex file. Copy/paste or move this aex file to following folder:
(Or right click on After Effects application->Properties->Open File Location->Plug-ins folder)
MacOS
When you download your xCloner zip file, extract it and navigate to Mac folder and find xCloner.plugin file. Copy/paste or move this aex file to following folder:
(Or right click of After Effects application->Options->Show in Finder->Plug-ins folder)
After you purchase license for xCloner, License codes will be available in the My Downloads & Licenses section of your account.
In xCloner, navigate to Register button and xCloner Registration dialog will appear. Paste your license code and click Activate button.
Then watermark will be removed if everything is successful. You can also click Get Help button for more information.
Layers
To start using the plugin make a new solid and add xCloner to it. Then select your custom layers in the Layers section.
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Layers Selection | Choose up to 20 layers of any type from the current composition. |
| Layers Visibility | Toggle visibility of each selected layer within xCloner. |
| Layers Transform | Set individual layer Scale and Rotation. |
| Blending Mode | Blending mode between cloned layers + In Front and Behind positioning. |
Examples of blending modes
Source Layer Time
When choosing source layer, if current time is past source layer's out point, xCloner displays it's last frame. This is not the case with a precomp, where nothing is shown. In both cases, if you want to extend visibility you can either use option Freeze on last frame from AE's time remapping section or loop source video / precomp.
Cloning Modes
xCloner offers 5 cloning modes.
Linear Mode
Clone layers from point A to point B in a straight line.
Clone Order
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Clone Order | With multiple layers, choose Iterative (cycles in order), Blending (interpolates between adjacent layers), or Random. |
| Count | Number of clones |
| Transform | |
| Local | Individual clone Scale, Position, Rotation. |
| Global | Overall Scale, Anchor Point, Rotation. |
| Offset | |
| Clone Offset Mode | When End mode is active, clones are evenly distributed between start and end point, while in Step mode clones are placed at a fixed distance (step size) from one another. Depending on the offset mode, it also affects how clones are displayed when changing Count parameter. |
| Offset Position | Offsets each clone's position relative to the previous. |
| Offset Rotation | Offsets each clone's rotation relative to the previous. |
| Offset Scale | Offsets each clone's scale relative to the previous. |
| Offset Opacity | Offsets each clone's opacity relative to the previous. |
| Offset Time | Offsets time (in frames) of the last clone. In-between values are interpolated. |
| Reverse Offset | Reverses the offset order. |
| Random | |
| Random Position | Randomizes each clone's position. |
| Random Scale | Randomizes each clone's scale. |
| Random Rotation | Randomizes each clone's rotation. |
| Random Opacity | Randomizes each clone's opacity. |
| Random Time | Randomizes each clone's time offset (frames). |
| Random Seed | Seed value for randomization (0-100,000). |
Radial Mode
Clone layers in a radial / circular arrangement.
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Clone Order | If you have more than one layer, set clone order in iterative, blending or random mode. Iterative cycles clones in order, blending interpolates between adjacent layers, while random shows clones in random order. |
| Count | Number of clones |
| Radius | Distribution radius |
| Look at Center | Rotates each clone to face the center point. Local rotation offsets still apply. |
| Start Angle | Angle at which the first clone is placed. |
| End Angle | Angle at which the last clone is placed. |
| Transform | |
| Local | Individual clone Scale, Position, Rotation. |
| Global | Overall Scale, Anchor Point, Rotation. |
| Offset | |
| Clone Offset Mode | When End mode is active, clones are evenly distributed between start and end point, while in Step mode clones are placed at a fixed distance (step size) from one another. Depending on the offset mode, it also affects how clones are displayed when changing Count parameter. |
| Offset Position | Offsets each clone's position relative to the previous. |
| Offset Rotation | Offsets each clone's rotation relative to the previous. |
| Offset Scale | Offsets each clone's scale relative to the previous. |
| Offset Opacity | Offsets each clone's opacity relative to the previous. |
| Offset Time | Offsets time (in frames) of the last clone. In-between values are interpolated. |
| Reverse Offset | Reverses the offset order. |
| Random | |
| Random Position | Randomizes each clone's position. |
| Random Scale | Randomizes each clone's scale. |
| Random Rotation | Randomizes each clone's rotation. |
| Random Opacity | Randomizes each clone's opacity. |
| Random Time | Randomizes each clone's time offset (frames). |
| Random Seed | Seed value for randomization (0-100,000). |
Grid Mode
Clone layers in a grid array of rows and columns.
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Clone Order | With multiple layers, choose Iterative (cycles in order), Blending (interpolates between adjacent layers), or Random. |
| Count X | Number of clones on the X axis. |
| Count Y | Number of clones on the Y axis. |
| Size X | Area/size of the clone array on the X axis. |
| Size Y | Area/size of the clone array on the Y axis. |
| Transform | |
| Local | Individual clone Scale, Position, Rotation. |
| Global | Overall Scale, Anchor Point, Rotation. |
| Offset | |
| Clone Offset Mode | When End mode is active, clones are evenly distributed between start and end point, while in Step mode clones are placed at a fixed distance (step size) from one another. Depending on the offset mode, it also affects how clones are displayed when changing Count parameter. |
| Offset Position | Offsets each clone's position relative to the previous. |
| Offset Rotation | Offsets each clone's rotation relative to the previous. |
| Offset Scale X | Offsets each clone's position relative to the previous in X axis |
| Offset Scale Y | Offsets each clone's position relative to the previous in Y axis |
| Offset Opacity X | Offsets each clone's opacity relative to the previous in X axis |
| Offset Opacity Y | Offsets each clone's opacity relative to the previous in Y axis |
| Offset Time X | Offsets time (in frames) of last clone by this value in X axis. Time values of clones in between are interpolated. |
| Offset Time Y | Offsets time (in frames) of last clone by this value in Y axis. Time values of clones in between are interpolated. |
| Reverse Offset X | Reverses offset in X axis. |
| Reverse Offset Y | Reverses offset in Y axis. |
| Random | |
| Random Position | Randomizes each clone's position. |
| Random Scale | Randomizes each clone's scale. |
| Random Rotation | Randomizes each clone's rotation. |
| Random Opacity | Randomizes each clone's opacity. |
| Random Time | Randomizes each clone's time offset (frames). |
| Random Seed | Seed value for randomization (0-100,000). |
Path Mode
Path mode allows you to clone custom layers along any mask path. Start by drawing or pasting a mask path to the solid where xCloner is added. You can add as many masks as you like. Then choose layer(s) you wish to clone in Layers section and explore many options in Path mode, explained in detail below.
When you add mask to the solid where xCloner is applied, that mask will not work in classic sense for cutting/masking out your solid, it is used only for xCloner's Path mode.
Distribution
There are 3 ways of distributing your clones in Path Mode
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Distance | Clone instances along the path with user defined distance (Clone Distance parameter) |
| Count | Clones are distributed along the path based on the user-defined Count parameter. When Per Segment is enabled, the Count specifies the number of clones for each individual mask. When disabled, the Count defines the total number of clones across all masks. |
| Vertex | Positions clones at each vertex point of the mask |
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Clone Order | If you have more than one layer, set clone order in iterative, blending or random mode. Iterative cycles clones in order, blending interpolates between adjacent layers, while random shows clones in random order. |
| Clone Distance | Distance between each clone (Distance mode). |
| Count | Number of clones. |
| Offset | Offsets the position of clones along the path. |
| Start | Starting position of clones along the path. |
| End | Ending position of clones along the path. |
| Per Segment | If Per segment is active and you're for example usingg 'Count' distribution, number of clones are on each mask, otherwise it is on all masks together. For example, if we have 4 masks, Count parameter is set to 10, that will be 10 clones per mask, 40 in total. If per segment is not active, there will be 10 clones divided among these 4 masks. This option also is affecting how other parameters behave, for example, Start / End parameters will either work on all masks together or individually. Same goes for Blending clone order etc. |
| Align Rotation to Path | Sets clone rotation to follow the path direction. |
| Loop | Loops / repeats clones endlessly on a path when offset is used. If clone position on path reaches end, it will go to start of the path. |
| Transform | |
| Local | Individual clone Scale, Position, Rotation. |
| Global | Overall Scale, Anchor Point, Rotation. |
| Offset | |
| Offset Rotation | Offsets each clone's rotation relative to the previous. |
| Offset Scale | Offsets each clone's scale relative to the previous. |
| Offset Opacity | Offsets each clone's opacity relative to the previous. |
| Offset Time | Offsets time (in frames) of the last clone. In-between values are interpolated. |
| Reverse Offset | Reverses offset order. |
| Random | |
| Random Offset | Randomizes position of clones on path(s). |
| Random Position | Randomizes each clone's position. |
| Random Scale | Randomizes each clone's scale. |
| Random Rotation | Randomizes each clone's rotation. |
| Random Opacity | Randomizes each clone's opacity. |
| Random Time | Randomizes each clone's time offset (frames). |
| Random Seed | Seed value for randomization (0-100,000). |
Object Mode
Distribute clones across a Matte Layer using its Alpha or Luma values. Start by selecting a Matte Layer, then choose layers to clone.
We introduced a new feature in version 1.4 — Alpha / Luma driven time. This mode allows your selected Time Layer (such as footage, a precomp, animated shape layer etc.) to display a specific moment in time based on Matte Layer values.
For example, if you animate a shape layer's path over 100 frames, a pixel with 0 alpha/luma will display frame 1, while a pixel with 100% alpha/luma will display frame 100.
When using Alpha - Time or Luma - Time modes, selection layers are not active, rather layer you choose for time-based layer
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Based on: Alpha | Clones are shown based on Matte Layer's alpha channel. |
| Based on: Luma | Clones are shown based on Matte Layer's luma channel. |
| Based on: Alpha - Time | Time Layer frames are shown based on Matte Layer's alpha channel. |
| Based on: Luma - Time | Time Layer frames are shown based on Matte Layer's luma channel. |
| Clone Order | If you have more than one layer, set clone order in iterative, blending or random mode. Iterative cycles clones in order, blending interpolates between adjacent layers, while random shows clones in random order. Does not apply for Alpha - Time & Luma - Time |
| Source Layer | Source layer where you base your alpha or luma values. |
| Time Layer | Source layer for time based cloning. |
| Resolution | Controls how densely the plugin samples pixels from the source layer. Lower resolution causes less clones, and vice versa. |
| Alpha / Luma Threshold | Defines the alpha threshold (0-1); pixels with a Matte Layer alpha above this value display the clone, while those below it remain hidden. Does not apply for Alpha - Time & Luma - Time |
| Invert Alpha/Luma | Inverts the alpha or luma values of the Matte Layer. |
| Luma based Opacity | Sets the clone opacity according to the Matte Layer's luma values |
| Transform | |
| Local | Individual clone Scale, Position, Rotation. |
| Global | Overall Scale, Anchor Point, Rotation. |
| Random | |
| Random Position | Randomizes each clone's position. |
| Random Scale | Randomizes each clone's scale. |
| Random Rotation | Randomizes each clone's rotation. |
| Random Opacity | Randomizes each clone's opacity. |
| Random Seed | Seed value for randomization (0-100,000). |
Changelog
- Alpha / Luma driven time
- Bug fixes
- Path mode: fixed anchor point position during Global Scale
- Grid mode: fixed incorrect clone drawing when switching to half/quarter resolution in AE
- Fixed crash when source Shape Layer or Text Layer had scale set to 0 on the layer transform
- Fixed "Checkout ID isn't Unique" error in Object mode
- Fixed weird behavior when changing certain parameters in Path mode (per segment) with random clone order
- Major performance improvement for Offset Time and Random Time across all modes
- Fixed: Offset Time in distance mode (per-segment) was only distributing on first path/mask
- Performance and stability improvements; licensing update; other bug fixes
- Biggest update yet — added Path Mode and Object Mode
- UI improvements and performance gains
- Massive performance upgrade — up to 10× speed improvement
- Fixed flicker on macOS when random properties combined with keyframed scale/rotation
- New: Blending mode between clones + In Front / Behind positioning
- New: Anchor Point in Global Transform
- New: Reverse offset order
- Fixed: Radial mode — offset position + global rotation conflict resolved