User Guide: Animation Shot Refresh Script
User Guide: Animation Shot Refresh Script
⚠️ IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:
This script is currently optimized for workflows using one panel per shot folder. While the core logic supports multiple panels, the versioning and naming automation is most stable when refreshing a single panel. Use with caution in multi-panel scenarios as the logic for these complex sequences is still under development.
Overview
The Shot Refresh script automates the tedious task of checking disk folders for new animation versions, renaming them to project standards, and updating your After Effects compositions.
Key Features
- Automatic Naming: Enforces project-standard naming conventions for images and video.
- Version Detection: Compares disk files against imported footage to find the newest iteration.
- Layer Management: Imports new versions, places them at the top of the stack, and auto-scales them to fit the comp.
- Placeholder Creation: Generates “File Missing” solids if a previously imported panel disappears from the disk.
Naming Conventions
The script uses the following patterns to identify media correctly:
| Media Type |
Standard Format |
Example |
| Images (PNG/JPG/TIF) |
SHOTCODE_LETTER_vNNN.ext |
SC01_A_v002.png |
| Video (MP4/MOV) |
SHOTCODE_vNNN.ext |
SC01_v005.mp4 |
How to Use
1. Setup
- Select your Top-Level Edit Comp (the master comp containing your shots) in the Project Panel.
- Ensure your shot comps follow the 3-segment naming rule (e.g.,
SEQ_SCN_SHT).
2. Running the Script
- Run
SHOT_REFRESH.jsx via File > Scripts > Run Script File…
- Production Root: Select the base directory of your project.
- EDIT Folder: Define the name of the folder where your renders/panels are stored (default is “EDIT”).
- Click Refresh to begin the scan.
3. Batch Naming Dialog
If the script finds unnamed files, a dialog will appear:
- New Panel: Assigns the next available letter (e.g., creates Panel B if A exists).
- Replacement: Increments the version of an existing panel (e.g., v001 becomes v002).
Download SHOT_REFRESH.jsx