Your First Automation

Let’s get from installation to a finished change in three steps.

1. Open Atom

In After Effects choose Window → Extensions → Atom. If you see the welcome screen, finish setup; otherwise the chat timeline is ready for you.

2. Ask for something specific

Try a simple prompt inside an open composition:

Create five square shape layers named Square 1 through Square 5

Atom reads the comp, writes the script, and the new layers appear instantly. The response shows what it inspected and what it changed.

3. Keep the conversation going

Atom remembers context, so follow up naturally:

Colour those squares in a gradient from red to blue

Need to stop early? The send button turns into a stop icon while Atom works. To start fresh, tap New chat in the top bar; the previous session is saved in History.

Tips for great results

• Atom wraps all changes in undo groups, making it easy to undo everything it just did. That said, save your project regularly as a safety net.
• Name the layers or properties you care about. Clarity means fewer follow-up prompts.
• Expand the tool-call cards in the response if something looks off; they show exactly what Atom found.