faq
Questions, answered honestly
Including the one everybody asks first.
01Can't I just build this myself?+
Yes. Honestly, go for it. It will cost you more in time and tokens than you think though.
When you are still untangling weird polygon math at 1am, MatterAE will already be done and still be $35. That is genuinely the whole pitch.
02Is this just Newton?+
The marketplace thought so. They are both 2D physics, sure, but so is a dropped phone. Newton is a deep, polished, powerful tool with years behind it. MatterAE is the fast, cheap one that lives in a panel and bakes keyframes. Different leagues, very different price. Longer answer here.
03So why was it rejected?+
"Duplicate functionality." A physics plugin already existed, apparently. I have decided to wear it like a badge. It is literally in the headline up top.
04Does it really bake to keyframes, or does it stay live?+
Real keyframes, in a brand new comp. Once it is baked there is nothing live left. You can hand-edit every keyframe, render as normal, even uninstall the plugin, and the animation stays exactly as it was.
05What do I get for free, and what does the $35 unlock?+
You get the whole plugin for free. Every feature works: all five modes, collision groups, markers, chains, springs, pins, the lot. You can simulate as long as you like in the preview. The one thing you do not get for free is baking past 3 seconds. The $35 unlock lifts that. Same plugin, same engine, one limit removed. See the breakdown.
06Which After Effects versions does it run in?+
After Effects 2020 and up, on both macOS and Windows.
07Do I need to mess with Terminal or the registry to install it?+
No. MatterAE is signed, so After Effects treats it as a verified package and loads it normally. No PlayerDebugMode, no Terminal on Mac, no registry edits on Windows. You just need a free ZXP installer to put it in place, which takes about a minute. Install guide here.
08Is there a subscription?+
No. Pay once. Every 1.x update is included. That is the deal.
09Will it slow down my project or my renders?+
No. Once you bake, you are left with plain keyframes. The plugin is not part of your render. It makes the animation and then steps out of the way.
10Can I use it on commercial work?+
Yes, on all the client work you like. The only thing you cannot do is resell or hand out the plugin itself.
11Why is it so cheap?+
Because it does about 90% of everyday mograph physics, not 100% of everything. The price matches the scope. The expensive tools earn their price on the other 10%, and they are worth it when you actually need it.
12I found a bug, or I want a feature.+
Good, that is how it gets better. Send it over on the bugs and requests page.
Drop something. Watch it land.
Free to try with the whole plugin in your hands, or unlock it fully for $35, once, no subscription.