keyboardFX

keyboardFX is a tool for Adobe After Effects designed to generate fully customizable keyboards together with user-defined typing animations. NEW: Intelligent case detection for mobile keyboard and new Virtual keyboard panel + much more!

Learn about license types
  $29.99
  • Free Trial
Description


keyboardFX is a tool for Adobe After Effects, specifically designed to create
highly customizable keyboards together with user defined typing animations.

It saves you an incredible amount of designing time.
If you want to create an animated typing keyboard, this tool is for your!


update notice: v1.51 is free for all existing users!




Every keyboard is fully and dynamically customizable giving you the ability
to create virtually any type of keyboard.

There is also an option for Qwerty,
Azerty
or Dvorak keyboard layouts.

Here are a few examples
created only with keyboardFX:

keyboardFX - examples
keyboardFX




keyboardFX also includes a secondary mode for better timing your animations by using markers!
For each generated text character, keyboardFX creates a layer marker,
which controls the typing animation and key illumination.

keyboardFX - using markers mode



keyboardFX also features the 'Wa8mEmW4Fbdh14gG1O0yoAmQW7a4i3Sy{{HOLD}}Wa8mEmW4Fbdh14gG1O0yoAmQW7a4i3Sy special code which gives you the ability to light-up key combinations or whole sections of the keyboard.

keyboardFX - HOLD example 1

keyboardFX - HOLD example 2



keyboardFX v1.5 automatically inserts 'Wa8mEmW4Fbdh14gG1O0yoAmQW7a4i3Sy{{SHIFT}}Wa8mEmW4Fbdh14gG1O0yoAmQW7a4i3Sy codes, when a lower/upper case change occurs, in your input text. This makes the keyboard layout change automatically to reflect any case changes!

keyboardfx_preset_1




There are several animation presets included in keyboardFX. Here are a few examples:

keyboardfx_preset_1 keyboardfx_preset_2 keyboardfx_preset_3 keyboardfx_preset_4



You can illuminate all available keys on every keyboard, including
the Function, Modifier, Navigation and Numeric Pad Keys.



keyboardFX


keyboardFX - UI
In order for keyboardFX to illuminate other than alphanumeric keys (e.g. the function keys, arrow keys etc.) a special code must be typed. This special code is nothing more than double curly brackets before and after the name of the key.

For example:

If you want keyboardFX to generate typing animations for the following two words: Hello World! immediately followed by illuminating the "Page Down" key, your input text must look like this:

Hello World!'Wa8mEmW4Fbdh14gG1O0yoAmQW7a4i3Sy{{PAGE DOWN}}Wa8mEmW4Fbdh14gG1O0yoAmQW7a4i3Sy

and then press the "Generate keyboard!" button.


Here is an example list of codes for the special keys of a PC keyboard.
(similar lists for all types of keyboards -Apple, Mobile/Tablet, Commodore- are provided in the included PDF user guide)


keyboardFX - special codes


You can easily adjust the typing speed as well as the glow decay.
Below is an example of various values of the "glow decay" effect control.

keyboardFX - glow decay




keyboardFX - effect controls

Once the keyboard has been created, you will find the following effect controls in the effects panel of the keyboardFX shape layer.

If you like our work, please visit:
www.realcreations.gr

keyboardFX - footer

Discussions

Want to talk about it?

Head over to r/aescripts to chat with fellow users about this product.

Need Support?

Please open a support ticket to be connected directly with the author of this product

Version History

1.51 -

Sep 16, 2024

-fixed: an issue where on some AE installations, keyboardFX would freeze on setting-up expressions

-fixed: an issue where keyboardFX would not set the Arial Font name properly for the generated text layers

1.5 -

Sep 5, 2024

-optimized: significant overall speed improvements in generating any type of keyboard

-fixed: a few annoying bugs

-updated: some special codes and also added a few more

-added: a Virtual Keyboard to easily input special codes for each type of keyboard

-added: numbers [0-9] on the mobile/tablet keyboard

-added: lower/case letters on the mobile/tablet keyboard

-optimized: the mobile/tablet keyboard which now automatically reads your text and inserts {{SHIFT}} codes on every lower/upper case change, updating the keyboard layout

-updated to license framework v4.2.0

1.2 -

Nov 24, 2019

- fixed: a bug which prevented the complete generation of Commodore64 keyboards on AE CS6

- fixed: the random preset for Commodore64 was not random. It now fixed.

- fixed: a few typing errors on some of the presets

- fixed: a bug where the custom input text field was locked on first run on AE CS6

- fixed: carriage returns no longer mess the timing of the animations and properly light up the "Enter" key

- fixed: the order of the layers became shuffled, if there were other existing layers in the timeline. It's now fixed.

- fixed: some layer properties stayed open in the timeline after the generation of the keyboard. It's now fixed and every property is closed (twirled up)



- changed: the glow and key layers are no longer locked

- changed: renamed the effect control "Glow Decay" to "Glow Decay Speed" for better clarity

- changed: smaller UI + a few cosmetic changes



- added: the {{HOLD}} special code which allows the illumination of key combinations (like Ctrl+Alt+Del)

- added: a second mode of controlling the keystroke animations through markers! (Using Markers Mode)



- optimized: before generating any keyboard, keyboardFX checks the input text and informs the user about mistyped special codes

- optimized: when deleting keyboardFX layers, expression errors are now suppressed

- optimized: the -initial- typing speed and glow decay speed is automatically adjusted at a comfortable pace of approximately 8 characters per second

- optimized: redesigned progress bar that is more accurate, more informative, and works both in window and in dockable panel mode. Also added a enable/disable checkbox for it, in the settings tab (CS6 only)

- optimized: compatibility with macOS Catalina

- optimized: compatibility with After Effects 2020

- optimized: instead of typing multiple {{PAUSE}} codes to further prolong a pause you can now type {{PAUSE1}} through {{PAUSE30}} (the same applies with the HOLD code)



1.1 -

Jan 9, 2019

- added: the DVORAK keyboard layout

- added: five lighting key animation presets

- optimized: broadened compatibility. keyboardFX in now compatible with older versions of After Effects (CC + CS6)

- changed: keyboardFX no longer uses the "Arial" font as the default font for every text layer it generates. It will now use what ever font is selected in the After Effects Character Panel upon generation.

1.0 -

Oct 23, 2018

initial release

Compatibility

After Effects

2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, CC 2019, CC 2018, CC 2017, CC 2015.3, CC 2015, CC 2014, CC, CS6

EULA

END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT

This software ("the Software Product") and accompanying documentation is licensed and not sold. This Software Product is protected by copyright laws and treaties, as well as laws and treaties related to other forms of intellectual property. The author owns intellectual property rights in the Software Product. The Licensee's ("you" or "your") license to download, use, copy, or change the Software Product is subject to these rights and to all the terms and conditions of this End User License Agreement ("Agreement").

Acceptance
YOU ACCEPT AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT BY SELECTING THE "ACCEPT" OPTION AND DOWNLOADING THE SOFTWARE PRODUCT OR BY INSTALLING, USING, OR COPYING THE SOFTWARE PRODUCT. YOU MUST AGREE TO ALL OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT BEFORE YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO DOWNLOAD THE SOFTWARE PRODUCT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO ALL OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, YOU MUST SELECT "DECLINE" AND YOU MUST NOT INSTALL, USE, OR COPY THE SOFTWARE PRODUCT.

License Grant
This Agreement entitles you to install and use one copy of the Software Product. In addition, you may make one archival copy of the Software Product. The archival copy must be on a storage medium other than a hard drive, and may only be used for the reinstallation of the Software Product. This Agreement does not permit the installation or use of multiple copies of the Software Product, or the installation of the Software Product on more than one computer at any given time, on a system that allows shared used of applications, on a multi-user network, or on any configuration or system of computers that allows multiple users. Multiple copy use or installation is only allowed if you obtain an appropriate licensing agreement for each user and each copy of the Software Product.

Restrictions on Transfer
Without first obtaining the express written consent of the author, you may not assign your rights and obligations under this Agreement, or redistribute, encumber, sell, rent, lease, sublicense, or otherwise transfer your rights to the Software Product.

Restrictions on Use
You may not use, copy, or install the Software Product on any system with more than one computer, or permit the use, copying, or installation of the Software Product by more than one user or on more than one computer. If you hold multiple, validly licensed copies, you may not use, copy, or install the Software Product on any system with more than the number of computers permitted by license, or permit the use, copying, or installation by more users, or on more computers than the number permitted by license.

You may not decompile, "reverse-engineer", disassemble, or otherwise attempt to derive the source code for the Software Product.

Restrictions on Alteration
You may not modify the Software Product or create any derivative work of the Software Product or its accompanying documentation. Derivative works include but are not limited to translations. You may not alter any files or libraries in any portion of the Software Product.

Restrictions on Copying
You may not copy any part of the Software Product except to the extent that licensed use inherently demands the creation of a temporary copy stored in computer memory and not permanently affixed on storage medium. You may make one archival copy which must be stored on a medium other than a computer hard drive.

Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability
UNLESS OTHERWISE EXPLICITLY AGREED TO IN WRITING BY THE AUTHOR, THE AUTHOR MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN FACT OR IN LAW, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN THE LIMITED WARRANTY DOCUMENTS PROVIDED WITH THE SOFTWARE PRODUCT.

The author makes no warranty that the Software Product will meet your requirements or operate under your specific conditions of use. The author makes no warranty that operation of the Software Product will be secure, error free, or free from interruption. YOU MUST DETERMINE WHETHER THE SOFTWARE PRODUCT SUFFICIENTLY MEETS YOUR REQUIREMENTS FOR SECURITY AND UNINTERRUPTABILITY. YOU BEAR SOLE RESPONSIBILITY AND ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY LOSS INCURRED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE SOFTWARE PRODUCT TO MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS. THE AUTHOR WILL NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR THE LOSS OF DATA ON ANY COMPUTER OR INFORMATION STORAGE DEVICE.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL THE AUTHOR, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY OTHER PARTY FOR INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES OF ANY KIND INCLUDING LOST REVENUES OR PROFITS OR LOSS OF BUSINESS) RESULTING FROM THIS AGREEMENT, OR FROM THE FURNISHING, PERFORMANCE, INSTALLATION, OR USE OF THE SOFTWARE PRODUCT, WHETHER DUE TO A BREACH OF CONTRACT, BREACH OF WARRANTY, OR THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE AUTHOR OR ANY OTHER PARTY, EVEN IF THE AUTHOR IS ADVISED BEFOREHAND OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICABLE JURISDICTION LIMITS THE AUTHOR'S ABILITY TO DISCLAIM ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, THIS DISCLAIMER SHALL BE EFFECTIVE TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED.

Limitation of Remedies and Damages
Any claim must be made within the applicable warranty period. All warranties cover only defects arising under normal use and do not include malfunctions or failure resulting from misuse, abuse, neglect, alteration, problems with electrical power, acts of nature, unusual temperatures or humidity, improper installation, or damage determined by the author to have been caused by you. All limited warranties on the Software Product are granted only to you and are non-transferable. You agree to indemnify and hold the author harmless from all claims, judgments, liabilities, expenses, or costs arising from your breach of this Agreement and/or acts or omissions.

Governing Law, Jurisdiction and Costs
This Agreement is governed by the laws of New York, without regard to New York's conflict or choice of law provisions.

Severability
If any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. To the extent any express or implied restrictions are not permitted by applicable laws, these express or implied restrictions shall remain in force and effect to the maximum extent permitted by such applicable laws.

Updated: Oct 21, 2025 1:35 AM