.AEP File Extension

After Effects Project

Developer Adobe Systems
Popularity
4.2  |  223 Votes
 

What is a AEP file?

An AEP file is a video project created by Adobe After Effects, a special effects video editing application. It contains one or more compositions, which are a collection of layers that may include video footage, audio tracks, images, text, and shapes that make up special effects. AEP files also store project settings such as the settings for the video renderer, color, audio, and time display style.

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Screenshot of a .aep file in Adobe After Effects 2023
AEP file open in Adobe After Effects 2023

After Effects is a Windows and macOS application used to create visual effects and motion graphics for video, often Adobe Premiere Pro video projects (.PRPROJ files). Video editors often use the software in post-production to enhance films, television shows, and video games.

When you save a project in After Effects as an AEP file, the application creates a file with an .aep file extension to store the contents. You can open the project file, modify it, save it, close it, then re-open it to edit it further.

It is important to note that After Effects does not save media imported into an After Effects project in the AEP file. Instead, After Effects saves references to the actual location of the media files imported into the project. If you move media files after importing them, After Effects will not be able to reference the media file for the project, and you will need to relocate the media file to use it in the project.

Different types of After Effects projects

There are several types of After Effects projects. You can save an After Effects project as a local file on your computer or as a team project (hosted on Adobe's server) when collaborating with other After Effects users. If you save a project as a local file, you can choose to save it in one of two formats:

  • After Effects Project (AEP) - The main format is a binary format that results in smaller, quicker-to-load files. Adobe recommends this format for most After Effects users.
  • After Effects XML Project (.AEPX) - Text-based project format saved in the XML standard that is larger and slower to load than the AEP format but allows you to modify project details with an XML or text editor. Adobe recommends this format for After Effects users looking to save a copy of their project or as an intermediate project for automation workflows.

How to create and save After Effects projects

To create an After Effects Project, select File → New → New Project, then click File → Save or Save As → Save As... to save it as an AEP file. If you want to save it as an AEPX file, select File → Save or Save As → Save A Copy As XML....

If you are working on a project collaboratively, you can create a team project by selecting File → New → New Team Project. Adobe hosts these projects to allow CC enterprise and CC teams users to modify projects in real-time.

NOTE: You can also save projects as templates in After Effects when you want to re-use elements in other projects. You can choose to save templates in the .AET binary format or .AETX XML format.

How to open a AEP file

You can only open AEP files with Adobe After Effects (Windows and macOS). To open an AEP file, select File → Open Project....

How to convert a AEP file

You can only convert AEP files with Adobe After Effects in Windows and macOS. Some of the formats you can convert AEP files to include:

  • .MOV - Apple QuickTime Movie
  • .AVI - Audio Video Interleave
  • .JPG - JPEG Image
  • .PNG - Portable Network Graphic
  • .DPX - Digital Picture Exchange
  • .EXR - OpenEXR Image
  • .M4A - MPEG-4 Audio
  • .MP3 - MP3 Audio
  • .WAV - WAVE Audio
  • .AEPX - After Effects XML Project
  • .AET - After Effects Template
  • .PRPROJ - Adobe Premiere Pro
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Programs that open AEP files

Windows
Mac

Activ E-Book Project

Developer Answers 2000
Popularity
3.9  |  15 Votes
 

Electronic book, or e-book, created with the Activ E-Book compiler; includes pages that can be read like a physical book; may include text and images, as well as animations, hypertext navigation (links), JavaScript, and Java applets.

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An Activ E-Book project can be saved as a standard executable (.EXE) file, which will run on any computer with Windows 95 or later.

Programs that open AEP files

Windows
Answers 2000 Activ E-Book Compiler

Advanced Encryption Package Encrypted File

Developer InterCrypto
Popularity
3.0  |  23 Votes
 

File encrypted by Advanced Encryption Package (AEP), a program used for securing files for storage and transfer; can be password protected and secured using one of the various encryption methods provided by the software.

Programs that open AEP files

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