It would be extremely helpful to be able to define our own render tokens somehow. We often have very long and complex filenames that string together common elements like "Project Code," "Client Name," "Project Name," "Deliverable Name," "First/Last Initials," "Version Number", "Language"

It would be helpful to be able to define these somewhere in the AE project, perhaps as metadata, and then allow them to be used as render tokens/properties that can be used in the existing File Name and Location Templates.

Sure, we can manually enter this information ourselves when we go to render. We could also rename our comps this way (though comp readability would become terrible). But it becomes a chore when we have dozens or hundreds of files to render. It would help with quality-of-life and ease-of-use to be able to set up these tokens once per project and reuse them. Filenames and render folder locations would be much more consistent (even when sharing the project with multiple artists on different teams) and would require less constant fiddling to make sure we're putting things in the right place.

Being able to set a "Project Root Folder" for example would also address these other issues, where we want to render to specific folders in a folder structure and we don't want to worry about where in that structure the AE project itself lives:
https://adobe-video.uservoice.com/forums/911311-after-effects/suggestions/37543408-a-render-settings-token-that-allows-you-to-climb-u
https://adobe-video.uservoice.com/forums/911311-after-effects/suggestions/41679958-render-queue-remember-projectname-token-on-exp

Being able to set a "Version Number" would also address this issue:
https://adobe-video.uservoice.com/forums/911311-after-effects/suggestions/41125603-add-project-version-number-as-a-render-token-prope

ISSUE: As of v18.4, DNx Codecs no longer work properly in AE (as well as Media Encoder and possibly others). For example, a known good (works in other programs, as well as older versions of AE) DNxHR HQ video with Alpha will appear completely black.

REPRODUCTION: Import a DNx video file, for example DNxHR HQ with alpha channel into After Effects.

WORKAROUND: Rolling back to v18.2.1 works as a workaround, but is not viable long-term or with remote teams.

SYSTEM INFO: This issue has occurred on various Windows-based machines of various capabilities. Some of the editors on my team who have reported the issue to me may be working on a Mac, but I am not sure.

SUGGESTED FIX: See what changed in regards to DNx codecs from v18.2 to v18.4, restore DNx codec support in next After Effects update. Look into issues with Media Encoder and other applications as well.

If I copy an effect and paste it to a layer which already has an instance of that effect, instead of resulting in two instances of the effect, my values are pasted into the pre-existing instance.

I get that this can sometimes be a time-saver but I think there are more times when it’s annoying and I think it’s counter-intuitive for newer users.

The behaviour could be that values are pasted if I selected specific properties within the effect when I clicked Copy. That would follow my intention and other behaviours within AE.

Or

The behaviour could be that values are pasted if I select the effect instance when I hit Paste. If I only have the layer selected, I get a second instance.

Or maybe there’s another way. But to me the current behaviour is backwards and always has been.

Footage linked in essential graphics no longer available for swapping when reopening a teams project.

Steps to reproduce:

1: Create a teams project
2: Create a comp 1
3: import an image
4: Add image to comp 1
5: Add image to Essential graphics
6: Add comp 1 to new comp 2

At this point the image from comp 1 can still be swapped in comp 2 timeline

7: close and reopen project

At this point the image is no longer visible in timeline for swapping in comp 2

This is in both the latest versions of AE Mac and Windows

I would like to see ALT+Drag to copy/duplicate for layers in the timeline and assets in the project panel. Its a standard function for the rest of the adobe suite and for some reason its missing from AE. There's not even an alternate function, its just missing. I understand holding alt and dragging selected key frames in the timeline does temporal stretch. so I see why it might be harder to implement for key frames without upsetting current functions. But, this seems to be a missing feature that would be widely appreciated for those of us that use the wider adobe tool set.

Every time CC updates After Effects, it resets my footage color interpretation settings.

I use OpenColorIO and often have my color workspace set to "ACES Academy Color Encoding Specification SMPTE ST"

In order so see the proper color, I must interpret all my footage with the box checked: "Preserve RGB (Disable color management conversions for this item)". The files I often work with are typically Quicktime Prores 4444 movs.

After CC updates to After Effects, I must consistently go through and re-check this box for all my footage. I'm able to somewhat speed up the process using the "remember" and "apply" interpretation options, however its an annoying bug and seems like it would be an easy fix.

Thanks for reading.

AE is like a Build-a-Bear. You start with the default, and then you dress it up. Plug-ins are essential to After Effects. As essential as pants on a Build-a-Bear.

Media Replacement is a great new feature, especially for MOGRTs. But you can't export a Media Replacement MOGRT that uses plug-ins anywhere in the After Effects project. I understand performance may be bad, but a warning that the MOGRT will be slow is preferable to never being able to combine MR and plug-ins. This is a hindrance for professional pipelines considering adopting a MOGRT workflow for motion graphics.

Please reconsider enabling plug-ins and MR to cohabitate inside MOGRTs for Media Replacement v2.

I created this file a while back - with several duplicates of the same precomp. All the names of the duplicates show within square brackets, because the names refer to the same precomp. *pls refer to first screengrab.
I'm now on version 18.4.1 and after opening the same file and start working on it, the layers get renamed. *pls refer to second screengrab.
This becomes a problem for instance when I want to rename the source precomp in the project panel: as the names in the timeline doesn't update anymore. *pls refer to third screengrab.
The layers in the timeline are no longer reflecting the changes because they were renamed.
This extends to linked media as well. any images, AI, PSD, mp3 - any linked file with any duplicates in the timeline are also being renamed in sequential order.
When replacing those duplicates with another jpg for example (opt/alt+drag), the layer name doesn't update anymore. it shows as the previous name with the sequential number.
This is CRITICAL.