How to use Dropbox Replay with Adobe After Effects

Dropbox Replay is a rich media review and approval tool that allows collaborators to mark up, comment, and finalize video, image, and audio projects. With the Dropbox Replay plugin for Adobe After Effects, you’re able to utilize the functions of Replay within Adobe After Effects, such as adding comments and uploading file versions that sync to both applications. 

How to download and install the Dropbox Replay extension for Adobe After Effects

Note: You must have a Dropbox account in order to use the Dropbox Replay extension for Adobe After Effects. Create a free Dropbox account at dropbox.com.

To download and install the Dropbox Replay extension to Adobe After Effects:

1. Open the Dropbox Replay listing in Adobe Exchange in your web browser or from the Creative Cloud app on your desktop.
2. Click Free on the top right to download the extension.
3. When the download is complete, you'll be prompted to install the extension.
4. Click Install.
5. Close and restart Adobe After Effects in order to use the extension.

How to connect Dropbox Replay to Adobe After Effects

After downloading and installing the Dropbox Replay extension, you’ll need to sign in to Dropbox through Adobe After Effects. 

To connect Dropbox Replay in Adobe After Effects:

1. Open Adobe After Effects.
2. Click Window in the menu bar.
3. Hover over Extensions.
4. Click Dropbox Replay.
   • A Replay window will appear in the upper left.
5. Click Sign In.
6. Sign in using your Dropbox credentials.

After the extension is installed and connected, click Window in the menubar, hover over Workspaces, then click Save Changes to this Workplace. This will ensure you don’t have to repeat this process the next time you launch After Effects.

For information on how to disable or remove extensions in Adobe After Effects, reference the Adobe Help Center.

How to upload Active Compositions to Dropbox Replay from Adobe After Effects

To upload Active Compositions to Dropbox Replay from Adobe After Effects:

1. Open the Dropbox Replay extension in Adobe After Effects.
2. Click File in the upper right corner of the Dropbox Replay window.
3. Select Upload Active Composition from the dropdown list. 
4. Type in the name for your composition.
5. Click the dropdown next to Presets to choose from a list of output options.
6. Click the dropdown next to Settings to choose from a list of options.
7. Select the Range: Work Area or Entire Composition you’d like to upload.
8. Check the checkbox to Auto sync comments as markers, so comments made in Replay will sync and appear in the Adobe After Effects timeline.
9. Check the checkbox to Import markers as comments from Adobe After Effects into your Replay video comments.
10. Click Upload and the video file will open as a V1 in the Replay window. 

Notes:

• While the video is rendering, in the banner at the bottom of the Replay window, you can click Dismiss to close the progress message.
• While the video is uploading to Replay, in the banner at the bottom of the Replay window, you can click Details to view upload progress, or click Close to close the banner in the Replay window.
• While the file is being added to Replay, in the banner at the bottom of the Replay window, you can click Share to share your video, Details to view upload progress, or Close to close the banner in the Replay window.

How to upload Queued Compositions to Dropbox Replay from Adobe After Effects

You can upload your queued compositions from Adobe After Effects into Replay. 

Note: You must have rendered your composition before uploading to Replay. Learn more about how to Render a composition in Adobe After Effects. 

To upload Queued Compositions to Dropbox Replay from Adobe After Effects:

1. Open the Dropbox Replay extension in Adobe After Effects.
2. Click the Render Queue tab at the top left of the Adobe After Effects timeline window.
3. Under the Render Queue tab, check the checkbox of the queued compositions you’d like to upload to Replay.
   • Note: You can upload multiple queued compositions at the same time.
4. Click the dropdown arrows under each composition to select settings for your queued composition.
5. Click File.
6. Select Upload Queued Compositions from the dropdown list. 
   • Notes: 
     • While the queue is rendering, in the banner at the bottom of the Replay window, you can click Dismiss to close the progress message. 
     • While the queue is uploading to Replay, in the banner at the bottom of the Replay window, you can click Details to view upload progress, or click Close to close the banner in the Replay window.

Your queued compositions will appear under Your work in the Replay window.

How to import comments as markers to Dropbox Replay from Adobe After Effects

You can import existing Dropbox Replay comments to Adobe After Effects. After importing, you can also edit and reply to existing comments in the Replay window from Adobe After Effects. 

To import comments from Replay to Adobe After Effects:

1. Open your file in Adobe After Effects.
2. Open your file with comments in the Replay extension.
3. Click the “…” (ellipsis) at the top-right of the Replay window.
4. Select Import comments from the dropdown list. You’ll be prompted to connect the video with the active composition in Adobe After Effects.
   • Note: Click the checkbox to Auto sync comments as markers into the After Effects timeline.
5. Click Confirm.

You can click any of the comment markers in the Adobe After Effects window, to view and reply to comments. All comments made in Adobe After Effects will appear in Dropbox Replay if Auto sync comments as markers is enabled.

Notes:

• You can disable automatic syncing of comments by clicking the “…” (ellipsis) in the Replay window, then clicking Disable auto sync comments. 
• If you have Auto sync comments as markers disabled, you must import all new and edited comments and replies to comments. 
• Deleting comment markers in Adobe After Effects doesn’t remove them from Dropbox Replay.