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The settings object on a job payload controls how After Effects renders and what format the output takes. All fields are optional - omitting settings entirely uses the composition’s default output settings.
settings and preview are mutually exclusive. If preview: true is set, the settings object is ignored.

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Fields

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settings.type
string
Output type. One of:
  • video - renders to a video file (default)
  • image - renders a single frame or frame range as still images
  • aep - packages the project as a rendered AEP archive
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settings.quality
string
Render quality. One of:
  • full - full quality output (default)
  • draft - faster, lower-quality render useful for testing
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settings.codec
string
Output codec. Must be compatible with the chosen type. See the codec list below.
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settings.frames
integer | array
Frame specification. Required when type is image.
  • Single integer - renders one frame at that position (e.g. 125)
  • Two-element array - renders a frame range (e.g. [0, 120])
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settings.engine
string
After Effects engine version to use for this job. One of:
  • ae2026 (default)
  • ae2025

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Codecs

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Video codecs

CodecDescription
video_h264_vbr_1mbpsH.264 variable bitrate, 1 Mbps
video_h264_vbr_5mbpsH.264 variable bitrate, 5 Mbps
video_h264_vbr_15mbpsH.264 variable bitrate, 15 Mbps
video_h264_vbr_40mbpsH.264 variable bitrate, 40 Mbps
video_h264_cbr_1mbpsH.264 constant bitrate, 1 Mbps
video_h264_cbr_5mbpsH.264 constant bitrate, 5 Mbps
video_h264_cbr_15mbpsH.264 constant bitrate, 15 Mbps
video_h264_cbr_40mbpsH.264 constant bitrate, 40 Mbps
video_prores_422Apple ProRes 422
video_prores_4444Apple ProRes 4444 (with alpha)

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Image codecs

CodecDescription
image_pngPNG (lossless, supports transparency)
image_jpegJPEG (lossy, smaller file size)
Image codecs require type: "image". Video codecs require type: "video".

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Examples

{
  "settings": {
    "type": "video",
    "quality": "full",
    "codec": "video_h264_vbr_15mbps"
  }
}