layer cleaner
Key Features:
Effect Removal: Instantly clears the entire effect stack from all selected layers.
Text Simplification: Removes all Text Animators and custom properties, reverting text layers to their base state.
Smart Shape Cleaning: Recursively scans Shape Layers to identify and remove procedural modifiers—such as Repeaters, Trim Paths, and Wiggle Paths—without affecting base paths.
Expression Purge (Modifier Key): Holding the Alt/Option key while running the script adds a deep-clean pass that wipes all expressions from the targeted layers.
Batch Processing: Operates on specifically selected layers or, if no selection is made, offers to clean the entire active composition at once.
This script is fully optimized for KBar. With KBar, you can toggle between a standard clean and a "Deep Clean" (including expressions) using the Alt-click shortcut.
Don't use KBar? No problem. The feature is tied to the keyboard state, not the specific tool. If you run the script via the standard File > Scripts > Run Script File menu, simply hold the Alt/Option key while selecting the script to trigger the expression removal.
Currently tested and working with After Effects 2024 and 2025.
This tool was developed with the assistance of ChatGPT.
Layer Cleaner is a productivity script for Adobe After Effects designed to instantly strip away clutter and reset layers to their core state. It automates the tedious process of manually deleting stackable properties and complex modifiers across multiple layers or entire compositions.
Whether you are prepping a project for handoff, troubleshooting performance issues, or simply need a "fresh start" on a complex layer, Layer Cleaner handles the heavy lifting in a single click.