THE FILE FIELD GUIDE

.aet

After Effects Project Template

Creative Projects

AET is an After Effects template that opens as a new project. Save the resulting work separately. It is not finished video and may require fonts, plugins or external footage. Identify editable text/images and protected design layers before editing.

What it is used for: Reusable compositions and project settings
What the file contains: Binary data

All sections, questions and sources

Content reviewed：2026-10-12 · Editor：Kai

Opening steps

Choose your environment or purpose to see its steps.

AET: create from a template

Projects and rendered videos are different artifacts.

Copy the template and assets and inspect the required After Effects version.
Open the AET and inspect the new project created from the template.
Save the work as a separately named AEP before editing.

Relink missing footage

Compare names and actual content.

Identify missing footage in the Project panel.
Use the supported Replace Footage operation to locate the actual media.
Inspect duration, dimensions, frame rate, sound and appearance and save a copy.

Collect assets or render delivery

Identify the intended composition.

For editable transfer, collect assets and inspect external dependencies.
For rendering, select composition, range, quality and audio settings.
Open the collected copy or render and compare text, effects and audio.

Menu labels and support vary by app, OS and version. Preserve the original before making changes.

Troubleshooting by symptom

Replacement fails: inspect the intended composition, locks and precompositions.
Preview differs: check fonts, assets, plugins and version.
Cannot send as video: distinguish project from rendered output.
Unclear replacement locations: consult the supplied instructions and intended compositions.
Substituting a font changes layout: inspect spacing, line breaks and widths in the render.
Older-version save changes effects: newer features may be omitted; compare a copy with a reference render.

AET → working AEP / finished video

Save a working project from the template and replace intended assets.
Render the intended composition and review duration, text and licensed watermark conditions.
Verify render boundaries, text, transparency, sound and color; retain the editable project and assets.

Review template purchase/distribution terms; rendering does not change asset rights.

AET role and asset references

Opening AET creates a new project from the template; separate job names help distinguish reusable templates from deliverables.

List assets, fonts, plugins and composition settings and retain a reference render for comparison.

Source for these steps：Adobe · Project types in After Effects / Adobe · Working with footage items in After Effects / Adobe · Basics of rendering and exporting in After Effects

Editable transfer versus rendered delivery

A render does not require the recipient’s editing application but does not retain equivalent layers, expressions or keyframes.

Verify original-media and external-effect requirements even in a collected copy; keep the source before resaving in another version.

Source for these steps：Adobe · Project types in After Effects / Adobe · Working with footage items in After Effects / Adobe · Basics of rendering and exporting in After Effects

Related-format differences

Related-format differences
Format	Main role	What to check
AEP	Standard project	Media/effect environment
AEPX	XML project	Distinct from generic XML data
AET	Reusable template	Creates a new project

Handling and security

Verify the provider before running bundled scripts/plugins.

Questions and answers

Does opening overwrite the template?

It creates a new project; save the result separately.

Does AET include all assets?

External footage may still be needed.

Can I rename video to AET?

No; projects and rendered media differ.

Does opening a template overwrite it?

It creates a new project; save under a distinct working name.

Does Collect Files include every dependency?

Also check fonts/plugins and verify the collected copy on the destination.

Format facts: name, steward and MIME type

Formal name: After Effects project template
Steward / specification: Adobe
MIME type: Depends on the producer or server; an extension alone does not establish a MIME type.

Primary and official sources

Software documentationProject types in After Effects
Explains XML project saving and project templates.
Adobe · Link checked：2026-10-12
Software documentationWorking with footage items in After Effects
Reference for locating and replacing missing footage.
Adobe · Link checked：2026-10-12
Software documentationBasics of rendering and exporting in After Effects
Documents rendering and collecting source footage.
Adobe · Link checked：2026-10-12