An AETX file generally refers to an After Effects XML template that stores the project in structured text rather than binary, enabling better exchange of compositions, folders, layer stacks, timing, and settings, though sometimes at the cost of larger size or slower loading, and it includes comp metadata—resolution, frame rate, duration, nesting—along with layer types, in/out points, transforms, parenting, 2D/3D options, blend modes, mattes, masks, and the full effect list with ordered parameters.
An AETX file stores keyframe-driven behavior like keyframes, interpolation, easing, paths, and expressions, and contains text/shape information such as text content and styling parameters (font, size, tracking, alignment, fills/strokes), text animators, and vector paths, strokes, and fills with their own transforms and keyframes, but it does not embed media, fonts, or plugins, instead referencing external files that must be relinked if moved, so opening it on a different system may trigger missing-footage or missing-effect warnings; the usual approach is to open/import it in After Effects, relink assets, handle fonts/plugins, and then save as AEP/AET, while XML inspection alone cannot recreate the template’s full behavior.
The origin of an AETX is key because it usually indicates what other components it depends on—assets, plugins, fonts, licensing—and what issues you should expect, particularly when it comes from a template marketplace where the AETX is bundled with an Assets folder, maybe a Preview folder, and a list of required resources, meaning missing-footage prompts are normal if the XML can’t find its accompanying media, remedied by preserving folder structure or relinking, while licensed items aren’t included and must be sourced separately.
When an AETX arrives from a client or collaborator, it’s typically a asset-light template meant for easy sharing without media files, sometimes generated for Git or automated pipelines, making it vital to verify whether they also provided a Collected project or assets; if they did not, expect manual relinking and possible AE version or plugin issues, especially when the file references studio-specific directory paths that your machine won’t recognize.
If an AETX arrives from a random email, forum post, or unknown sender, the origin matters for safety because although it’s plain XML—not an executable—it may still reference external files, use expressions, or depend on scripts/plugins you shouldn’t install blindly, so the safest approach is to open it in a clean AE setup, avoid untrusted plugins, and expect missing assets until you verify what the template needs, with your next step depending on the source: marketplace files require checking bundles/readmes, client files need a collected package or asset list, and pipeline files may rely on specific directory layouts or AE versions.
