Create, format and update animated number layers in After Effects. This guide covers the complete Free workflow and every Pro control.
Ultimate Counter is a standalone After Effects extension. Ultimate Tools is not required.
Both editions create formatted animated numbers. Pro adds the complete styling, preview, editing and layer-creation workflow.
No licence key or expiry. Counter Settings stays open and includes the core number and formatting controls.
Activate a Counter-specific UCT- key on one device. Pro includes every control documented in this guide.
These controls define the values and timing of the animation. Counting up, counting down and negative values are supported.
Build currency, percentages, statistics and compact figures without changing the animation values.
Pro can style the complete counter with a locked two-color gradient and add one of six bundled sound effects.
On creation, Start of Ramp is placed at the top centre and End of Ramp at the bottom centre. When updating, existing ramp points are preserved.
Sound always plays at its original speed. It is trimmed when the count ends if necessary; a shorter sound ends naturally. Fade is optional.
Check the result before creation, create a new counter, or load an existing Counter group and update it in place.
| Create layer / Update counter | Creates a new counter with the current setup. In edit mode, the same button updates the loaded Counter group. |
|---|---|
| Edit selected · Pro | Select the Counter, Prefix or Suffix layer in After Effects, then load the whole linked group into the panel. |
| New counter · Pro | Leaves edit mode and returns to a clean new-counter workflow. |
| Reset | Restores default counter values without deleting saved presets. |
Control where the new counter appears, how long it lasts, and how it relates to selected layers. Conflicting placement choices are handled as one creation setup.
Apply finishing choices while the counter is created, then save the entire setup for reuse.
The header keeps product messages and Pro licence actions separate from your counter settings.
Open product updates, guides and important notices. The badge counts unread items; priority messages may appear above Counter Settings.
Activate, verify or deactivate this device using a UCT- key. Keys from other Ultimate Plugins products do not activate Counter Pro.
Return counter controls to their defaults. Your saved presets remain available.
Read the message at the bottom of the panel after each action. It reports success, missing selections and other problems.
Use these compact recipes as starting points, then save your setup as a Pro preset.
Restart After Effects, then check Window → Extensions. If it is still missing, repeat the included installation steps for your operating system.
Open an active composition, confirm the numeric fields are valid, and read the status message at the bottom of the panel.
Select a layer created by Ultimate Counter Pro: the Counter layer or one of its linked Prefix / Suffix layers. Ordinary text layers cannot be loaded as Counter groups.
Use Edit selected and Update counter. The update workflow is designed to preserve existing Start / End of Ramp points.
This is expected when the Counter duration is shorter than the sound. Audio is trimmed at the end of the count and is never speed-stretched.
Confirm that the key starts with UCT-, check the internet connection and device limit, then try verification again. Other product keys are not compatible.
No. Ultimate Counter Free has no expiry. Pro is a separate edition with its own Counter licence.
Try the live Free and Pro interface, or contact support if an installed feature behaves differently.
