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Free — After Effects 2026Compress-Expand Dynamic Range After Effects preset
This is what the built-in Compress-Expand Dynamic Range preset does. It is in the Utilities folder of the After Effects animation presets, and it works on footage, a photo, or an adjustment layer above them.
Click the preview to copy the name.
- Where
- Effects & Presets › Animation Presets › Image - Utilities
- Works on
- Footage, a photo, or an adjustment layer above them
- Comes with
- After Effects. Nothing to download.
How to apply Compress-Expand Dynamic Range
- Select your footage, or add an adjustment layer above it (Layer › New › Adjustment Layer) and select that.
- Open Window › Effects & Presets, paste the name in the search box and double-click Compress-Expand Dynamic Range.
- Fine-tune the look in the Effect Controls panel.
On an adjustment layer the look applies to every layer below it and is easy to switch off. Each effect the preset added can be changed or removed in the Effect Controls panel.
Where is Compress-Expand Dynamic Range in After Effects?
Open Window › Effects & Presets and go to Animation Presets › Image - Utilities. It is quicker to type the name in the search box at the top of the panel.
Do I need to download Compress-Expand Dynamic Range?
No. It is installed with After Effects; this preview was rendered in After Effects 2026. On disk it is an .ffx file in the Presets › Image - Utilities folder inside the After Effects application folder.
How do I change Compress-Expand Dynamic Range after applying it?
On an adjustment layer the look applies to every layer below it and is easy to switch off. Each effect the preset added can be changed or removed in the Effect Controls panel.
More Utilities presets 14 in this folder
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