GEOlayers 3 lets you create professional map animations in After Effects using real geodata, 3D camera moves, and custom styles.
If you’ve ever tried creating professional-looking animated maps in After Effects, you already know how time-consuming and limiting the traditional workflow can be. GEOlayers 3 completely changes that.
Rebuilt from the ground up, GEOlayers lets you design, style, and animate maps directly inside After Effects, using real-world geospatial data from powerful online sources. Faster, more flexible, and more intuitive than ever, it’s a must-have tool for motion designers, filmmakers, YouTubers, and data storytellers.
What Is GEOlayers 3?
GEOlayers is an After Effects plugin that renders fully editable, custom maps using real geodata. Instead of relying on static images or external software, you can bring the world straight into After Effects as shape layers.
With GEOlayers, you can:
- Draw countries, states, cities, roads, rivers, lakes, and regions
- Animate driving routes and travel paths
- Extrude buildings and create depth
- Turn real-world locations into editable After Effects assets
Anything on Earth that has geospatial data can be incorporated into your animation.
Powerful Map Styling – Right Inside After Effects
GEOlayers ships with a wide collection of default map styles, but it doesn’t stop there.
You can:
- Generate map styles from the colors of a composition or image
- Import Adobe Swatch files with one click
- Adjust colors, line widths, fonts, and feature visibility
- Add hillshading for extra depth and realism
- Use imagery from popular tile servers like Mapbox for fully custom base maps
All styling happens directly in After Effects, so no round-tripping is required.
What’s New In GEOlayers 3?
GEOlayers 3 isn’t just an update. It’s a complete rebuild focused on speed, flexibility, and modern workflows.
Key improvements include:
- A brand-new, modern UI
- Maps that can be pitched and rotated in true 3D
- Automatic labels for faster workflows
- Map styling directly inside After Effects
- Much faster finalization and rendering
- A powerful scripting API for advanced users
- And many more quality-of-life improvements
Note: GEOlayers 3 requires After Effects CC 2015 (13.6) or higher. Legacy projects from GEOlayers 1 or 2 are not supported, though you can import GEOlayers 2 server profiles, shape layer styles, and label templates.
Key Features That Make GEOlayers 3 Stand Out
Animate Maps In 3D Space
Scroll, zoom, pitch, and rotate maps directly in After Effects. Keyframe everything and let GEOlayers 3 handle all imagery rendering behind the scenes.
Online Search For Real Locations
Search for countries, cities, landmarks, points of interest, and more. Instantly draw them on your map, label them, or export the data for external GIS analysis.
One-Click Labels
Add labels with a single click using customizable templates. You can even turn any After Effects composition into a label template, giving you full creative control.
Data-Driven Map Animations
Import .CSV or .TSV files and create data-driven shape layer styles. This makes GEOlayers 3 perfect for explainer videos, documentaries, and visual storytelling.
Create 3D Landscapes From Real Elevation Data
If you use Trapcode Mir, Mettle FreeForm Pro, or Plexus 3, GEOlayers 3 can generate beautiful 3D landscapes in one click, based on real-world elevation data.
Who Is GEOlayers 3 For?
- Motion designers creating explainer videos
- Filmmakers working on travel or documentary content
- YouTubers visualizing routes, locations, and stories
- Data storytellers and educators
- Anyone who wants cinematic, accurate map animations without leaving After Effects
Final Thoughts
GEOlayers 3 turns After Effects into a full-fledged map design and animation powerhouse. With real-world data, deep customization, 3D animation tools, and seamless integration, it removes the friction from map-based storytelling.
If maps play any role in your motion design workflow, GEOlayers 3 isn’t just useful, it’s essential.
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