# ae_get_screenshot

Captures the current frame of the active composition and returns it as an image to the AI agent. Use this to visually inspect the composition.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `ae_get_screenshot`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-get-screenshot

## Facts

- Tool: `ae_get_screenshot`
- Server: Ae (`ae-mcp-server`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae.md
- Install: `npx -y ae-mcp-server`
- Homepage: https://www.npmjs.com/package/ae-mcp-server
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "ae_get_screenshot",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why ae_get_screenshot is rated Low

This tool only reads and returns visual data from the current state of an After Effects composition. It does not create, modify, delete, execute code, or trigger external operations. The capture and return of a screenshot is a non-destructive, informational operation typical of Read category tools.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool description states it 'Captures the current frame of the active composition and returns it as an image to the AI agent' for visual inspection—a pure retrieval operation with no modification or side effects."

## Use case

AI agents call ae_get_screenshot to retrieve information from Ae without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Ae:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "ae_get_screenshot": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Ae (34)

- `ae_delete_layer` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-delete-layer.md
- `ae_remove_effect` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-remove-effect.md
- `ae_add_expression` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-add-expression.md
- `ae_render_preview` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-render-preview.md
- `ae_select_layers` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-select-layers.md
- `ae_check_connection` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-check-connection.md
- `ae_get_composition_info` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-get-composition-info.md
- `ae_get_effect_info` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-get-effect-info.md
- `ae_get_layer_info` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-get-layer-info.md
- `ae_get_render_queue_info` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-get-render-queue-info.md
- `mcp_health_check` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/mcp-health-check.md
- `mcp_performance_metrics` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/mcp-performance-metrics.md
- `mcp_system_diagnostics` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/mcp-system-diagnostics.md
- `ae_add_audio_markers` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-add-audio-markers.md
- `ae_add_keyframe` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-add-keyframe.md
- `ae_add_text_animator` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-add-text-animator.md
- `ae_animate_camera` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-animate-camera.md
- `ae_animate_property` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-animate-property.md
- `ae_apply_color_grading` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-apply-color-grading.md
- `ae_apply_effect` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-apply-effect.md
- `ae_apply_effect_preset` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-apply-effect-preset.md
- `ae_create_composition` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-create-composition.md
- `ae_create_layer` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-create-layer.md
- `ae_create_null_controller` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-create-null-controller.md
- `ae_create_particle_system` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-create-particle-system.md
- `ae_duplicate_layer` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-duplicate-layer.md
- `ae_enable_motion_blur` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-enable-motion-blur.md
- `ae_export_video` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-export-video.md
- `ae_import_file` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-import-file.md
- `ae_parent_layer` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/ae/ae-parent-layer.md
- …and 4 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/ae.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=ae · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/ae