add_footage_layer

Add an imported footage item as a layer in a named composition.

SERVERAe SOURCE@synthetic-ai/ae-mcp

Medium RISK CLASS

Category Write

Parameters 82 required

Recommended Rate-limitedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/synthetic-ai-ae-mcp/add-footage-layer.md

WHAT IT DOES

What add_footage_layer does on Ae

AI agents use add_footage_layer to create or update resources in Ae, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Ae environment.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`save`	boolean	—	Save the project after updating. Defaults to false.
`scale`	array	—	Optional layer scale.
`compName`	string	Yes	Composition name.
`itemName`	string	Yes	Footage item name.
`position`	array	—	Optional layer position.
`layerName`	string	—	Optional layer name after adding.
`timeoutMs`	number	—	Process timeout in milliseconds. Defaults to 120000.
`projectPath`	string	—	Optional absolute path to an .aep file to open first.

Parameters from the server's own tool schema.

RISK

Why add_footage_layer is rated Medium

An AI agent can call add_footage_layer faster than any human can review: one bad instruction and it creates or modifies resources in Ae by the hundred, each call as confident as the last.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs add_footage_layer safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Ae, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For add_footage_layer, this is the rule to start with:

add_footage_layer Rate-limited

add_footage_layer stays usable, but capped: an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "add_footage_layer": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "add_footage_layer_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Ae, apply this rule, and every add_footage_layer call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about add_footage_layer

What does the add_footage_layer tool do? +

Add an imported footage item as a layer in a named composition. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Ae MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

What parameters does add_footage_layer accept? +

add_footage_layer accepts 8 parameters: save, scale, compName, itemName, position, layerName, timeoutMs, projectPath. Required: compName, itemName. The full parameter table on this page comes from the server's own tool schema.

How do I enforce a policy on add_footage_layer? +

Register the Ae MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for add_footage_layer: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Ae. Nothing to install.

What risk level is add_footage_layer? +

add_footage_layer is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit add_footage_layer? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the add_footage_layer rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.

How do I block add_footage_layer completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for add_footage_layer. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.

What MCP server provides add_footage_layer? +

add_footage_layer is provided by the Ae MCP server (@synthetic-ai/ae-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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