SMM FX for After Effects - Windows beta, development 7
Color Palette Match and Luminance Match

Tested platform: Windows x64, Adobe After Effects 2026.
This package does not support macOS, Windows ARM, Resolve or Fusion.

INSTALL OR UPDATE
1. Save your work and close After Effects and aerender.
2. Extract this ZIP. Keep a backup of any earlier SMM FX installation.
3. Copy the entire "SMM FX" folder into:
   C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects 2026\Support Files\Plug-ins\
   Approve the Windows administrator prompt if requested.
4. Keep ColorPaletteMatch.aex, LuminanceMatch.aex and SMMFXLicensing.dll
   together in that folder. Replace earlier copies there; do not keep duplicate
   copies of these effects in another AE plug-in folder.
5. Open After Effects from your normal shortcut.

ACTIVATE BOTH EFFECTS
Visit https://stopmotionmagazine.com/smm-fx-plug-in-access/ and sign in.
Eligible magazine members and complimentary license recipients can create an
activation key there. Other accounts can start one 30-day software trial.
The trial creates no payment, automatic charge or magazine subscription.

Apply Effect > SMM FX > Color Palette Match or Luminance Match to a layer.
Open the effect's Options window, paste your key, and select Activate / Refresh.
One activation covers the SMM FX collection on this computer. Two computers are
included per account. Each Windows user saves its own protected activation.

USE
Select the background plate in Reference Layer and adjust Amount.
Color Palette Match adapts RGB color balance and contrast to the selected plate.
Luminance Match adapts tones with subtle low-chroma color adaptation.
Precompose a composite plate if it should be used as the reference.

RENEWAL AND OFFLINE WORK
A fresh valid saved license is used locally. AE checks online at startup when
renewal is due; opening Options also checks. No network work occurs per frame.
Offline access lasts up to 72 hours after a successful check, capped by your
trial, complimentary grant or known membership end date. An admitted AE session
continues until you close AE. Restarting requires a valid saved or renewed license.

If access is unavailable, use Options and the website to check your membership,
activation key and computer slots. Releasing a computer reserves its slot until
its existing offline license expires. Keep the activation key private.

REMOVE OR RESTORE
Close AE and aerender. Remove this SMM FX folder, or restore your backed-up folder.
Removing the binaries does not cancel magazine billing or release a computer.
Use the website to manage those separately.

These are beta binaries and are not Authenticode-signed. Keep the included
third-party notices with redistributed copies. Render-farm licensing is separate.
