Create MOGRTs in After Effects for Premiere Pro

Motion Graphics Templates, commonly known as MOGRTs, bridge the gap between motion designers using Adobe After Effects and video editors working in Adobe Premiere Pro. This article covers what MOGRT creation entails, how After Effects artists package complex animations into customizable assets using the Essential Graphics panel, and how this workflow streamlines post-production by giving Premiere Pro editors complete creative control without requiring advanced animation skills.

Understanding Motion Graphics Templates (.mogrt)

A Motion Graphics Template (.mogrt) is a single, packaged file generated in After Effects that contains motion design elements, fonts, expressions, and source media. Instead of rendering static video files or requiring an editor to open After Effects via Dynamic Link, a MOGRT allows editors to modify specific visual parameters—such as text, colors, layout positions, and timing—directly inside Premiere Pro’s Essential Graphics panel.

The Role of After Effects in MOGRT Creation

After Effects serves as the engine where the underlying animation logic, aesthetic design, and visual complexity are built. Designers use After Effects to build lower thirds, title cards, transitions, logo reveals, and infographics. Through the use of expressions, creators can make these graphics dynamically responsive, meaning that background boxes can automatically scale to fit the length of text, or animations can adapt their duration without distorting keyframes.

How to Build a MOGRT in After Effects

  1. Design and Animate: Create the visual asset inside a standard After Effects composition, applying keyframes, effects, and any required expressions.
  2. Open Essential Graphics: Navigate to Window > Essential Graphics to open the panel, then select the target composition from the Master drop-down menu.
  3. Add Editable Properties: Drag supported properties from the timeline into the Essential Graphics panel. Supported properties include source text, color pickers, slider controls, checkboxes, and media replacement drop zones.
  4. Organize the Interface: Rename controls, group related properties into folders, and add comments to guide the editor on how to use the template properly.
  5. Set Responsive Design (Optional): Use the Responsive Design - Time feature or intro/outro protected regions to ensure that retiming the graphic in Premiere Pro does not compromise the entrance and exit animations.
  6. Export the Template: Click Export Motion Graphics Template at the bottom of the Essential Graphics panel. Choose whether to save the file to a local drive, a Creative Cloud Library, or the Local Templates Folder for immediate availability in Premiere Pro.

Why This Workflow Matters for Editors

  • Speed and Efficiency: Editors make revisions in real time inside Premiere Pro without waiting for re-renders from a motion designer.
  • Brand Consistency: Designers can lock down fonts, layouts, and animation timing while only exposing specific text fields and color palettes, preventing accidental deviation from brand guidelines.
  • Media Replacement: Editors can swap out logos, photos, and video clips within the graphic directly inside Premiere Pro via simple drag-and-drop actions.
  • Lightweight Assets: MOGRT files are significantly smaller than pre-rendered ProRes or transparent QuickTime files, saving storage space and project loading times.