# Previewing and importing
The bridge between finding an animation in Explore and using it in your After Effects composition. This page walks through hover preview, the full preview view, and the actual insert action.

## How to access this

1. Open the LottieFiles plugin in After Effects.
2. Click **Explore** in the top tab bar.
3. Hover or click an animation card to start.

## Hover preview

Hovering over an animation card in the grid plays the animation in place. This is the fastest way to scan a row of results — you don't have to click through to know which animations are worth a closer look.

- The animation loops while your cursor is on the card.
- Cursor away to pause and return to the static thumbnail.

## Full preview

Click an animation card to open the full preview view. This shows the animation at a larger size with playback controls so you can confirm the motion before inserting.

To check creator, license, or file details, click **Open in browser** from the preview — those land on the animation's detail page on lottiefiles.com.

<Image src="https://assets.docs.lottiefiles.com/static/2087729674-640.webp" alt="Explore full preview view with the large animation player highlighted" caption="Open a card to preview the animation before inserting it into After Effects" zoom variant="default" srcSet="https://assets.docs.lottiefiles.com/static/2087729674-640.webp 640w, https://assets.docs.lottiefiles.com/static/2087729674-1024.webp 1024w, https://assets.docs.lottiefiles.com/static/2087729674-1920.webp 1920w" width="1920" height="1080" loading="lazy" data-blur="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAgAAAAFCAYAAAB4ka1VAAAACXBIWXMAAAPoAAAD6AG1e1JrAAAAV0lEQVR4nGPwjUj5D8JWTh7/jawc/ps6eYL5UPyPAcbR1DH7b6Li9F9dywRZwX+4Ai0Nk/9mco7/1dSMsCvQMLD8r6Zu+V9d1wy7Av2giP864dFgGtkNAPqKS1zz0cVQAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC" />

### Inspecting a zoomed preview

Zoom above 100% to inspect details outside the initially visible area. When the cursor changes to grab, drag the preview or use a two-finger trackpad gesture to move the animation. The plugin keeps the animation within the preview boundaries. While panning is active, preview clicks do not trigger playback or State Machine interactions.

## Motion Tokens

If an animation includes Motion Tokens, you can switch themes, preview temporary value changes, and insert the customized result. See [Using Motion Tokens](/en/integrations/after-effects/03_motion-tokens) for the complete Explore workflow.

## Inserting into a composition

From the full preview, click **Insert to AE**. The plugin always inserts the animation as a **new composition** in your After Effects project, regardless of which composition is currently active.

{
  // TEMP_IMAGE_HIDDEN: Hidden for interim release. Restore this image in this same source location during visual QA.
  false ? (

  <Image
        src="/images/screenshots/ae-explore-insert-result-in-ae.webp"
        alt="After Effects after inserting an Explore animation, with the new timeline item and plugin preview highlighted"
        caption="After insertion, the animation appears in the After Effects project and timeline"
        zoom
        variant="default"
      />
  ) : null
}

### Guest (signed-out) inserts

Signed-out users can preview animations but inserts may be limited. Sign in via the top-right account area to unlock the full insert flow.

{/* [needs review] confirm guest insert limit count and behavior */}

## Tips for motion/product designers

- **AE's Composition preview can mis-render Lottie-specific easing** (cubic-bezier interpolation Lottie expects vs. AE's native temporal interpolation). Trust the plugin's preview, not AE's, for final timing.

## Related

- [Finding animations](/en/integrations/after-effects/02_explore/finding-animations) — get to the animation in the first place.
- [Premium animations](/en/integrations/after-effects/02_explore/premium-animations) — license considerations before insert.
- [Using Motion Tokens](/en/integrations/after-effects/03_motion-tokens) — preview token and theme values before insertion.
- [Explore panel controls](/en/integrations/after-effects/02_explore/explore-panel-controls) — UI reference.

## Limits and plans

Inserting free animations is available to everyone. Signed-out guests can insert up to 3 animations total per device; sign in (free account) for unlimited free inserts. Inserting **Premium** animations requires a paid LottieFiles plan that includes the premium content library — see [How plans affect the plugin](/en/integrations/after-effects/10_workspace/plans-and-limits).