In After Effects 25.1, Adobe continues to update its set of 3D tools. The most significant change is the new lighting tolerance setting for 3D layers, which can be turned off to prevent light sources in the scene from affecting the layer's content. Layers without enabled lighting effects also do not receive shadows or highlights from light sources. According to Adobe, this feature is particularly useful for scenes involving 3D objects with self-illumination, such as phones and monitor screens.

In After Effects 25.1, workflow improvements include a preview feature for 3D models imported in GLB or OBJ formats, the two 3D file types currently supported by After Effects. When working with a 32-bit color depth (32 bits per channel), the GPU now supports eight blending modes for layers with motion blur. Additionally, new scripting tools have been introduced for managing themes and fonts in projects.

In addition, Cinema 4D Lite, the stripped-down version of the 3D software included with After Effects, has been updated to Cinema 4D 2025. Mocha AE, the lighter version of Boris FX’s Mocha Pro planar tracking software bundled with After Effects, has also been updated and now supports the OCIO color management standard.

After Effects 25.1 is available for Windows 10 and later, and macOS 12.0 and later, under a subscription model. The subscription for a single After Effects app costs $34.49 per month or $263.88 per year. The update is also mentioned in the online documentation as the December 2024 release or After Effects 2025.1.