2.18.0

Added

• set_property takes layer_ids: the same value on many layers in one call (13 coins, 10 ingots), every layer checked before any changes.
• save_project snapshot: true (with an optional note) keeps a numbered copy in snapshots/ next to the project, so going back to an earlier version is open_project on that copy instead of rebuilding it from memory.
• render_start start / end (seconds) render part of a comp, and draft: true uses the Draft Settings template: a quick moving preview of a few seconds, where preview_frame only shows stills.
• preview_frame names the scene each frame shows in an edit (scene, or scenes for a contact sheet): the top precomp playing at that time.
• add_layer_style accepts the Layer Style panel's labels where the match name differs: size (blur), spread / choke, angle, altitude, blend_mode, range, technique.

Fixed

• render_start always passes the comp's frame range to aerender, and a finished file shorter than that fails the job. A render once stopped at 54 of 2,422 frames, exited 0 and was reported as done with a clean check.
• A new text layer no longer inherits the last text's character settings (After Effects takes the Character panel's current ones): add_layer starts text from tracking 0, no faux styles or caps, auto leading, 100% scale, before any text_style.
• set_track_matte and add_layer_style warn when a 3D layer has layer styles: After Effects then ignores its track matte and draws it in stacking order instead of by depth (verified live; even a style switched off does it).
• review_motion checks text against the title-safe margin on its last frame too, not only mid-way: camera pushes carried titles out of frame by the end, where the check never looked.
• batch: a "$N.path" reference inside an array (e.g. layer_ids: ["$1.id", "$2.id"]) was rejected by the pre-check ("expected number, received string") although it resolves to a number when the step runs. Zod reports array positions as numbers and the comparison only matched strings.