• Adobe After Effects

  Masks/paths/strokes from Illustrator to AE- overlap problem

  Posted by Will Allen on November 6, 2010 at 9:49 pm

  Hi.

  I am doing animations where I draw a picture in Illustrator and then copy the paths and paste them into AE CS5. They become masks in AE and then I use the masks to generate a stroke so that I can animate the pictures drawing into the frame.

  The problem is that where the masks overlap in AE they are transparent. I have tried every single mode for the masks and the layer but I can’t get rid of those annoying little corners where they overlap. Does anyone know what I’m doing wrong?

  I even thought maybe if I just reverse the order of all the masks in the layer that might work but I can’t even seem to figure out how to reverse the stacking order of masks. (there are like 150 “masks”/strokes in each image so I can’t do it by hand.)

  Here is a screenshot of an example of what I’m talking about. Notice the overlap of the stroke around the ears and in the eyes. In the original Illustrator image that’s filled in.

  screenshot2010-11-06at2.40.27pm.png

  Thanks…I figure there is a simple solution to this…but I can’t seem to find anything that addresses my problem here or anywhere else on the web. Thanks again in advance.

  Will

  Chris Wright replied 15 years, 10 months ago 2 Members · 4 Replies
• 4 Replies

• 

  Chris Wright

  November 6, 2010 at 11:10 pm

  you need to close paths in illustrator. the vertex has to be connected for masks to work correctly. and yes, it’s a pain. it looks like a oval arrow.

  https://technicolorsoftware.hostzi.com/
• 

  Will Allen

  November 6, 2010 at 11:30 pm

  I don’t understand what you mean? How do I close a path in illustrator…that doesn’t mean that I have to have only closed images in Illustrator does it? What if I have to draw an X? Sorry if it that’s a silly question? But I’m a bit confused by this whole issue.
• 

  Will Allen

  November 6, 2010 at 11:49 pm

  Ok…I figured out how to close paths in illustrator but it still doesn’t work when I bring them into AE. Anyone got any ideas?
• 

  Chris Wright

  November 7, 2010 at 6:52 am

  AE doesn’t understand complex overlapping masks; as far as I know, they have to be simple linear vertex with no overlapping. that’s at least, my experience. if someone found a way, I’d love to hear it.

  https://technicolorsoftware.hostzi.com/

Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up