• Adobe After Effects

  Need to convert Shape Layer to outlines?

  Posted by Israel Long on September 11, 2012 at 6:32 pm

  Anyone know if this is possible?
  Maybe a script?
  I need to convert a few Shape Layers to outlines/masks for use in Element3D.

  I created the Shape Layers in the normal fashion:
  -drew a random closed bezier path on a shape layer
  -used the shape layer tools to make it far more complex & cool

  Now I would like to convert this new shape to outlines or a mask.
  (Similar to Illustrator’s “Object > Expand” function)

  Any help appreciated:)

  Israel “Izzy” Long
  Motion and Title Animation
  ragecg.com

  Israel Long replied 13 years, 8 months ago 2 Members · 3 Replies
• 3 Replies

• 

  Tom Daigon

  September 11, 2012 at 6:54 pm

  Heres a shot, how about using Autotrace on the shape layer to create a mask?

  Tom Daigon
  PrP / After Effects Editor
  http://www.hdshotsandcuts.com
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRIg6h-LIm0 (Best viewed at 1080P and full screen)
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• 

  Israel Long

  September 11, 2012 at 8:29 pm

  Thanks Tom & Dave, very much:)

  And please lemme know if I’m doing any of this incorrectly:)

  Tom: Sadly, I tried Autotrace, and as it derives it’s result from the rasterized rgba information of a layer, much like Illustrator does, the result is not as clean as I need:(

  Dave: Sadly, since a shape layer is Parametric and not Bezier, there is apparently no copyable path property… unless I missed it?
  Please let me know if I did:)
  See image:
  

  Thanks again.

  Israel “Izzy” Long
  Motion and Title Animation
  ragecg.com
• 

  Israel Long

  September 11, 2012 at 9:29 pm

  Because if you look at the image I attached to the last post, once you adjust the parameters of the shape layer options, the shape becomes far more complex than a simple primitive shape, etc.

  For example, you can draw a single simple ellipse, then adjust it to look like a ring of random, offset dash shapes of different sizes and legths etc., like this:
  

  So, sadly, there is no “expanded” information to copy-paste:(

  However, please keep those ideas coming:)

  Israel “Izzy” Long
  Motion and Title Animation
  ragecg.com

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