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Illustrator Vector Import in Motion – can it work?
Hello,
I was wondering as to the final verdict on importing vector graphics in Motion?
I’ve followed the instructions in this post
https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/170/859018
but like the writer of this post
https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/170/859549
it is not doing much for me. In the reply to this latter post, however, it was written:
“PDF is not great with Motion. Export to PSD from Photoshop first. ”
What is that saying? I’m dealing with an Illustrator CS4 file. The image is a vector trace of a detailed pen drawing. If I uncheck the PDF compatibility in the Illustrator save, Motion is unable to see the file. If I export as a PSD file then it would seem we are not dealing with a vector….
Thanks,
Rogier
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24 Replies
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Illustrator files work great in Motion. One thing not mentioned in that post is your Illustrator file needs to be RGB not CMYK.
Check out my DVD Money Making Graphics & Effects for Final Cut Studio 2
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Thanks for your reply.
But it does not make a difference in this case.
I’m wonder what information should be conveyed in order to isolate the problem? The file is a black and white image (a trace of an image in a PDF file). I’m using Illustrator CS4. For some reason Motion defines the document as a PDF in the media tab – I don’t know if that’s supposed to be…
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It says PDF because you created a PDF compatible file. In the first thread you had a link for this was said, ” [specialcase] Motion can read an Illustrator file just fine. Just be sure to save the AI file with PDF compatibility.
An illustrator file should say PDF in the media tab.Check out my DVD Money Making Graphics & Effects for Final Cut Studio 2
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Alright, thanks.
For some reason, as it turns out, Motion does handle other (smaller) Illustrator files just fine as vectors. Curiously, however, the original file to which my question pertained still does not work. Perhaps there is some kind of glass ceiling in terms of size and complexity.
Anyway, I’m glad there’s no problem with the other files.
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By size do you mean the size of the file (MB) or do you mean the complexity of the vector?
Check out my DVD Money Making Graphics & Effects for Final Cut Studio 2
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Both. The file size is 16.9 MB.
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Did you ever figure out if there is a size limit?
I work a TON in Illustrator and am going to be either learning Apple Motion 4 (which I have), or buying CS5 so I can ad motion to my vectors.
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Hi there. If you want to use vectors I suggest using After Effects. Motion was really build around bitmaps. You can not import layered vector files which what I think you will be doing. AE will be able to handle this much better. Not an answer you where expecting, however an honest one!
Best of luck
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Thank you Zak (nice name!!!)
The vector style i am looking to animate “from scratch” is best described by the following video i found on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/4179118
I am confident that I can create the vector icons/logos like this in Illustrator, and want to figure out the best way to animate the files.
As I am brand new to motion graphics, both Apple Motion and After Effects look like a foreign language to me. i am willing to invest in learning the right program.
After seeing the video I shared which shows the type of video I am looking to create, what are your thoughts (my sticking it out with Motion or buying After Effects).
Thanks again!
Zack
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Zack,
Take a look at this video I did in Motion. I think it is very similar to what you are after.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYm0d4VLvNw&feature=player_embedded
The majority of the files where created in Illustrator. Because I animated each “layer” or object I exported the file to photoshop. I then imported the layered photoshop document into Motion where I could work with each layer. I don’t feel like I lost any quality by doing that. The times I choose to work with the vector image is when I’m zooming into an object so I don’t loose sharpness. But in the case of the video the size of the objects does not change a whole lot. Plus, the photoshop files export out of Motion faster.
Zak is right, he is worth listening to and is very knowledgeable.
I think AE and Motion are similar and what you learn in one can be transferred to the other. So you don’t lose anything by learning one or the other. I think a lot of Motion users use both Motion and AE. Depending on where you want to go with your new skill set I think you will find that AE is the more widely used application. I used Motion a lot more because I feel it is faster.
PS. All of those images can be built directly in Motion by the way.
Hope this helps and best of luck.
Stephen Smith
Utah Video ProductionsCheck out my Motion Training DVD
Check out my Motion Tutorials
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