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Help in working with PSD images containing a text layer
I am currently stuck trying to find the most direct way to import many images that contain a picture as a background layer along with a text layer all created in PS. Importing them properly is the first question as each image contains a text layer to which I need to apply an opacity effect in AE CS3. I will have around 60 slides so management of the project is critical and since I need to apply the same effect to the text layer only of all imported images. I first began to create the text within AE but found that it would probably be easier to create the text in PS then import to AE.
1.) Can I import each image as footage, retaining the layers since each was created in PS with layers retained or I am forced to import each as a composition? So far I have not been able to find a way to retain the layers or get to the text layer in AE CS3 to set the effect when importing as footage.
2.) If I am forced to import each image as a compositon, natually I end up with as many compostions as slides. I am importing the images into the project panel in hopes of being able to group all images/compositons in one master composition which will create the timig of each image and to perform the sequencing for all slides. If I am working with compostions instead of images, I am confused how to set this up.
3.) The goal is to take all images/compositons(two layers)and apply one effect to the text layer only of one of the images then copy that effect to all other text layers associated with each image.
Can anyone please give me the steps to do this in the most straight forward manner? I can then begin to experiment and expand the process after first mastering this part.
Finally, is there any way to import all files in the format required to support the goal above, without having to tell AE how to import each image and then repeat this for every file to be imported?
Thanks for any input on my efforts to move forward.
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6 Replies
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you should be able to do this importing all of the psds as comps (they will have to be comps to keep the ps layers).
i don’t have cs3 yet, but it should be the same as ae7….
first, create a new comp that is the duration that you will want for your psd comps (ae will use that duration seting to create the duration of the psd comps). then choose file>import>file… and select all the psd file that you are going to import. choose to import as comp.
now you should have all your psds as comps in the project window. open one and apply what ever effect and/or parameter changes/keyframes, etc. that you need. then, select that layer and any of the effects that you applied and (from the animaiton menu) choose ‘save animation preset…’, enter a name and save it. then go thru each psd comp and select the text layer and choose either ‘apply preset’ or ‘apply recent preset’ and choose your preset.
once all of your psd comps are set to your liking, select them all in the project window and drag them to the make comp button (little film strip icon at the bottom of the prject window). choose to create a single comp and to sequence layers. if you want to a disolve transition between the psd comps choose overlap, enter the duration of the transition, and select the disolve.
all your psds will now have a text layer with the same animation preset and be sequenced (possibly disolving one to another) in a single comp.
Kevin Camp
Designer – KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW -
Kevin,
Much thanks for the simply excellent solution which has helped me develop a better understanding of the workflow for this effort but I somehow screwed it up somewhere and do not understand how or where exactly. When I applied the saved effect it worked for each slide composition I doubled clicked on to check the effect. When the new composition was created performing the sequencing, things feel apart badly. the background layer of each slide got moved to the top layer and what happens is that the background displays then fades then the text fades in over a black background instead of the picture and then fades out and the cycle repeats for every remaing slide in the project. Yuck!!
I cannot figure what went wrong.
to restated what I have in the project panel: for each slide I have a composition icon, a folder and inside the folder I have the background layer and the text layers. Which of these items/assets was I to drag from the project panel to the new comp button? Just the two slide layers and discard the folder and original slide compositon that was created when I imported each slide as a composition?
Applying the effect to each slide worked nicely, as you described. I checked each slide’s display by double clicking on the comp icon for each slide which then placed it in the time line (which is also how I applied the annimation effect) and all looked fine.
So it seems that I am having some issues understanding the workflow and creating the final comp which provides each slide sequenced and playing with the desired effects and in completely understanding the slide comp icon, the folder and if they need to be part of the final elements that are dragged to the new comp button. It seemed to me that each of these items are still linked to the background and text layer and could be separated from them. Easy to see I’m confused.
Can you please bear with me just a bit to help me sort out what I did that was incorrect that caused the the reveral of the background and text layer and why the effects are working in an inverted manner? BTW, when I created the new comp to get the all the slides to sequence and overlap, I dragged everything in the project panel to the new comp button. The time line appeared OK from appearence but naturally with the layer order reversed, all the effects were inverted.
Thanks in advance for your input to follow which will hopefully lead me to a sucessful conclusion.
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i think i may know what was going wrong, but i want to make sure that i understand what you have and what you want to get in the end…
you have 60 psd files with 2 layers; a text layer and a background image. the text layer needs to be effected or manipulated separately from the background image, but in the same way for each psd. then each psd needs to be sequenced (for a slide show like effect). i just want to make sure i’m not confusing you more by describing a process to achieve something different…
but, it sounded like the importing of psds went ok. and that you were able to create a your text effect preset and apply it to each text layer of each psd comp.
it sounded like the probelms occured when you tried to combine all the psd comps into your ‘slide show’ comp. first off, you will want to select only the psd (slide) comps, not the image or text layers associated with those comps, when you drag them to the make comp button. those layers are already referenced in the psd comps, presumably the way you want them to appear. one slight draw back to this many nested comps is if you need to adjust your text effect or any animated effects within your slide, you will need to open the slide comp for that slide and make adjustments there (many effects, like color adjustments etc, may be applied to directly to an individual slide comp).
second, i probably should have mentioned this in my first response, but the order of the sequence will be determined by the order in which you select the slide comps. that may help you if you were having problems with your slide order.
i’m a little confused by your mention of ‘all the effects were inverted.’ was it you text effects, or was it a disolve effect applied when creating the sequence?
Kevin Camp
Designer – KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW -
Kevin,
Your are exactly correct in your first three assumptions above. I did a poor job explaining the resultant effect of my disaster and in using the term inverted. What happened was each layer, background and text, were being sequenced becasue of the way I brough the entire project panel into the new composition button. So the background would sequence (essentially with no effect applied) then then the text layer (text fades in then out then to black background) becasue I sequenced the PSD comps AND the PSD which wer nested in the PSD comps. My poor explanation did not help either.
My text was not placed on a transparent background in PSD but I don’t think that will be an issue–I hope not.
After reading your reply, I realized my big mistake which was including the PSD layers AND the PSD comps.
Early on, when I was preparing the comps for the effects applied to the text layer, I saw that the effect was working nicely but I screwed this up importing the PSD layers AND the nested PSD comps into the new comp where sequencing and overlap is applied.
I am gong to try this again now with a more clear understanding, thanks to you, and will post the results to you.
I would very much appreciate your address if you are OK with that. Mine is dc-ghz@cox.net
Thanks again so very much for this invaluable information.
Stand by—-
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Keven,
Follow-up to your last reply and to what I tried today:
Everything fell into place and worked nicely. Again, thanks to your assitance. In summary, I noticed a couple of short-cuts that would have been helpful if allowed or if I could have discoved how to envoke them:
First it would be nice if once I have the desired effects set for one text layer of one imported PSD comp, to select all PSD comps, then paste to every other PSD comp in the project panel rather than having to double click on each PSD comp and copy and paste to each text layer one at a time in the time line.
The other feature which would be nice when exporting the finished composition with sequencing and overlaps to Premier would be to simply export that composition only and not the entire project containing the indivicual PSD comps and folders. I saw no way to do this but I’ll bet its there somewhere.
I will likely experiment further to add still more effects to make the viewing more interesting and captivating but your tips really help me get on the right track.
If there are any ways to implement the short cuts above, I would very much appreicate your feedback.
Thanks so very much again Kevin,
Jerry
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yep, it would be nice to have a function that was ‘do everything i just did to the rest of these’… but unless you want to get into writing java scripts that ae can execute (or if cs3 will create action scripts similar to those in photoshop for batch actions) we’ll just have to do it manually. although being able to save any number of effects and animated parameters as a preset helps a lot, i’ve wished i could create the actions, like in photoshop, to do tedious repetitive tasks.
i haven’t use premiere, or dyanmic link, but i think if you were to look into the manual or help file for dynamic link workflow or after effects premiere workflow you might find some help there. you can also ask for specific workflow help here or in the premiere forum. but i would think that you could export just your ‘slide show’ comp to premiere.
Kevin Camp
Designer – KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW
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