00::42 Error Message

[Erik Waluska]

Hi Abby,
Check that your PSD file is in RGB color mode and not CMYK. AE does not like CMYK.

If that is not the problem, please give more info about the offending file. For example: Does the problem occur only with that particular file or are you having trouble importing all PSD files? Do you get the error message when importing the file as footage or only when importing as a composition? How large is the file? What type of system do you have? What version of AE? Etc.

-E

[Abby Knapp]

Hi Erik,

I am using After Effects CS3 on Windows Vista. I had trouble importing two different psd files as compositions. No problem importing them as footage. One of them was a large file that I was using with a Classroom in a Book tutorial. It was working fine until I tried to import the rather larger .psd file as a composition. Then I got the 00:42 error message. I then tried to import another .psd file that contained a few layers in the same manner and the same error message came up. As I said, it works fine when I import a file as footage.

I hope this information helps you to answer my inquiry.

Thank you.

Abby

[Erik Waluska]

I’ve not encountered that particular error message but from a quick google search it appears to be somewhat generic and therefore hard to know exactly what is causing it.

I assume that you’ve checked that the PSD files are in RGB mode, right? CMYK files will not import as a composition correctly so that’s the most likely culprit. To check open the files in Photoshop and go to Image>Mode and be sure that RGB is checked and not CMYK.

Since the errors occurred after importing the larger PSD file, then either that file is making AE angry for some reason and/or it has possibly corrupted your project somehow.

Try to restart After Effects and then import the files into a new project and see if you still get the error.

If that doesn’t work, restart the computer.

You can also try to hold down CTRL+ALT+SHIFT as you open AE. That will reset AE’s preferences to default. That fixes a lot of stuff.

-E

[Abby Knapp]

Hi Eric,

Thank you for your reply. I have been using a tutorial in a book called “After Effects Apprentice” and imported the .psd files copied from the cd in the book. Then I started a new project and tried to import the .psd file as a composition. They are definitely RGB files. I have also reopened After Effects as per your suggestion to return to the default preferences. I restarted the computer. I have done all of your suggestions, but nothing has worked. I can import the .psd files as footage. No problem. But, if I try to import them as a composition or as a composition cropped, it does not work. Any more suggestions?

Thanks.

Abby

[Erik Waluska]

I can’t think of anything else to try but I believe I may have that book at home. If you can tell me which psd file on the CD that is giving you problems I will try to open it on my computer at home.

[Abby Knapp]

It is the .psd file called Butterfly Arrangement in the Lesson I, Sources folder.

Thanks.

[Abby Knapp]

It is the file called Butterfly Arrangement in Lesson I, Sources Folder.

[Erik Waluska]

Abby, I thought I might have that book but I don’t. I’m sorry I couldn’t help you but since this is a Meyers book, you could contact them directly through their website “cybermotion”. Here is the link to their training page. Click on “Contact” on the left and you can send them an email:

https://www.cybmotion.com/training/books.html

-E