Illustrator Vector Import in Motion – can it work?

[Ron Lindeboom]

When did you upload this video, Stephen? I noticed the audio and video are running out of sync and I want to debug this.

Thank you.

Ron

Best regards,

Ronald Lindeboom
CEO, Creative COW LLC
Publisher, Creative COW Magazine

Creativity is a process wherein the student and the teacher are located in the same individual.

“Incompetence has never prevented me from plunging in with enthusiasm.” – Woody Allen

[Zack Olson]

Stephen,

Thank you so much for the quick reply. i am very impressed with your video! The example you posted/created is a very good match for what I am looking to achieve.

Do you have a personal tutorial (or recommendation of one) that shows the workflow from .AI to Motion in a “From Scratch” animation project like the example you posted? I have literally been searching google and forums for the last two days for an acceptable “from scratch” tutorial showing the .Ai to Motion 4 workflow.

I want to start playing right away and see if I can figure out how to make my .AI files start moving!

[Stephen Smith]

oh no. That is not good. Thanks for the catch Ron! I’ll get our compression dude on it.

Stephen Smith
Utah Video Productions

Check out my Motion Training DVD

Check out my Motion Tutorials

[Stephen Smith]

Zack,
This is my work flow for getting layered Illustrator files in Photoshop to Motion.

Create images in Illustrator. Open your layers window if it is not already opened. Everything will be in one layer. Click on the “Create New Layers” button to create as many layers as you will need. Click on the disclosure’s triangle to see all of the sub layers in the main layer. Select the sub layer or sub layers that you want in its own layer and move it up on one of the new layers that you created. Do that for everything until everything that should be in its own layer is. Then go to File, Export. Choose Photoshop. Click on Export button. Be sure to make sure “Write Layers” is check so your content is transparent.

Bring into Photoshop if needs be. Make sure it is RGB. If a layer is in a group or something be sure to flatten it so it is just a layer, this can happen when you have multiple objects in one layer.

Also, I made a quick video to show the steps: https://reels.creativecow.net/film/illustrator-export-sample

You can drag a photoshop document onto your project pane, timeline or canvas. Let is hover for a second and Motion will ask you if you want to import all of the layers. Then you can animate each layer independent of the others. And for my shameless plug. Working with AI files and PSD is covered in my Motion Training DVD. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Stephen Smith
Utah Video Productions

Check out my Motion Training DVD

Check out my Motion Tutorials

[Zak Peric]

I think it needs to be mentioned that if you are going to export illustrator files into PSD then it is not anymore vector file it is a. Bitmap.

[Zack Olson]

Stephen,

I have been playing with the export to PSD option. In this post you mentioned that you save the Vector files for situations where you have to zoom in.

I am assuming that means there is an “AI” export method that creates a larger file size? The video I am looking to create will have quite a bit of of zooming. When I zoom in on the PSD import in Motion, the bitmap format rears its ugly head.

Can you import the .ai (or perhaps .pdf) into Motion and preserve the vectors?

[Stephen Smith]

The nice thing about an AI file is that it is vector so you can zoom in with no loss of quality. The problem in Motion with AI files is you can bring in layered files.

To import an illustrator file do the following: In Illustrator, save it as an Illustrator Document, make sure Create PDF Compatible File is checked. Import the file into Motion. Open up the Project Pane. Click on the Media Tab. Select the file. Uncheck Fixed Resolution and you should be golden. I only uncheck the Fixed Resolution check box when I’m done because once you do that Motion chugs. I don’t have a problem working with a crappy looking AI image in Motion until I’m ready to export. Hope this helps.

Stephen Smith
Utah Video Productions

Check out my Motion Training DVD

Check out my Motion Tutorials

[Zak Peric]

Boys, Boys,

Did you not read my first post. I love motion as much as any of you. The fact is Motion is bad in dealing with Illustrator files. Yes, you can import an PDF or Illustrator. However, all layers have to be separated one file per layer basis. A bummer if you have lots of layers. I repeat, THERE IS NO WAY IN WORKING WITH ILLUSTRATOR FILES IN A WAY THAT ONE CAN DO IN AFTER EFFECTS. APPLE PLEASE FIX THIS PROBLEM…..-)

[Zack Olson]

Thanks for your help Stephen. Looks like i will be manually “de-layering” the .ai files i created for my motion project.

With the inability to work with native .ai files in a layered setup, I may have to bite the bullet and buy After Effects. If I decide to stick it out with Motion, I will look real seriously at ordering your DVD, as I appreciate your willingness to share!

[Zack Olson]

Zak,

Thanks for all of your help!

I appreciate your sharing your knowledge.