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Importing Illustrator layers into After Effects
How do you import multiple (but not all) layers in an Illustrator file into After Effects. I know you can import all of them (by composition) or one of them (by footage, and then selecting layer), but what if two or three have changed and you want to import them?
This seems like an obvious feature so please let me know if I’m missing something obvious! Thanks to any replies.
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9 Replies
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If layers that have already been imported have “changed” in the Illustrator file, as long as those changes have been saved in the AI file, you simply need to reload the footage in AE. No need to import again.
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True, but what if you’ve added an additional 2/3 layers in the original AI file.
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Just like anything else you would need to re-import and update the layers within AE.
I use the flowchart for replacing layers.
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Yes, but how would you import two or three specific layers in an Illustrator file (without importing all the layers as a composition). Have you ever managed to do this? Thanks.
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I create versions.
No harm in opening the file, do your edits then save it as a new file.
Re-import and make sure to give it a name that makes sense.
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If you import an Illustrator file as footage instead of a composition, you can choose either Merged Layers or a specific layer from the file.
Alternately, import it as a composition anyway, cut and paste the layers you need from there and drop them in your main comp, then delete the imported comp.
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Or, better yet, check out Overlord. It’s my favorite way to work from Illustrator into After Effects, by far:
https://www.battleaxe.co/overlord
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That looks pretty sick, I’ll have to check that out.
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Thanks for the replies.
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