Importing .psd to comp length

[Walter Soyka]

Preferences > Import > Still Footage > Length of Composition

Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events

[John Nelson]

Thanks. I’ve done that, along with trashing preferences. No luck on either so far. Re started computer as well. Still comes in as two frames. Other suggestions?

https://www.omproductions.net

[Walter Soyka]

Do you perhaps have two versions of the file with consecutive numbers that are importing as an image sequence instead of a still? When you import the file into the project, make sure “Import as sequence” is unchecked.

Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events

[John Nelson]

No consecutive numbers. Sequence is unchecked. I’m trying to import a file with several layers, some with styles; shadow, bevel. If I merge import it comes in at proper length. Also tried to import other files without layers and they import fine. For some reason it doesn’t like this file, or I’m doing something wrong.

https://www.omproductions.net

[Walter Soyka]

[John Nelson] “If I merge import it comes in at proper length”

Got it. Compositions must have a length. When you import a layered PSD as a composition, AE defaults its length to that of the last composition you created.

You can create a new composition of the length you’d like your import to be, immediately delete that dummy comp, and re-import your PSD.

Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events

[John Nelson]

Understood. However I do have a comp in the project of the desired length. I tried a different approach and moved the psd to another drive, imported it and it came in at the proper length. Still scratching my head…
Thanks again.

https://www.omproductions.net

[Walter Soyka]

[John Nelson] “Still scratching my head…”

Me too.

If we can’t solve it, here’s a workaround: go download the Selected_Comps_Changer.jsx script from Christopher Green’s outstanding AE scripts collection [link]. You can use this to change the time of a comp and automatically extend any layers that are supposed to go to the end.

All of Mr. Green’s scripts are really useful timesavers. I’d suggest stuffing a few dollars in his virtual tip jar if you find them as handy as I have.

Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events

[John Nelson]

Go figure (again!) Took the very same psd from the original drive, imported it and, wa-la. If I live to be 8, I’ll never understand how zeros and ones cohabitate……

https://www.omproductions.net

[Chris Ray]

I’m having the exact same issue. The Preferences>Import>Still Footage setting will not switch out of Length of Composition to allow me to select a duration. Tried everything suggested on every site I can find. OS 10.7.5 CS5. Every work around I have tried still forces me to start over if I ever have to alter the original PS layer.