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How to Import Illustrator Layers Into After Effects for Animation

Published in Video Editing 2 mins read

Importing Illustrator layers into After Effects is straightforward and offers several methods. The best approach depends on your desired outcome and workflow.

Method 1: Direct Import as Composition

This method imports your entire Illustrator file as a single After Effects composition, preserving layer structure.

  1. Open After Effects: Launch your After Effects software.
  2. Import the Illustrator File: Navigate to File > Import > File. Select your Illustrator (.AI) file.
  3. Choose Import Kind: Crucially, select "Composition – Layer Size" under "Import Kind" at the bottom of the import dialog box. This ensures each Illustrator layer becomes a separate layer in your After Effects composition.

This method maintains the original layering from Illustrator, making it ideal for animating individual elements within your design.

Method 2: Drag and Drop

This simpler method is quicker, particularly if you only need to import specific layers.

  1. Open Both Applications: Have both Adobe Illustrator and After Effects running.
  2. Drag and Drop: In Illustrator, select the layers you wish to import. Drag and drop them directly into your After Effects project panel.

This method is fast but requires more manual selection of layers.

Preparing Your Illustrator File for Import

Regardless of your chosen import method, preparing your Illustrator file beforehand simplifies the process in After Effects:

  • Organize Layers: Clearly name and group layers in Illustrator for easier identification and management in After Effects.
  • Vector vs. Raster: Ensure your Illustrator artwork is primarily vector-based. Rasterized elements may lose quality upon scaling in After Effects.
  • Pre-compose complex elements: If you have many intricate elements grouped together, consider pre-composing these in Illustrator before importing to improve organization and animation performance.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues (e.g., layers showing as image sequences instead of individual layers), double-check that you've selected the correct "Import Kind" option during the import process. Refer to Adobe's documentation or online resources for further troubleshooting.

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