Once you’re in that new comp, you can right-click on the individual file (seen as footage) and select “Convert to Layered Comp”. Then, in the Project panel, create a new comp out of the AI file by dragging it into the Composition icon. To do this, when the menu appears for import, bring-in your Illustrator file as “Footage” and select “Merged Layers” under the Layer options menu that appears secondly. This is a great way to do things if you’re going from an animatic directly into animation. There’s another way to import your AI file not often-used, and that is to bring-in an AI file into After Effects and convert it to a layered comp in the Project panel.

If you import as footage, you’ll be able to import your entire AI file as one item, or you’ll have the choice to select one layer within the Illustrator file. What’s the difference between Retaining the layer styles and a standard composition? If you bring-in your file as a composition alone, every layer will be the size of your Artboard in Illustrator this will require much more work to anchor joints and reposition items where they need to go. In most cases, you’ll pick the Composition with Retained layer sizes. When you import your project file, you will see a few options appear You’ll want to choose to Import as: To bring an Illustrator file into After Effects you just need to use Command+ I, or alternatively, File>Import. Now that you've created some amazing illustrations and prepared them for animation, it's time to hop into After Effects! Tips for Importing your Illustrator File into After Effects See how quick & easy that was? Step 7: Import Your Illustrator File into After Effects All you have to do is save your AI file into a designated folder. Once you’ve brought all your items into designated layers, and you feel your illustration is ready to turn into an animation, you’re on your way to making a new animation in After Effects. Once you’ve selected your item, use command+x to cut your object and Command+F to paste the item into its former location. Step 5: Bring Your Items into Layersįrom here, you will have to pick an Illustrated item to bring into the new layer. Changing your actual name isn't this easy.

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