Mastering Artwork Animation in After Effects

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Importing Artwork from Adobe Illustrator to After Effects
3. Preparing Illustrator Artwork
   1. Checking the number of artboards
   2. Separating artboards
   3. Moving layers onto the artboard
   4. Simplifying artwork
   5. Separating elements into layers
   6. Naming layers
   7. Adding extra layers for future use
   8. Saving the file
4. Importing Illustrator Artwork into After Effects
   1. Importing as footage
   2. Importing as a composition
   3. Retaining layer sizes
5. Animating Illustrator layers in After Effects
   1. Understanding continuously rasterize
   2. Scaling and animating layers
   3. Updating artwork in Illustrator
6. Dynamic link between Illustrator and After Effects
   1. Updating color in Illustrator
   2. Resizing artwork in Illustrator
   3. Adding and deleting layers in Illustrator
   4. Converting artwork to Shape layers
   5. Using Overlord plugin for seamless integration
7. Conclusion

Importing Artwork from Adobe Illustrator to After Effects

Adobe Illustrator and After Effects are powerful tools for creating complex animations. While After Effects has native shape layers, more intricate illustrations are often better created in Illustrator. This article will guide You through the process of importing and preparing artwork from Adobe Illustrator to use in your After Effects animations. We will cover how to ensure your artwork is ready for import, how to import it into After Effects, and how to efficiently work with the Dynamic link between Illustrator and After Effects.

Preparing Illustrator Artwork

Before bringing your artwork into After Effects, it's important to ensure it is properly prepared in Adobe Illustrator. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Check the number of artboards: Open your Illustrator file and make sure it has only one artboard. If there are multiple artboards, separate them into different files or Create one file with one artboard for each element you'll animate.

2. Separate artboards: Use the artboard tool or the artboards panel to delete or separate the artboards as needed.

3. Move layers onto the artboard: Make sure all the elements you want to animate are on their own separate layers and positioned within the artboard. If any layer is partially off the artboard, move it entirely onto the artboard.

4. Simplify artwork: If your Illustrator file has a lot of layers, consider simplifying it by merging similar elements into single layers. This will make it easier to work with in After Effects.

5. Separate elements into layers: Use the layers panel to separate each element into its own layer. This ensures that they are not nested under a single layer.

6. Name layers: Rename each layer to accurately represent the element it contains. This will make it easier to identify and work with in After Effects.

7. Add extra layers for future use: To allow for flexibility in case you need to add elements later, add extra blank layers at the bottom of your layers panel.

8. Save the file: Save the Illustrator file in a designated folder, ready to be imported into After Effects.

Importing Illustrator Artwork into After Effects

Now that your Illustrator artwork is prepared, you can proceed with importing it into After Effects. Here are the different ways to import Illustrator artwork:

1. Importing as footage: Select the Illustrator file in the project panel and choose "Import as Footage." This will import the file as a single layer in After Effects.

2. Importing as a composition: Choose "Import as Composition" to import the Illustrator file as a composition. This retains the individual layers, allowing for easier manipulation in After Effects.

3. Retaining layer sizes: When importing as a composition, make sure to select the option to retain layer sizes. This ensures that the layers will maintain their original sizes in After Effects.

Animating Illustrator layers in After Effects

Once the Illustrator artwork is imported into After Effects, you can start animating the layers. Here are some tips for animating Illustrator layers:

1. Understanding continuously rasterize: After Effects is a Raster program, which means that vector artwork can become pixelated when scaled up. To maintain the crispness of vector artwork, enable the "Continuously Rasterize" option for each layer.

2. Scaling and animating layers: Use the transform properties in After Effects to Scale, rotate, and animate the Illustrator layers. Keyframe the properties to create smooth animations.

3. Updating artwork in Illustrator: If you need to make changes to the Illustrator artwork, you can update it within Illustrator and have the changes automatically reflect in After Effects. However, not all changes may be fully compatible with the Dynamic link between the two programs.

Dynamic link between Illustrator and After Effects

The Dynamic link between Illustrator and After Effects allows for seamless integration between the two programs. However, it has limitations. Here's what you need to know:

1. Updating color in Illustrator: Changes to color in Illustrator will be reflected in After Effects when the file is saved. This is a powerful feature that allows for easy adjustment of colors in complex animations.

2. Resizing artwork in Illustrator: Resizing artwork in Illustrator usually updates correctly in After Effects. However, if the center point of an element shifts during resizing, After Effects may not capture the change accurately.

3. Adding and deleting layers in Illustrator: Adding new layers to an Illustrator file after importing it into After Effects will not update in After Effects. Additionally, if a layer is deleted in Illustrator, After Effects will Show an error and the layer will need to be manually deleted in After Effects.

4. Converting artwork to shape layers: Illustrator artwork can be converted to native After Effects shape layers, providing more control and options for animation. This can be done through the "Create Shapes from Vector Layer" option in After Effects.

5. Using Overlord plugin for seamless integration: Overlord is a plugin that allows for even smoother integration between Illustrator and After Effects. It provides enhanced functionality, such as easily pushing shapes, gradients, and text into After Effects as native shape layers.

Conclusion

Importing artwork from Adobe Illustrator to After Effects opens up endless possibilities for creating complex animations. By properly preparing and importing the artwork, you can efficiently work with the layers in After Effects and bring your designs to life. The Dynamic link between Illustrator and After Effects offers convenience, but it's important to understand its limitations. Consider using the Overlord plugin for a seamless workflow between the two programs. With these tools and techniques, you can unleash your creativity and take your animations to the next level.