Ai To After Effects
Raster Effects turn vectors into pixels so CR will not help that layer from AI. Try this: Open the AI file in Illustrator Set the document settings to pixels or points (they are the same when it comes to AE) Check the artboard size and make sure it is at least the same size as your comp frame like 1920 X 1080 Position the logo in its hero position in AI and scale it up so that.
- When merging text from AI to AE, you will most-likely lose any effects you applied in Illustrator, but if you want to re-apply that style in After Effects, you’ll be able to go over to the Appearance panel in Illustrator to find your effect and the parameters of it to add to your text now that it’s in After Effects.
- There is definitely a bug in either Illustrator or After Effects, or both. Everything on my side is set to sRGB. Illustrator, After Effects, monitors and operating system. It also works as it should in all other applications I'm using. Only Adobe is somehow still screwing up the colors.
Illustrator has great drawing tools. That's what it was designed for. There are some things you need to know to make it play nicely with After Effects.
How To Import Ai To After Effects
You usually need to animate almost every element in the design, so you have to have files that are super clean and well labeled. You might be tempted to get lazy if the file isn't complex, but labeling layers is a good habit to get into.
Here's a guide for organizing your illustrator file.
Hey motion designers, you can send this to designers who are going to send you Illustrator files for animation.
Import Illustrator Layers After Effects
Don't give them a hard time about it; no one has probably ever taken the time to explain it to them. Don't expect perfect files, but if they can help you out in any way, you'll be able to turn around an animation that much quicker.
All elements you want to animate go on a separate top level layer in Illustrator
When you import an Illustrator file into After Effects, 95% of the time you'll probably want to import as Composition - Retain Layer Size
Renaming layers is easier in After Effects (see below for details)
Stay organized!
Only one artboard in Illustrator
Don't mess with your Illustrator files much after you've started animating (colors are fine)
Everything on it's own layer
Anything that you want to animate needs to be on it's own top layer. It's pretty simple. Just do it.
Organize for your future self
You never know when you'll need or want to dig back into a file. And whether it's the next day or the next month, if you don't label your file well, you're definitely going to be kicking yourself. I'm probably preaching to the choir on this one, but you probably also need the reminder and encouragement.
Artboards
Export Ai To After Effects
Artboards can be great for storyboarding, but when you're preparing a file for animating in After Effects, it's best to create new files for each artboard. After Effects will only import the first artboard.
Don't mess with Illustrator files too much once they've been used in After Effects
Changing Illustrator files after they been used in After Effects can cause problems. You're pretty safe if you're changing colors, or doing minor adjustments to the shape, but adding new layers (or deleting layers) or making major changes to the design can cause big problems in After Effects. What you can do if you need to make big changes is duplicate the Illustrator file, make your changes, and re-import into After Effects. This does mean you have to start the animation over again.
In After Effects, go to File > Import > File (Cmd+I)...