Adobe After Effects is a robust program utilized for designing visual effects and motion graphics. A popular file type frequently used in After Effects is the Adobe Illustrator (AI) file. This tutorial will walk you through the steps of including an AI file in your After Effects project.
Step 1: Open After Effects
Firstly, open Adobe After Effects on your computer. Once the software is opened, you can start creating a new project or open an existing one.
Step 2: Import AI File
To add an AI file to your After Effects project, go to the “File” menu and select “Import”. In the import dialog box, navigate to the location where your AI file is saved. Select the file and click on “Import” to add it to your project.
Step 3: Convert AI File to Shape Layers
After importing the AI file, you will notice that it appears as a single layer in your timeline. To convert this layer into shape layers, go to the “Layer” menu and select “Create Shapes from Vector Layer”. This will convert the AI file into individual shape layers.
Step 4: Edit Shape Layers
Once the AI file is converted into shape layers, you can edit each layer individually. You can change the color, size, and position of each shape layer using the tools available in After Effects.
Step 5: Animate Shape Layers
After editing the shape layers, you can add animations to them using the animation tools available in After Effects. You can create keyframes and adjust the properties of each layer to create smooth transitions and effects.
Step 6: Export Your Project
Once you are satisfied with your project, go to the “File” menu and select “Export”. In the export dialog box, choose the desired format and settings for your output file. Click on “Export” to save your project as a video or image file.
Conclusion
Adding an AI file to After Effects is a simple process that can enhance your visual effects and motion graphics projects. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily add AI files to your project and create stunning animations.
