Return-Path: Received: from mail-pd0-f178.google.com ([209.85.192.178] verified) by media-motion.tv (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.2.10) with ESMTP-TLS id 5396729 for AE-List@media-motion.tv; Tue, 04 Mar 2014 00:00:08 +0100 Received: by mail-pd0-f178.google.com with SMTP id x10so4293457pdj.37 for ; Mon, 03 Mar 2014 15:00:33 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20120113; h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:date:message-id:subject:from:to :content-type; bh=+aDVU1h/oogqj+VcuEuvVM/NXum4KRyWlCLefccKdF0=; b=jNJVa+MA/Wj3EBMbtsi34oMQvvE66xfac4UB4aGvHecz3nFHiNuyu/na0Cbk8Sq8VA DNCiYK7RDrYQ+ecE0qZKuH8Qz0OCdxDW0QpU12xspCkm618fS0/nOjuxhJT2AvKiuICv 8ZDzosMnIWDMYN+xX7vDrAIQ+lKl4OK20fJrUVB8JowJiSS/4lGogiHGqtWi+GjbSobH Y3ZCLa0mNoqDtLxfuYN+x8rweCMfo1OxhtgpG21D7LB1RX9Syf7+WdYNzSnmi7tPndIg 6fOvmNPPIJkNf9xsM5JsN0imeSgle78vmCa2r5ne2XKFyKuMKAuDvhfqwl4hTH7NWhG5 NUOw== MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Received: by 10.68.239.10 with SMTP id vo10mr5213347pbc.48.1393887633532; Mon, 03 Mar 2014 15:00:33 -0800 (PST) Received: by 10.68.33.166 with HTTP; Mon, 3 Mar 2014 15:00:33 -0800 (PST) In-Reply-To: References: Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2014 15:00:33 -0800 Message-ID: Subject: Re: [AE] AI > PSD > AE workflow recommendations? From: patrick siemer To: After Effects Mail List Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=047d7b33ca7c40ec5704f3bbc1c9 --047d7b33ca7c40ec5704f3bbc1c9 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 I know I am coming in a bit late on this thread, but after looking at that image of the photoshop layers, I suggest training your friend on how to prepare a Photoshop comp for After Effects. When working with other designers, especially print designers, i always make sure we are on the same page regarding prepping Photoshop files for AE. There are so many ways to make a file more efficient in AE. for instance... separate layers for each shadow? Why not just throw a single light on the whole scene? or generate the shadow with the Drop Shadow effect. Definitely combine as many layers as possible. It is just part of the job for me. I try to manage expectations with clients by requesting that files be prepped for AE if possible, just so they know there is effort required there. That usually leads the conversation to the difference between Print and Video and just generally helps in client understanding. Remember that you are the one that needs to have files made a particular way for your personal process. It is ultimately up to you to educate the designers and clients you work with, or be prepared to fix the massive photoshop files that come your way. They can't be expected to know what you need until you tell them. I am not sure how much of what I just wrote is applicable to your problem, but i am pretty sure it is not entirely a software problem. I have found it sound advice and useful in many cases. Animation is hard to do well, and nothing worth doing is easy. Just get excited about it. It beats flipping burgers! (unless you are hungry) good luck patrick siemer On Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 12:45 PM, rendernyc wrote: > just a bunch of diferent shaped dots and ovalish shapes that make up part > of a globe that is part of a larger logo. > > wanted to have them each build on in one color with some inertia bounce > and then scale back down down leaving the the 100% scale dot in the logo > color behind. > > fill color with the non logo color > take a layer and use transform effect with 0->100->0 scale with an inertia > expression > set anchor and position to width/2 > CC composite set to behind to leave the logo color at proper size and > position behind. > opacity is 0 hold kf then 100 at scale 100 > > copy effects category and paste to all > > select all and use rift to randmize start point and you have a nice effect > in a few minutes of work > > > On Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 2:45 PM, Roei Tzoref wrote: > >> thanks for sharing >> not to imply you should get rid of the layers :) >> just that you should merge them if you don't need them separately, which >> relates to scott's problem. >> >> I'm intrigued about the logo with the 600 layers... >> >> >> On Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 9:29 PM, Rendernyc wrote: >> >>> It's a logo. So it needs to be precise. >>> >>> Trust me if I didn't I wouldn't :) >>> >>> I split it into 3 files to get it to import >>> >>> On Mar 3, 2014, at 2:01 PM, Roei Tzoref wrote: >>> >>> do you really need all those 600 layers in your composition? >>> if you don't need to move them separately then the answer is no... >>> even if you do I could only imagine its some sort of particles or >>> fractals that you could recreate in some other way in AE >>> >>> >>> On Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 7:47 PM, rendernyc wrote: >>> >>>> and here i am reading this thread and have to say i havent really come >>>> across these issues. >>>> >>>> of course now i reading my email because i am waiting for AE to import >>>> a 600 layer AI file and it seems to have choked... ugh >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Sun, Mar 2, 2014 at 2:52 PM, scott.aelist wrote: >>>> >>>>> If it's helpful i've posted a little diagram of my process here: >>>>> http://i.imgur.com/resFDjm.jpg >>>>> Teddy yes I save all my SVOs into one AI file... still, it is very >>>>> time-consuming to have to handle each of these layers individually. I have >>>>> move them to a new layer, group them (if the object isn't grouped), scale >>>>> them up, name the layer... etc etc. I thought I might be able to open the >>>>> PS in AE but it treats all the SVOs as placed raster objects, not as vector >>>>> objects. >>>>> Roei thanks for your comment. If you have any tips i'd love to hear. >>>>> >>>>> I feel like there is no quick solution to this and i simply need to >>>>> file a feature request asking to be able to convert Smart vector objects to >>>>> shape layers. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Sun, Mar 2, 2014 at 11:34 AM, Roei Tzoref wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> hey scott. >>>>>> >>>>>> I would like to help you solve your workflow problem. >>>>>> >>>>>> I work on a news channel where we have to deliver very fast and rely >>>>>> on fast psd/ai->ae workflow >>>>>> making the shift from psd vectors to ae is kind of my expertise. >>>>>> I also teach students where troubleshooting psd/ai->ae is my main >>>>>> teaching focus. >>>>>> but enough about me, please contact if you still need some help and >>>>>> me I am pretty sure I can help you sort some of this mess out. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Sun, Mar 2, 2014 at 1:31 AM, scott.aelist wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> I'm frustrated with the amount of redundant file prep i'm having to >>>>>>> do on a current job and I'm wondering if there's a faster way. I'm tasked >>>>>>> with animating some little vignettes for a travel show. >>>>>>> A friend is illustrating the shot in photoshop and then i have to >>>>>>> animate from the PSD. Ideally I would just import the PSD into AE and go, >>>>>>> but I can't. A lot of the assets are vector objects so I end up opening >>>>>>> EVERY SINGLE smart vector object in AI and then I have to save all these >>>>>>> layers out as AI files. I thought maybe I could import the PSD into AE and >>>>>>> convert it to shape layers or an AI file there, but no dice. I should also >>>>>>> mention that I have to scale up all these vector assets 200% because >>>>>>> sometimes I need layers larger than they appear in the PSD, and if I use >>>>>>> continually rasterize it often screws up any effects or puppeting I have on >>>>>>> my layer. This takes an enormous amount of time and my client doesn't >>>>>>> understand why I can't turn these things out in a day or two, and I have to >>>>>>> make these dubious-sounding excuses of how I have to 'prepare' all these >>>>>>> assets for animation. Is there a faster way? And am I the only one who >>>>>>> scales up all their AI assets before bringing into AE? >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> danny princz >>>> >>>> vimeo.com/rendernyc >>>> >>> >>> >> > > > -- > danny princz > > vimeo.com/rendernyc > --047d7b33ca7c40ec5704f3bbc1c9 Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
I know I am coming in a bit late on this th= read, but after looking at that image of the photoshop layers, I suggest tr= aining your friend
on how to prepare a Photoshop comp for After Ef= fects.=A0 When working with other designers, especially print designers, i = always make sure we are on the same page regarding prepping Photoshop files= for AE.=A0 There are so many ways to make a file more efficient in AE.
for instance... separate layers for each shadow? Why not just throw a= single light on the whole scene? or generate the shadow with the
Drop = Shadow effect.=A0 Definitely combine as many layers as possible.=A0 It is j= ust part of the job for me.=A0 I try to manage expectations with clients by= requesting that files be prepped for AE if possible, just so they know the= re is effort required there. That usually leads the conversation to the dif= ference between Print and Video and just generally helps in client understa= nding. Remember that you are the one that needs to have files made a partic= ular way for your personal process.=A0 It is ultimately up to you to educat= e the designers and clients=A0 you work with, or be prepared to fix the mas= sive photoshop files that come your way.=A0 They can't be expected to k= now what you need until you tell them.=A0 I am not sure how much of what I = just wrote is applicable to your problem, but i am pretty sure it is not en= tirely a software problem.=A0 I have found it sound advice and useful in ma= ny cases.=A0=A0 Animation is hard to do well, and nothing worth doing is ea= sy.=A0 Just get excited about it.=A0 It beats flipping burgers! (unless you= are hungry)
good luck
patrick siemer


On Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 12:45 PM, r= endernyc <rendernyc@gmail.com> wrote:
just a bunch of diferent sh= aped dots and ovalish shapes that make up part of a globe that is part of a= larger logo.

wanted to have them each build on in one color with some ine= rtia bounce and then scale back down down leaving the the 100% scale dot in= the logo color behind.

fill color with the non logo color
take a lay= er and use transform effect with 0->100->0 scale with an inertia expr= ession
set anchor and position to width/2
CC composite = set to behind to leave the logo color at proper size and position behind.= =A0
opacity is 0 hold kf then 100 at scale 100

co= py effects category and paste to all

select all an= d use rift to randmize start point and you have a nice effect in a few minu= tes of work


On Mon,= Mar 3, 2014 at 2:45 PM, Roei Tzoref <yooofi@gmail.com> wrote= :
thanks for sharing
not to imply you should get rid of = the layers :)
just that you should merge them if you don't need the= m separately, which relates to scott's problem.

I'm intrigued about the logo with the 600 layers...=A0
=


On = Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 9:29 PM, Rendernyc <rendernyc@gmail.com> wrote:
It's a logo. So i= t needs to be precise.=A0

Trust me if I didn't= I wouldn't :)

I split it into 3 files to get it to import=A0

On Mar 3, 2014, at 2:01 PM, Roei Tzoref <yooofi@gmail.com> wrote:

do you really nee= d all those 600 layers in your composition?
if you don't need to mo= ve them separately then the answer is no...=A0
even if you do I c= ould only imagine its some sort of particles or fractals that you could rec= reate in some other way in AE=A0


On Mon,= Mar 3, 2014 at 7:47 PM, rendernyc <rendernyc@gmail.com> w= rote:
and here i am reading this = thread and have to say i havent really come across these issues.

of course now i reading my email =A0because i am waiting for AE to imp= ort a 600 layer AI file and it seems to have choked... ugh



On Sun, Mar 2, 2014 at 2:52 PM, scott.aelist <scott.aelist@gmail.com> wrote:


On Sun, Mar 2, 2014 at 11:34 AM, Roei Tzoref <yooofi@gmai= l.com> wrote:
hey scott.

I would like to help you solve your workflow problem.

I work on a news channel where we have to deliver very fast and rely o= n fast psd/ai->ae workflow
making the shift from psd vectors to ae is kind of my expertise.
=
I also teach students where troubleshooting psd/ai->ae is my main t= eaching focus.
but enough about me, please contact if you still n= eed some help and me I am pretty sure I can help you sort some of this mess= out.



On Sun, Mar 2, 2014 at 1:31 AM, scott.aelist <scott= .aelist@gmail.com> wrote:
I'm frustrated wit= h the amount of redundant file prep i'm having to do on a current job a= nd I'm wondering if there's a faster way. I'm tasked with anima= ting some little vignettes for a travel show.
A friend is illustrating the shot in photoshop and then i have to ani= mate from the PSD. Ideally I would just import the PSD into AE and go, but = I can't. A lot of the assets are vector objects so I end up opening EVE= RY SINGLE smart vector object in AI and then I have to save all these layer= s out as AI files. I thought maybe I could import the PSD into AE and conve= rt it to shape layers or an AI file there, but no dice. I should also menti= on that I have to scale up all these vector assets 200% because sometimes I= need layers larger than they appear in the PSD, and if I use continually r= asterize it often screws up any effects or puppeting I have on my layer. Th= is takes an enormous amount of time and my client doesn't understand wh= y I can't turn these things out in a day or two, and I have to make the= se dubious-sounding excuses of how I have to 'prepare' all these as= sets for animation. Is there a faster way? And am I the only one who scales= up all their AI assets before bringing into AE?





--
danny princz

vimeo.com/rendernyc





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