02 · Import

Import + Relink

Oliver Aemisegger · 5 min read

To start animating, we need things to work with. Import them right and every layer stays editable.

This section enables you to

Import the file types you need
Import Illustrator files with editable layers
Fix missing files

Import Files

After Effects handles many formats. These are the ones you need:

.ai – illustrations with layers
.psd – image compositions with layers, e.g. loop.psd in the starter folder
.jpg .png .tif – images
.wav .mp3 – audio
.mov – video

01

Import a file

Double-click the empty Project panel, or Ctrl-click and choose Import > File.
⌘I

Illustrator Files

Every element you want to animate needs its own layer. Prepare the file in Illustrator first. Footage merges everything visible into one flat file, Composition keeps every layer editable.

01

Release to layers

In the Layers panel, select the top layer. Choose Release to Layers (Sequence) from the panel menu.
02

Clean up

Rename the layers and drag them out of the group. Delete the empty group and save.
03

Import as composition

With Retain Layer Sizes, each anchor point sits in the middle of its object. With plain Composition, it sits in the middle of the screen.
Composition – Retain Layer Sizes
04

File it

Move the new layers folder into footage > ai and the comp into comps.

Relink

If a file moves out of its folder, After Effects can’t find it. You get a warning and colour bars instead of your file.

Colour bars in the Composition panel where the missing file used to be

01

Move it back

Put the file back where it was. Ctrl-click it in the Project panel and reload.
Reload Footage
02

Or replace it

Ctrl-click the first missing file and point After Effects to its new place.
Replace Footage > File

Collect Files

Handing in a project or moving to another computer? Collect Files copies the project and every file it uses into one new folder.

01

Collect

Save first, then choose Collect Source Files: All and pick an empty folder.
File > Dependencies > Collect Files
02

Check the folder

Open the new folder: the project, all footage and a short report. Hand in this folder, not your working one.

Exercise

Import a layered file

Continue with your project from 01 Basics

Expected result

Your Project panel

comps
- loop
footage
- ai
  - loop Layers
    - ball/loop.ai
    - bg/loop.ai
    - loop/loop.ai

01Open loop.ai from your footage > ai folder in Illustrator and release the top layer to layers.
02Rename the layers ball, loop and bg, drag them out of the group, delete the empty group and save.
03In After Effects, import the file as Composition – Retain Layer Sizes.
04Move the layers folder into footage > ai and the comp into comps.
05Open the comp and check that the layers sit in the right place.

Shortcuts

Action	Mac
Import File	`⌘I`
Import Multiple Files	`⌥⌘I`

More info

Importing and interpreting footage – Adobe After Effects Help
Working with footage items – Adobe After Effects Help

Import Files

Import a file

Illustrator Files

Release to layers

Clean up

Import as composition

File it

Relink

Move it back

Or replace it

Collect Files

Collect

Check the folder

Import a layered file

Shortcuts

More info