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AI (illustrator) layers not showing up in AE (after effects) CC 2014

Forum|Forum|11 years ago
May 1, 2015
14 replies
111632 views

I've just come across this issue for the first time. I've imported AI files into AE many times before and had no issues like this one.

After importing the layered AI doc into AE, only one layer will show up. Attached is a video I recorded of what happens. If you can make sense of it, please let me know. Note: I can save out eps as separate files and use those in AE no problem.

I'm working on a macbook pro retina and just did a fresh format about 2 weeks ago so everything is up to date. I've tried restarting AE and my computer. Also recreating a new AI file with different dimensions.

I blocked out the files on my computer in respect to my clients (in case you're confused).

Error or problem

Correct answer TalkMotion

sorry, that's what I meant. I've forced everything to vector. There's nothing "live" about the graphics. I've also double checked that the layers aren't checked off as templates.

I figured it out... you can't have more than one artboard in your illustrator file. I didn't know that but it makes sense now that I've come across the answer.

spotmedia_file1714

Participant

The Illustrator file was not imported layer by layer in After Effects 2026.

Nishu Kushwaha

Community Manager

Ensure that all the objects are on their separate layers. In Illustrator, you’ll be creating all the objects inside a single layer. Here’s how you can separate them:

Let me know if it doesn’t help.

Thanks,

Nishu

thepixelsmith

Community Expert

This is a script I made for Illustrator to auto split selected artwork to individual layers in Illustrator. It’s on Gumroad, it;s pay what you want so just type zero in the field and enjoy.

https://thepixelsmith.gumroad.com/l/layermethis

G

graceful_life5F94

Participant

"To ensure Illustrator files appear correctly in After Effects, select Create PDF Compatible File in the Illustrator Options dialog box."

THIS RESOLVED MY ISSUE!

surfacist

Participant

Also be sure your artboard is named "Artboard 1". Any other name will result in AE pulling it in as a flat file (no layers)

thepixelsmith

Community Expert

This isn’t true. Artboard name is irrelevant.

Z

z-z-z88

Participant

I tried everything written here, but nothing worked.
I found solution: save ai file as psd (photoshop) and import psd file.

М

Мария306105652rkv

Participant

Thank you so much!

A

abdula72470968

Participant

Always make sure you when you save the AI files, you choose save as PDF option. 🙂

W

william5E2E18759031

Participant

Thanks a lot, this solved the issue of not showing layers when imported in After Effects 😄

M

mhrbilalhassan

Participant

I have tried all the methods but all in vein. After a long time I got this. You should check this.

How To Seperate Objects to Their Own Layers | Illustrator Tutorial - YouTube

J

jake_3591

Participant

This one solved it for me too!

D

defaultbvei59yvvlzc

Participant

I am facing the same issue, thank you for sharing your experiment and the solution for it!

S

sneakysnakesucks

Participant

Man I found it !

Had a similar problem, I was working on an illustrator file with an image in one of my layers.

No matter what I did, nothing showed up in AE for this image, even though other vector layers were ok.

I also have to mention that this problem only occured on PC, on Mac everything ran fine.

I tried everything suggested in this forum and looked for answers on the net, nothing worked for me.

But while trying different settings on AI, I let AE opened with this problematic imported file.

I turns out that the not showing image imported from AI finally appeared, but took 15 minutes to do so, no loading bar to hint me.

I figured out it had something to do with the image settings inside AI.

What you have to watch is the image size. Even if you're image appears in a small portion of your artboard, illustrator manages links to your assets, as AE and InDesign do, and use the original size of the asset.

Open your Window > Links panel, and select your faulty image.

Turns out mine was 4947x9178, 363dpi ! Even if I worked in a 1080x1920 artboard !

So huge that AE struggles to show it (on PC, strange things that my weak mac air has no problem.) !

The solution is to reduce the image size to something more manageable.

Select your image, then Object > Rasterize

Color Mode RGB

Resolution : 72 dpi (we're working for videos, not print !)

Click ok, save your document, and now everything should work fine !

(Also check other suggestions if it doesn't work ! )

Cheers !