Do bigger characters require more processing?

Question

Hi

I didn't know how else to word the title, but here's my situation:

I'm importing a vector graphics file from Illustrator, then converting to layered comp, then "Create shapes from vector layer" for each layer.

The image is often bigger than what I need - sometimes I'm scaling it down to 10% of what it was.

In the above example, from a processing point of view, am I better of importing an image that's 90% smaller to start off with (or permanently shrinking it in some way in AE ie not scale), or will this not make any difference ie once it's scaled, AE only processes the smaller image anyway, not the full size graphic?

Thank you

Byron Cortez · Accepted Answer

If you import it relatively large you will get better details when you convert it to vectors, but there is not a difference with the size because the vector graphics generated by After Effects (the Shape Layers are) have that benefit that they do not really weigh practically anything and in this case you don't even need to activate Continuous Rasterization. It would need more processing if they were huge bitmap images but they are not.

I hope it helps you.

Mylenium · Answer

As Byron already explained, shape layers use their own rasterization algorithm which is always limited to the comp-sized virtual container, so actual size of the shape elements doesn't really matter. It's more about their complexity and interactions - working with a detailed shape with hundreds of anchor points and combining it with trim path operators, merges or multiple stroke clearly is a different thing from pushing around a single rectangle.

Mylenium

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