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warpigs666
Inspiring
December 3, 2017
Answered

Illustrator blend modes look different in after effects?

  • December 3, 2017
  • 5 replies
  • 6617 views

Hi all. So I've discovered that blend mode settings (multiply, overlay, etc) don't transfer over when you open a .ai file in after effects. I'm assuming there's some technical reason for that, so I've gotten in the habit of just importing the .ai layers and setting the blend mode in after effects. But after effects blend modes look very different than they do with the same layers in illustrator. I have scoured the internet but I can't figure out why this is. Can anyone explain or point me to a tutorial?

Thanks

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Mike_Abbott

    Check that your Illustrator document isn't in CMYK colour mode.

    File > Document Color Mode

    5 replies

    warpigs666
    Inspiring
    December 8, 2017

    Ok so I feel like an idiot, but yes the color mode was CMYK. It wasn't by accident, I always work in CMYK, and it had occurred to me it might be part of the problem and that I should check it, but I figured it couldn't possibly make that much of a difference and I never tested it. There are still other issues but I'll save them for a different thread. Thanks everyone for the help!

    Community Expert
    December 4, 2017

    Remember that in Illustrator you works with tha white background and in the After Effects regularly in black background, maybe you have to change de background color in After effects at white.

    If this is not a solution, try to put the same embedded profile sRGB color mode when you import the file. Right clic, Interpret footage, Color Management.

    Byron.
    warpigs666
    Inspiring
    December 3, 2017

    Thanks guys. Here's some screenshots. They're wildly different.

    Illustrator:

    After Effects:

    Any idea what could be causing this? I've tried just importing the .ai file and changing the map layer's blend mode, and then also importing the .ai file without the background, importing the background separately, and then changing the map's blend mode and it still just looks like this.

    I have tried to figure out if this has something to do with color profiles but either it doesn't or I'm just not understanding how to make the right changes to get it to import correctly.

    Mike_Abbott
    Mike_AbbottCorrect answer
    Legend
    December 4, 2017

    Check that your Illustrator document isn't in CMYK colour mode.

    File > Document Color Mode

    Jose Panadero
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    December 3, 2017

    Are you using color profiles embedded in your Illustrator files? Maybe you need to use the same profiles for your ai files inside AE or even configure your project using color management.

    Roei Tzoref
    Legend
    December 3, 2017

    show us in full screenshots exactly how different. I have not found it to be different.