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Rachel29573536hknu
Participant
February 5, 2024
Answered

Overlapping layers

  • February 5, 2024
  • 1 reply
  • 367 views

My students are creating illustrations in Adobe Illustrator and then animating them in After Effects. They are told that every element that needs to move seperately will need to be on a seperate layer in AI before importing the ai file into AE. 

Many students are having a problem with their layers overlapping other layers. Object A will be hiding behind Object B even though the layer panel next to the timeline shows that the layer for Object A is in front of Object B.

 

How can they fix this? I read online that this could be because they are using 3D objects. They are using 3D objects because they are adjusting the cameras with a null object in order to zoom in and move the camera around the scene.

 

Any suggestions?

Thanks! 

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Rick Gerard

    You can add an expression to the Position of a 3D layer that uses the layer index to offset the layer 1 pixel in Z space. This solves the problem of the two layers on the same plane issue with 3D layers.  If they design the AI file with the layers in the proper stacking order, this expression applied to the layer's position solves the problem:

    [value[0], value[1], value[2] + index]

    That will still allow positioning all of the layers anywhere in 3D space, but it will keep the layers one pixel apart in Z. 

     

    It is also a good idea to organize 3D layers in the same way you organize actors on a stage. Use multiple views to set things up and start with the camera in its default position in front of the stage. Move the actors first, just like a director does, then move the camera if needed.

     

    1 reply

    R
    Community Expert
    Rick GerardCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    February 5, 2024

    You can add an expression to the Position of a 3D layer that uses the layer index to offset the layer 1 pixel in Z space. This solves the problem of the two layers on the same plane issue with 3D layers.  If they design the AI file with the layers in the proper stacking order, this expression applied to the layer's position solves the problem:

    [value[0], value[1], value[2] + index]

    That will still allow positioning all of the layers anywhere in 3D space, but it will keep the layers one pixel apart in Z. 

     

    It is also a good idea to organize 3D layers in the same way you organize actors on a stage. Use multiple views to set things up and start with the camera in its default position in front of the stage. Move the actors first, just like a director does, then move the camera if needed.

     

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