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Andre Noe
Andre Noe
Known Participant
September 4, 2018
Answered

Photoshop to After Effects

  • September 4, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 1128 views

Hi,

Can I get some feedback about Importing at Photoshop file (30M in size; dimensions 2550x4200) into After Effects, which is obviously not the standard video dimensions 1280x720 you use with AE.

I'm wondering:

1. What is the best way to resize an abnormal file size to fit the proper video dimensions to import into AE?

2. Should I vector the layers in Illustrator if I intend on working with it in AE?

3. Is Photoshop better for quick mock ups versus actually using the layers for a final edit in AE?

Thanks a bunch,

A

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Kristian Gabriel

AE can be pretty much any size of video. 1280x720 tends to be more on the corporate side in my work. 2550x4200 (4200 x 2550?) would be fine if that fits your output. We work in so many sizes UHD, 3840 x 2160p, DCI, 4096 x 2160 and any customized sizes.FYI--The size you listed is basically portrait--like a vertical mobile device or phone. Is this correct? Once again, yes--AE can handle this. We create videos for IGTV at 1080 x 1920 and 2160 x 3840 all the time.

1. If your media is a different size than your format, you can just create your 1280 x 720 or 1920 x 1080 or ANY frame size composition and then just drag your imported Photoshop media into the new Composition. Because the Photoshop Aspect Ratio of your file may be different, just use SCALE under TRANSFORMS to re-size and crop your Photoshop file until fits the frame dimensions perfectly. SIDE NOTE: If you want to import your Photoshop and use the full 2550x4200, just DRAG the Photoshop media into the NEW COMPOSITION button to create a composition at the exact size of your media. You can always go to COMPOSITION > NEW COMPOSITION and create your composition from scratch as well.

2. If you are going to be SCALING your Photoshop media in AE--or will be using Camera(s) to fly in and out of your media in AE--vector media would be better (Note: make sure that the vector layers have the Re-Rasterize button selected to keep your vector media clean). If you remain with the Photoshop media, you should be designing much higher resolution media to prevent too many problems caused by cameras and scaling. For example, if your design is 2550x4200, I would at least design out to 5100 x 8400. While it won't be vector--you will have a better time scaling and using cameras.

3. Mockups: Your question depends on what you are mocking up. If you can do your mockups in AE that would be good. If your mockups require a lot of complex textures, etc--Photoshop would be the place to start. But, once again, it depends on what and how you wish to animate in AE. Photoshop can be extremely powerful and useful--or useless if it is something easy to accomplish in AE.

2 replies

angie_taylor
angie_taylor
Legend
September 4, 2018

1. In Photoshop, use the Crop tool to re-frame the footage to whatever size you want. I recommend using HD dimensions, 1920 x 1080. this is full HD.

Obviously this will change the aspect ratio to a landscape format. If you want to keep the image in Portrait and pan around it, make the width 1920 and allow PS to determine the height based upon its current aspect ratio.

See the next answer for instructions based upon zooming into your image.

2. There's no need to create vectors, it's unnecessary. It's fine to animate your Photoshop file as it is. You can animate it's layers too if you want to. If you want to zoom into your PS file, just choose a larger size when you crop it, eg if you want to zoom in 200% then make it double the size when you crop it (ie.1920 x2).

3. It's always best to do as much work as you can in Photoshop. the reason being Photoshop only renders things once. After Effects will render effects, adjustments etc on ever frame so it will be more processor/ memory/ disk intensive to work that way. You can jump back and forth between AE and PS by using the Edit Original command from the edit menu.

    Andre Noe
    Andre NoeAuthor
    Known Participant
    September 5, 2018

    Hi there, Angie,

    Thanks for responding. You gave me another way of looking at the problem. I did use the larger version and used the Transform…Scale feature to make it smaller. That seemed to work.

    Have a great day!

    Andre

      Kristian Gabriel
      Kristian GabrielCorrect answer
      Participating Frequently
      September 4, 2018

      AE can be pretty much any size of video. 1280x720 tends to be more on the corporate side in my work. 2550x4200 (4200 x 2550?) would be fine if that fits your output. We work in so many sizes UHD, 3840 x 2160p, DCI, 4096 x 2160 and any customized sizes.FYI--The size you listed is basically portrait--like a vertical mobile device or phone. Is this correct? Once again, yes--AE can handle this. We create videos for IGTV at 1080 x 1920 and 2160 x 3840 all the time.

      1. If your media is a different size than your format, you can just create your 1280 x 720 or 1920 x 1080 or ANY frame size composition and then just drag your imported Photoshop media into the new Composition. Because the Photoshop Aspect Ratio of your file may be different, just use SCALE under TRANSFORMS to re-size and crop your Photoshop file until fits the frame dimensions perfectly. SIDE NOTE: If you want to import your Photoshop and use the full 2550x4200, just DRAG the Photoshop media into the NEW COMPOSITION button to create a composition at the exact size of your media. You can always go to COMPOSITION > NEW COMPOSITION and create your composition from scratch as well.

      2. If you are going to be SCALING your Photoshop media in AE--or will be using Camera(s) to fly in and out of your media in AE--vector media would be better (Note: make sure that the vector layers have the Re-Rasterize button selected to keep your vector media clean). If you remain with the Photoshop media, you should be designing much higher resolution media to prevent too many problems caused by cameras and scaling. For example, if your design is 2550x4200, I would at least design out to 5100 x 8400. While it won't be vector--you will have a better time scaling and using cameras.

      3. Mockups: Your question depends on what you are mocking up. If you can do your mockups in AE that would be good. If your mockups require a lot of complex textures, etc--Photoshop would be the place to start. But, once again, it depends on what and how you wish to animate in AE. Photoshop can be extremely powerful and useful--or useless if it is something easy to accomplish in AE.

        Andre Noe
        Andre NoeAuthor
        Known Participant
        September 5, 2018

        Hi there, Kristen,

        Thanks for responding. You gave me another way of looking at the problem. I did use the larger version and used the Transform…Scale feature to make it smaller. That seemed to work.

        Have a great day!

        Andre

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