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jibrionesl
Participant
September 25, 2025
Answered

Duplicated AI Layers in AE

  • September 25, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 934 views

Hello, excuse my English, please use Google Translate.

 

I hope everyone is well. I wanted to ask about a problem I've been having with AI (Adobe Illustrator) for a few weeks now. When I work on a project in AI, I work on it in layers and then animate it in AE (After Effects). However, I have a problem: when I import it as a composition, regardless of the layer size or document size, the layers are duplicated. I've included screenshots to show the problem I'm having, and this only happens with my AI. If someone sends me an AI file to animate and import into AE, it doesn't cause this problem. It only happens when I work with my AI.

    Correct answer Monika Gause

    In Illustrator uncheck Save in Background  in the Preferences. Then save the file and try again importing it in AE

    2 replies

    A
    Andy99203
    Participant
    October 28, 2025

    I'm having the same issue. When importing an AI file as a comp, all of the layers come in duplicated. One more interesting wrinkle, on of the AI layers appears with art, and the other is empty. I'm running AI 29.8.2 and AE 25.5.0 (build4) on Mac OS Sequoia 15.6.1. I've attached screen shots of both the AI layer panel and the AE project panel.

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    October 28, 2025

    In Illustrator uncheck Save in Background  in the Preferences. Then save the file and try again importing it in AE

    A
    Andy99203
    Participant
    October 28, 2025

    Thank you! That resolved the issue. It also solved another problem that each time I saved the AI file, I'd have to replace it in AE or the art wouldn't show.

    Abhishek Rao
    Community Manager
    Abhishek RaoCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    September 25, 2025

    Hi @jibrionesl,

     

    Thanks for reaching out. Could you confirm which version of Illustrator you're using and share the details of your operating system? The duplication you're seeing often happens when there are sublayers or clipping groups in the Illustrator file. To check this, try flattening the sublayers before saving. You can do that from the Layers panel menu by choosing 'Release to Layers (Sequence)' and then merging them back, or by grouping all artwork that belongs together on a single top-level layer.

    It would also be really helpful if you could share a sample AI file where the issue occurs, so I can test it.

     

    Looking forward to your update.

    Abhishek

    J
    jibrioneslAuthor
    Participant
    September 26, 2025

    Hi, thank you so much for responding. I have the problem with any file I create. I created a new Hello World! AI file and imported it into AE. You can see how the AE file folder looks once imported.

     

    Download link: https://we.tl/t-tR5XtHXtK3

    Anubhav M
    Community Manager
    Anubhav MCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    September 26, 2025

    Hello @jibrionesl,

    Thanks for sharing the file. I tried replicating this behaviour on my end using the After Effects project and reimporting the AI file, but could not. Would you mind running Illustrator under a different administrator account (Windows / macOS) and checking if it helps? If the problem persists, kindly share a screen recording detailing your exact workflow, so we can try and replicate this on our end.

    Looking forward to hearing from you.

    Anubhav

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