AE Photoshop layer export is super slow because....

Melden · Jun 27, 2023

I went to export an image as a Photoshop file from After Effects (something I've done for decades) so that I could modify them in PS and bring them back.

Each export was taking for-e-ver.

It took me a while to figure out what was going on.

The export was (is) waiting for the RAM preview buffer (green progress line) of the entire clip to finish.

In many cases my clip was quite long in the comp so it could take quite a while.

So long that at first I thought it was hanging (crashing).

And the only way to abort was force-quite the app and the cancel button does not respond.

I'm pretty sure PSD export are in no way related to RAM buffer loading.

So I can't help but think....bug?

Melden · Nov 14, 2023

I have the same issue. It takes a ridiculus amount of time to render a single frame. It eventaully finished the render in about 10 minutes. Very annoying.

Melden · Nov 15, 2023

My workaround has been to turn off the layers I don't want to show and make the work area the single frame I want and just render it as if it were a video.

Melden · Apr 14, 2024

Are you still having the issue? Let us know.

I am moving this thread from Bugs to Discussions for now.

Thanks,

Nishu

Melden · Apr 14, 2024

It has been a while since I've needed to do this.
So I ran a test on a sequence with a lot of layers and...maybe?
It still does appear to take a longer than it should.
But I think it's faster than
But faster than I remember.
Not helpful, I know.
Sorry.

Melden · Apr 16, 2024

Do you mind sharing the steps to reproduce the issue on our end? Also, in which version was it working as it should? Need that info so that we have something to compare with.

Happy to help.

Thanks,

Nishu

Melden · Apr 24, 2024

I was waiting for an excuse to give this a try. But the existing projects are not complex enough to try again. But, as I recall, if there is a composition with a lot of layers which creates a slow ram preview (due to complexity) the export process is noticably slower. Again, it seems like the RAM preview is waiting to complete (the long green line buffering the composition) before it allows for the export. This can be frustrating to wait for and I don't recall the need for buffering an entire ram preview before an export can happen.

Melden · Feb 11, 2025

Yes, Change your work aarea to a single frame. Solved.