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Swandive stream
Swandive stream
Inspiring
May 5, 2023
Question

Any tips on organising within projects?

  • May 5, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 1816 views

I find it quite easy to be swamped with compositions, assets, etc (within the AE project itself). I've been trying a file organisation system with folders but any other advice?

Thanks

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1 reply

R
Rick Gerard
Community Expert
May 5, 2023

I have a standard filing system for all projects. It migrates to the After Effects Project panel. Folders for the appropriate assets, Folders for Nested comps (Pre-comps), folders for Footage, and the folders contain the same Project/Number/date/scene/ format I've been using since I shot my first documentary a very long time ago.  

Come up with your own filing system, make notes, and stick to it. 

 

Most importantly, if you have 90 effects shots in 20 scenes in a movie, make 20 AE projects and save them in the appropriate folder. Keep the projects simple, and use consistent folder structures for assets. Then you will be playing in the same game the major studios have been using for more than a hundred years. 

Swandive stream
Swandive streamAuthor
Inspiring
May 6, 2023
quote

I have a standard filing system for all projects. It migrates to the After Effects Project panel. Folders for the appropriate assets, Folders for Nested comps (Pre-comps), folders for Footage, and the folders contain the same Project/Number/date/scene/ format I've been using since I shot my first documentary a very long time ago.  

Come up with your own filing system, make notes, and stick to it. 

 

Most importantly, if you have 90 effects shots in 20 scenes in a movie, make 20 AE projects and save them in the appropriate folder. Keep the projects simple, and use consistent folder structures for assets. Then you will be playing in the same game the major studios have been using for more than a hundred years. 


By @Rick Gerard

What about the linking issue? When I used linked files Premiere needs to have the AE project opened at the time to be able to read it, if they're split across more than more AE project I won't be able to render. Is there a way to prevent needing a live link all the time? Feels like I'm missing a trick here.

nubnubbud
nubnubbud
Inspiring
May 7, 2023

AE and Premiere Pro CC 2023. When I'm using linked comps I get the missing media bars if AE is not open.


just render it out, man. use a massive mezzanine format or image sequence, and just accept that the tools are buggy. this issue has existed since linking has. I get it all the time, and have since CS6. When in doubt, keep it simple stupid. this happens more when the files are not loaded into both programs' media trays, the programs are updated differently (one updated without the other) or if you use windows, because if it's not an apple, apple will pay to make it worse, like using legal threats to keep prores nonfunctional on other operating systems.

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