CC 2018 Not importing psd layers

[eganworks]

I'm trying to import a psd into after effects to animate individual layers, like I've always done, but I'm just getting a single, flat psd layer. Even if I choose to import as comp and select retain layer sizes. Help?

[Kyle Hamrick]

Is this happening with ANY PSD, or just one specific one?

[Rick Gerard]

Create a new RGB PSD File using a photo. Add a single text layer. Save and import as a comp in AE. If that works as expected carefully inspect your problematic PSD file and look for live layers, layer styles, or anything else that may cause you problems. Don’t forget to make sure the mode is set to RGB.

[Jose Panadero · Accepted solution]

Probably you are using a CMYK PSD file. This is a common problem. Open the file in Photoshop and go to Image > Mode to check the color space. If you are using other than RGB, AE will not import Layers.

[eganworks]

Yep! That was it. Can't believe I haven't run into that before. Thanks!

[Kruskay]

A month later but, I do have that problem and I'm using the RGB color mode 8bits

What should I do 😕

[supadupafoxfool]

I'm no help but I'd like to add that I am currently having the same or a similar problem. I ACTUALLY got it to work once ONCE and it was rather complicated, at first it wouldn't. the first time I loaded the file I couldn't edit the time and when I succeeded to eventually enable retiming my images dissapeared entirely. I could import the files by changing the default settings to footage, and photoshop sequence, and then after that in the next popup I would select choose layer, and merge layer style. this actually helped because at first it wasn't using the right framerate and made it impossible to edit the layers once I imported them, I could then go into the imported photoshop sequence folder and drag and drop these items into my timeline..... HOWEVER.. this only worked once for all eternity. and it STILL works but only for that ONE FILE. seriously, I go to try to import a different file and the box that shows up is labled the filename of the first psd I imported, and then when I import the file it imports THE OLD FILE I ALREADY DID. I have an animation with multiple backgrounds with transparencies I'm trying to composite, 6 in total all with their unique layer orders, settings and files. my last resort I've realized is to edit the original file and add all the backgrounds into one and then import THAT behemoth into photoshop. I'll be trying this next! this is ridiculous because in every previous version I have used this was never a problem. cc has given me mostly problems in every program excluding photoshop which is beautiful. also PLEASE bring back flash. I know it crashes, I know it's outdated, but at-least most people can use it. this program's essential function is to composite scenes... that's why it astonishes me that it fails to do that with photoshop backgrounds. there are a lot of users complaining about this same problem right now and so far I haven't located an answer other than wait for a bug patch.  I can't just export videos, flash files with alpha channel transparencies won't load their transparency.

[supadupafoxfool]

edit: still would like to see a fix to this bug, but I found a way around it! open bridge and locat file. with current composition open in after effects select the file and right click and select "place in after effects" after your done doing that select the file that will now be in the project and right click, go to "replace footage" and then select "layered comp". this will import your files in an editable fashion that allows for transparancy ect and won't screw up your timecode/color profile. I don't know why this way works and others do not, but I'm happy to share this bit of information with anyone struggling with this.

[michaelp12935460]

Thanks for sharing, I had the same issue. This is the only thing that works!

[trecym3204713]

muito OBRIGADO

[DBowker3D]

I am also am having this very same problem, and it has worked for many years previous to this. Checked the CMYK thing and every other aspect of mode, profiles and whatever. Doesn't matter, doesn't work.

This should be a major priority since the whole selling point of Adobe CC is the cross-program compatibility!

[Kyle Hamrick]

To clarify, you're having PSD files that will not come into AE as a composition?
This thread has gotten a bit muddled with some of the other responses, so I want to make sure we're talking about the same thing.

Can you provide more info so we can try to assist? (OS?) Is it possible to post the file in question (privately, if necessary)?
I use the Ps > AE workflow constantly, and have literally never run into this problem.

[DBowker3D]

Yes, that's exactly the issue and it's each and every PSD file. I'll select a PSD file, hit import as Composition, keep layer styles (or not, makes no difference) and then it hangs with the horizontal progress indicator. I can however manually import individual layers as footage, it's a major time suck though when you need to bring in a  dozen or more layers...

Windows 10 latest, Xeon CPU, Nvidia GTX 980ti, 32GB RAM. No extra antivirus apps running except Cybereason anti-ransomware, which has a very light footprint and has never been known to interfere with anything but OS updates

[Kyle Hamrick]

@DBowker3D I'm not sure I have any specific suggestions of my own, but I'd be happy to see if I can recreate the problem with one of your files.

[inkystains]

uhoh! this issue is recent and unsolved!

(This is my first post on something that isn't years old)

I'm having the same issue with a multi-layered (only 9 MB) PSD that I exported from a Photoshop artboard:

Starting a new AE project, importing the PSD as Composition - Retain Layer Sizes, checked "keep layers editable" in the popup, and then AE starts to hang on the import progress bar but then that crashes and nothing moves but my cursor "wait" icon.

Having to End Task in order to stop.

The graphic content I am working with is under NDA but i might be able to share it privately if someone can help..

Windows 10, intel i7-7700K CPU, 64GB RAM, Nvidia GTX 1080, and latest version of AE CC'18

[Kyle Hamrick]

@inkystains Those specs are pretty similar to my laptop - I'd be happy to check the file on my machine if you send it to me privately.

[inkystains]

thank you so much for offering to look at it Kyle!

I let AE hang for about 10 min while writing that last post, and it finally worked -

I think the original filename had some unfriendly characters in it, like parenthesis and such so I simplified it.

If it pulls anything weird on the others I need to import tonight, I'll reach out again.

..But I wonder if the newer export-artboard feature in Photoshop is buggy in that it may allow characters that AE does not..

[Kyle Hamrick]

Interesting. I have run into issues before with extremely long file paths causing issues with relinking missing footage. Everything has its limits!

FWIW, I would recommend keeping anything heading to AE to a single artboard. Create your work in a file with as many as you like, but then separate them into individual frames for AE.

[inkystains]

definitely - I was handed a multi-artboard doc that I needed to break into pieces for AE, which was a first for me - I didn't notice how long the extension photoshop made when exporting.

Thank you!

[Kyle Hamrick]

Just to follow up, for anyone else checking in on this thread - if you have a really dense Psd, with things buried like 6 subgroups deep... at a certain point, AE will just not handle it. Keep in mind that the way things are structured by print or UI designers is very different from the way motion designers typically work, and you may need to do some restructuring.

[Zotrope65]

Make sure the Photoshop Sequence box is NOT checked under Sequence Options which is just to the right of Import As setting.

[Kyle Hamrick]

Also a good point, especially if you're importing multiple boards with numbers on the end of the filename. AE will always want to see those as a sequence unless you tell it otherwise.

[Zotrope65]

Right. The composition will only be 2 frames long if you have sequentially numbered layers and the Photoshop Sequence Box is checked.

[beckac-grd]

In After Effects, right click on the PSD file and select Replace Footage and select With Layered Comp. You should see all your layers then.

[yz4600265]

The solution was finally found！

https://www.reddit.com/r/AfterEffects/comments/3kfdg5/cc_2015_crash_when_importing_psd_as_a_comp/