CC Library Assets from Photoshop and Illustrator

[Zymryte29263119o9sk]

Hello everybody.

I got few questions about using the cc library in ae

1. Why are graphics that I paste from Photoshop into the library much smaller when I then paste them back into After Effects via the library?

E.g. a graphic from one of 500x500 px is strangely only 180x180 px in AE. (The documents settings are both 72 dpi)

2. I read on Adobe that you can edit text layers from Photoshop in After Effects. What do you have to set up to make this work via the library? No matter what i try, it doesnt work.

3. Why are vectors from Illustrator in the library when pasting into AE image layers? I need them as shapes in After Effects.

Are all these issues related to any presets in AE? If so, please help! 🙂

i think that the cc library panel is really great, and i hope i can use it between photoshop - after effects - illustrator in a best possible way to ease the workflow.

Thanks in advance

[Mylenium · Accepted solution]

You answered your own questions. None of this works with copy & paste nor is it meant to be. You may want to read the online help on basics like importing or converting vector artwork and text to editable layers.

Mylenium 

[Warren Heaton]

***For Photoshop

In Photoshop, create a Library or select an existing one, then drag and drop the Layer from the Layers panel or from the document to the Libraries panel.  In After Effects, choose the corresponding Libary and the After Effects Library panel, then drag and drop to the Project panel in After Effects.  The dimensions of the Layer should match.  However, if the Layer is a Text Layer in Photoshop, dragging and dropping it to the Layers panel rasterize it as well (same as if you'd chosen Type > Rasterize Type Layer.  As such, it's no longer a Layer that can be converted to editable type on the After Effects side.  Photoshop text layer graphics added to your library can be imported into After Effects as Footage that can be converted into a Layered Composition with Layers that can be converted to Editable text.

Another approach is to save the Photoshop document (PSD) in a folder created specifically for the current After Effects project (AEP).  Save the PSD file and the AEP in the same folder (creating subfolders is optional).   Then use File > Import in After Effects, choosing either import as Foorage and choosing the Text Layer or import as a Composition.  With this approach, you can select the Photoshop Text Layer in an After Effects Composition and then choose Layer > Create > Convert to Editable Text.


***For Illustrator

In Illustrator, create a Library or select an existing one, then drag and drop the Object from the document to the Libraries panel.  In After Effects, choose the corresponding Libary and the After Effects Library panel, then drag and drop to the Project panel in After Effects.  The dimensions of the Object should match.  After adding the Object to a Composition, choose Layer > Create > Create Shapes from Vector Layer to create an After Effects Shape Layer from the Illustrator Object.

Like working with layered Photoshop documents, another approach is to save the Illustrator document (AI) with one Artboard in a folder created specifically for the current After Effects project (AEP).  Save the AI file and the AEP in the same folder.  Then import that into After Effects.  If working with Illustrator frequently, take a look at Overlord for After Effects by Battle Axe ($55).

[Zymryte29263119o9sk]

Thank you for the detailed answer. This is the way I usually do it.

But I read on the Adobe site that you can drag and drop the assets from the library and edit them.

That would be very interesting especially for teamwork! (see screenshot)

I understood the Illustrator part, but not the psd-text file part.

"Photoshop text layer graphics added to your library can be imported into After Effects, and can be converted to editable text layers with live layer styles."

Do you guys know how to do this?

Thanks

[Warren Heaton]

@Zymryte29263119o9sk 

I'm so glad that you posted this question!

I was incorrect in thinking Photoshop Text Layers get rasterized when added to a Library, but they are placed into a Photoshop document, showing as a Graphic in the Library.  On the After Effects side, it imports "as Footage" which, of course, can be converted to a Layered Composition, and then the Photoshop Text Layers can be converted to After Effects Text layers.

Had you not asked your question, I wouldn't have noticed this detail.

I would change one line to the instructions that you provided a screenshot for.

Instead of:

• Photoshop text layer graphics added to your library can be imported into After Effects, and can be converted to editable text layers with live layer styles.

It should read something like:

• Photoshop text layer graphics added to your library can be imported into After Effects as Footage that can be converted into a Layered Composition with Layers that can be converted to Editable text.
  
  

What URL did your screenshot come from?  I'll see if I can get the documentation updated.  Instead of being here, you'd likely be continuing to work in After Effects.

I'll also edit what I wrote above so that anyone reading this thread for the first time will have accurate information.

[Zymryte29263119o9sk]

Thanks for the clarification. I already thought I was crazy 😜

This is where I found the misleading information:
https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/creative-cloud-libraries.html

So it can be summarized:
The big advantage of the Library, to use simply drag and drop assets, is not (yet) possible in After Effects?

The usual way of importing as footage is not facilitated by the library. Right?

Then what is the point of the Library in After Effects?
How can you really make sense of the Library?
I'm grateful for any tips!

Of course, it would be great if you could use assets directly like in Indesign or Illustrator. Also, it would be very interesting to drag and drop compositions into the Library and use them later.

In my specific case it is the case that several employees have to refer to master files or templates again and again, and there I hoped that there would be a better workflow via quick access to the library.

I think you understand what I mean 😀

I'm glad I asked again here.
thanks