Exporting a composition from a project for reuse in other projects

[frankmaherae]

Hi There,

I'm new to after effects so excuse the basic question. I have two questions related to exporting and reusing 'stock' compositions in other projects.

1. In exporting a given composition I am following what I understand to be the correct steps (selecting the composition in the project panel / File > Dependencies > Collect Files > For selected comps (with reduce project ticked) to export my composition and the various connected elements only used in that composition so that it can be imported into a separate project.

However, I find that when I check the export it is also collecting other files and elements that are not used in that composition and for the life of me I can't figure out why. Any help would be much appreciated.

2. The second question relates to reusing these compositions. If I import the file into another project and change them in some way in this new project is the original file that was exported changed in any way. My goal is, since I will be creating compositions that can be reused across many of my projects, to reimport them in this way. If there is a more efficient way to approach this that more experienced users use I'd love to hear it.

Thanks a lot for the help,

Frank

[imeilfx]

So...
a) that is the way so you are doing everything wright right

b) if you import that composition into new project your original comp will stay as you saved it - you are not able to make any changes to project A if you import it into new project and save that new project with new name.

As for collecting more files that it need - it should not so please check if for sure it does not need those files that it exported. If you are sure that it exported more that it need - just open that saved project, delete what you dont need and click CTRL+S to save it in that state.

[Jose Panadero]

For the first question, you are doing it correctly but before collecting files is it better to delete other compositions and choose File > Dependencies > Remove Unused Footage. This way you will collect exactly the files used in the composition you wat to save.

For the second one, there is no modification over your original project if you use the command File > Import to import this project and its compositions into a new project every time you need to use it.

[Rick Gerard]

This sounds like simple user error. When you want to collect files for a comp you have to select the comp you want to target in the Project panel. If the Project Panel is not active and you have not selected a comp, everything in the project will be collected. This is all explained clearly in the User Guide. You can find the section by typing Collect Files in the Search Help field at the top right corner of After Effects. When the Collect Files Panel pops you have to make sure Selected Comps is checked. If you have no comps selected in the Project Panel then the option will be unavailable. You will have to cancel and select the comps you want to include in the Project Panel.

[imeilfx]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Rick+Gerard  napisał(-a)

This sounds like simple user error. When you want to collect files for a comp you have to select the comp you want to target in the Project panel.

I thought so too but he said that he is doing aeverything as he should

(selecting the composition in the project panel / File > Dependencies > Collect Files > For selected comps (with reduce project ticked) to export my composition

so there are 2 scenaros:
1. those files are needed in those selected compositions in some way
2. AE doing some weird stuff - but 1 or 2 more files are not so hard to remove by hand after that export in my opinion

[frankmaherae]

Hi Rick (and thanks everyone else),

I'm pretty sure I'm following the correct steps but I figure I must be doing something silly. Here's a few screen shots.

For example if I try to export this comp (in terms of footage there is only the wav. and .ai file and everything else is created within AE so it's a simple enough composition):

Here it is in the project panel:

The audio file sits in 'Imported Sound Effects' and the .ai file in 'AI Files'. As I've been doing, this comp is selected in the project panel and I am following the path I indicated before:

The folder created from this is pulling files from everywhere that have no link to the composition in question as far as I can tell. Here is what the project panel looks like when I open this exported composition:

The two files that I need for that composition are there (in the folders indicated above) but there are a host of others and tidying up everything in this exported project on the desktop as well as within the AE itself for this project is actually quite time consuming given that I am doing this quite regularly for compositions that I will benefit from reusing.

I guess I'm doing something wrong but I can't spot it. Could it connect in anyway with the arrangement of the project panel or how compositions are nested? It would go against my understanding but I'm out of ideas.

I’m not sure if this is correct but when exporting the composition in naming it I am naming the folder where the .ae file within takes on the name of the parent project. I assume this is how it should be?

Thanks again for your help, it's much appreciated.

Frank

[Rick Gerard]

What is in the footage folder?

[frankmaherae]

It seems to be pulling out all .ai files and audio files being used in the project even if they are not being used in the composition that is being exported.

[Rick Gerard]

Did you check the box that says:

I just tried it on this comp and here's what files I got:

As you can see the Hidden Falls Trail JPG is the only file collected. If I had not selected the Reduce Project option I would have had all of the other files in the footage folder.

I just realized that the screenshot shows the wrong selected comp but the Hiden Falls comp is the one selected and this is what the project looks like when opened up:

[frankmaherae]

Thanks again for your time Rick!

Yes I am ticking the 'Reduce Project' box. It would be pulling out a lot more files than just the .ai and sound files were that the case as it's a relatively large project.

I've experimented with a few other projects and it seems to work fine there so something unique to how this project is arranged I assume. It's strange.

Anyway, thank you again for the help!

Frank

[Rick Gerard]

Check the flow chart for the selected comp. There may be more assets that you think.