How to convert an AI file path to mask paths in After Effects

Does anyone else find this to be the most complicated way to do a very simple task? Why can't you drag or copy a path/paths from a contents folder of a shape into a mask folder? Every solution I've found is a non-sensical workaround that just wastes time.

Let me guess, there's a 3rd party extension that does this perfectly to band-aid Adobe UX flaws.

I'm so tired of feeling like Adobe is giving me a hammer and chisel instead of powertools.

By far the easiest way to do this would be to prepare your AI file with each path you want to use on a separate layer in the proper position, import it as a Composition, then select the AI layer you want to use as a mask in the timeline, select Layer/AutoTrace from the menu, adjust the settings while previewing the output, then using those masks as needed.

Most of the time I import AI files as a Composition/Retain Layer Size, but this would give you a solid just the size of the layer and you probably don't want that. If you are using effects like Saber or UltraZap you'll want some room around the masks. Importing as a Composition makes every layer the size of the composition frame and that's what you want for this kind of work.

This is the workflow from the AI file to the comp through the final composite:

I don't have UltraZap installed on this machine so Saber was applied and set to use the layer masks. The default settings were slightly modified. You can see everything I edited in Saber.

For what you are trying to do this is by far the most efficient workflow. Creating outlines from vector files is almost always a bad idea. If you use that feature each layer you convert to outlines should have only simple shapes, no brushes, no layer masks, no vector effects, and no gradient fills, blends, or other fancy things applied in Illustrator. If you end up with masks you can select multiple masks, even multiple animated masks, copy them, and paste them to a new layer with no problems. If you want to copy paths, you have to select them one at a time and paste them one at a time.

You can only copy and paste one property at a time. If you have keyframes for position, rotation, scale, and opacity on one layer and you want to copy them and paste them to another layer you have to do it one property at a time. The same goes for masks. It's always one property at a time. 

I looked at your screen capture video; I have one important question for you. Why are you converting your AI layer to a shape layer. The only reason you would ever want to do that would be to be able to use Shape Layer Animators or actually animate the path. Copying a shape layer path and adding it to another layer as a mask is only useful if you have an effect applied to that layer that can only be applied to a mask.

In your original post, it kind of sounds like you want to poke some holes in an adjustment layer so that the effects applied to the adjustment layer do not affect the entire comp panel. You can do that with a mask, but you could also just put your AI layer above the Adjustment layer and set it as an Alpha or an Alpha Inverted track matte.

When you post a question on the forum it really helps if you explain the design goal in the first sentence. Something like "I have an Illustrator file of a Logo that I want to use to mask an adjustment layer so the adjustment layer does not change everything in the layers below it." I think that might be what you are trying to do.

You can do everything you can do to a vector layer (AI File) that you can do to a Shape layer except animate the path shape or use the Shape Layer animators like Add: Repeater or Add: Trim Paths. If I ever need to convert a Vector layer to a shape layer I will open up Illustrator, remove all of the unnecessary shapes from the file, save it as a new file changing the name from something like MyLogo.ai to MyLogo Red BG Path.ai so I can keep things straight. I also always create or modify my existing AI artwork so that the primary elements are in their hero position and the artboard is the same frame size as my comp. 

I hope this helps. You can only copy and paste one property at a time no matter what the property, and it is almost never an improvement to your workflow to convert vector files to shape layers.

You have to spin down until you find the actual path. Typing Path in the Timeline Search Field will speed this up. 

I usually set a keyframe for the path I want to use as a motion path then cut it (Ctrl/Cmnd + x). This gives a positive visual indication that you have copied the correct path and never fails. 

As long as the layer with the path you are going to copy has not been moved, scaled, or rotated the motion path will match the path perfectly. If the motion path is offset you can add a null to the timeline, parent the layer with the incorrect motion path to the null, then move the null to move the layer and the motion path into position.

Yes you can do it. Once you have converted an AI to Shape Layer you can access to all paths under the Contents category in that layer. The way you convert to masks is:

1.- Select any of the path of your shape layer and use the copy command (CTRL/COMMAND+C)

2.- Create a Solid and create a single mask point in your solid layer using the pen tool

3.- Select the Mask Path parameter inside the Mask of your solid layer and paste the path data (CTRL/COMMAND+V)

Try it and tell us if this works for you.