Photoshop edits to AE

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
August 3, 2023
4 replies
1851 views

Is it at all possible that if I edit something in my photoshop file, it would show up in my After Effects file? Ex:
I've created a graphic with a bunch of text names. I imported that into AE, and saved it.
I've then had to edit the graphic in PS to remove some names, and add new ones (new layers).

I would like AE to recognize those changes add the new layers, or remove the old layers... I have a feeling I have to rebuild and reimport everytime though.

This topic has been closed for replies.

Warren Heaton

Community Expert

When a layered PSD is imported as a Composition, After Effects sees the PSD as a container for the source footage as if it was a folder.

After Effects will see edits made to Layers that existed in the PSD at the time of first import, but not Layers added later.

Save the revised, layered PSD file and then import it as a Composition again.

Expand the Layers folder of the new import, select the new Layers, and drag them left to the root level of the project panel.

Open the Composition from the new import, select the new Layers, and copy and paste them to the Composition that resulted from the first import. Arrange the pasted Layers from front to back as needed.

Delete the Composition from the new import and the folder containing the Layers for the new import (it should only have duplicate, but unused Layers in it).

Drag the new Layers from the root level of the project into the Layers folder of the first import.

R

Rick Gerard

Community Expert

If you add layers to a Photoshop or Illustrator file that has been imported as a composition After Effects will not automatically see those new layers. The easiest workaround is to import the PSD again as a composition, open the created comp, then copy the new layers in the new comp and paste them into the original comp. I can't even count the number of times I have done that. It is by far the easiest way to get new layers into the right position in the original comp.

When you are through updating the project, you can use the File/Dependencies menu to clean out the unused duplicate layers.

Kyle Hamrick

Community Expert

While not a direct answer to your question, I did want to point out that you can convert an imported Photoshop text layer into native/editable After Effects text. You may consider simply designing one title in Photoshop, importing it into After Effects, and then creating your versions and variations in there.

After importing your PSD (as layers, whether layer or document size), you can either right-click the layer or go to the Layer menu, and choose Create > Convert to Editable Text.

The short answer is that if you make alterations to your PSD after importing to After Effects, AE will not see any new layers that didn't exist when it was originally imported. Any layers deleted or renamed will become missing footage in AE. I also wish the connection was smarter/more modern.

The ideal is to work out your design before importing, but that's obviously not always the way things work. One (imperfect) workaround: crreat a handful of empty dummy layers in PS before importing to AE. You won't be able to rename them, (and they won't be placed properly if you import at layer size and then alter those layer contents), but ... they'll at least be there.

Here's a video detailing a lot of this workflow, and several of the common "gotchas" you're prone to encounter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuDs-WPyAR4