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BoraKusoglu
Known Participant
March 11, 2021
Answered

Shape content groups

  • March 11, 2021
  • 2 replies
  • 1782 views

Hi, I have some problem about naming of content groups. I use to draw in Illustrator and import to After effects. I create shape from vector line. It makes shape layers automaticly. But content groups can't change names. If i import 50 pieces of vector work, it will be 50 groups. which is confusing me to choose the right content.it is impossible to adapt situation. I realized , creating a new shape from vector layer. It takes instance lines from illustrator. For example the head eyes are the top of the line in illustrator. It imports exact the sime line when you create shape content without any naming. It will come Group 1 , Group 2 .... Group 50. Do we have any solution of  put names in shape groups ?

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Correct answer Rick Gerard

All you have to do is select a group name, press the enter key, then type in a new name. Let us know if that is not working for you. The same goes for any item in the group that does not have a stopwatch and can be animated. 

2 replies

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Community Expert
Rick GerardCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 11, 2021

I'm very curious about this. Why are you converting your AI layers to shape layers. The only reason I can think of is to use the shape animators only available to shape layers, to animate the actual vector paths, or to use the C4D rendering engine to extrude a shape. Anything else is a waste of time. Any complex groups in Illustrator will be converted to a big mess of groups in AE, gradient fills will be lost, brushes will be lost. I don't see any advantage for most projects.

 

I animate characters all the time and put the different parts that I want to animate on separate layers in Illustrator. With properly prepared AI files all that is required is to import the file as a comp, then group each layer according to the master object and either precompose or set a label group. 

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BoraKusogluAuthor
Known Participant
March 11, 2021

Thank you for answer. I am using it for animating of basic things.Human movements (puppet model) , 2d basic animations. it gives faster solution if you make it once as group. For instance head has hair, eyes , nose etc. i put them in one shape layer.. sometimes i have to give them names if i want to blink the character i need to search exact the shape. then i can make the animation. 

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Community Expert
Rick GerardCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 11, 2021

I do the same thing but I never convert AI files to shape layers for that. I put the hair, left and right eye, eyebrows, nose, and every other part that I want to animate on a separate layer. One Illustrator file for each character, then I import as a comp retaining layer size, open the comp, and rig the characters with IK or rig puppet pin, or use any of the dozen other character animating tools I have. 

 

If you are using puppet pins on shape layers you can't move the layers around or attach them to nulls and animate the nulls unless you pre-compose. That's not the case with a vector layer from Illustrator. You can tie all of your body parts to a character null or the body with parenting, do all the puppet pin animation you want, and then drag the null around (or the body) and move your character through the scene. 

 

A hundred AI layers will also render faster than 100 shape layers. Converting the vector layers for this kind of work is just not a very good idea.

    Mylenium
    Mylenium
    Legend
    March 11, 2021

    I'm not clear what you mean. Shape groups can be renamed like effects, masks or other property streams by hitting Enter with the property selected. This is basic stuff. If you mean something else, then you have to be more specific.

     

    Mylenium

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    BoraKusogluAuthor
    Known Participant
    March 11, 2021

    i mean if you can make more contents ,it is creating group. I make some examples below. You can't rename shapes. I need them because i am making multicolor characters. I can't make every shape separated. It will make a lot of shape layers. It will cause me to work slightly.

    i

    R
    Community Expert
    Rick GerardCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    March 11, 2021

    All you have to do is select a group name, press the enter key, then type in a new name. Let us know if that is not working for you. The same goes for any item in the group that does not have a stopwatch and can be animated. 

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