Why a stroke path are importing like a closed shape?

[Zuca]

Hi

I'm trying to import my stroke paths from Illustrator to AfterEffects but when imported and converted to shapes they aren't strokes, they have Path 1 and 2, merge paths and fill. So obviously when I try to Trim Paths this doesn't work at all.

I can fix this easily creating a new document and making new stroke paths without any modification of course (I'll took these lines from other document I'm working), but I want to know why this is happening and WHY Adobe can't make Illustrator good and intuitive app to work.. I'm struggling with AI in past few months, sorry for the outburst

Illustrator Stroke Path

Imported document converted to shape AND NOT AS A SINGLE PATH (???)

[Rick Gerard · Accepted solution]

If you want to convert a vector path to a stroke and not a filled shape, the path in Illustrator cannot have a brush applied. Brushes can be any shape so this makes perfect sense. Here's your path in AI:

It is a single point stroke with a 3 point round brush applied. Just open up the AI file, change the stroke to basic (delete the brush) and change the stroke width to 3 points, save, then convert to a shape layer again.

I'm assuming you want to use shape layer animators. That, and actually animating the path are the only reasons to convert a vector layer to a shape layer.

This information is in the User Guide under Preparing Illustrator files for Video.

If you must use a brush then just duplicate the path you want to reveal with trim paths (I usually the pair on a separate layers) then change the stroke back to basic. When you import as a comp you'll have a separate layer that you can convert and use as a track matte to reveal the original brush stroke. You can edit the width in AI so that it just covers the brush.

[Zuca]

Oh, so this is the problem... Thanks!

Why AI can't makes things easier? hahaha

[MennaSalem123]

Life Saver !! Thank you so much!

[Krišjānis5E3C]

Great info, thanks Rick!

[JonLowe]

This makes me so happy! Thanks!

And it sort of makes sense now I understand that that this is a feature, that would be useful for different purposes to the ones I need, rather than a bug. Well done everyone.