How to import PS vector layers into AE?

Report · Sep 29, 2019

I designed a few characters in PS that were not intended to be animated. However the client wants them animated now. I thought - no problem, I'll just open the psd file and the vectors will have no problem being "Continuously Rasterised" in AE. But no luck. I exported as EPS, but everything was flattened, so nope. I brought into illustrator and saved to AI but no that flattens it too. I thought there was an easy fix for this - in fact I feel like I've done this many times before but I can't remember now and I'm completely lost.

Additional info: Everything is CC here, and the layers are parts of the character's body that all need to be animated to move relative to eachother.

Report · Sep 29, 2019

Vector shapes from Photoshop will be converted into solid layers with masks. What you can do is:

1.- Organize your PSD file in layers and import it as a composition in AE
2.- Press "M" without any layer selection to reveal all masks
3.- Edit > Copy any Path Mask
4.- Create an empty shape layer using the command Layer > New > Shape Layer and create a point with the pen tool at any place.
5.- Paste the mask in the "path" parameter of your shape layer (under Contents > Shape 1 > Path > Path).

I know that this is not the best way to do it but when creating vector art is it better to use vector applications like Illustrator rather than Photoshop.

Report · Sep 29, 2019

You can try to select all your vectors in PS and use Export Paths to Illustrator command. Then in Illustrator order them by layers and restore the colors. This might be not too long. And this AI original will be quite useful in further work in AE.

Report · Sep 29, 2019

If the vector layers you created in Photoshop have any raster effects applied they will not be brought into AI as vectors that can be continuously rasterized. The same goes for objects in Illustrator. Apply a raster effect to an object and it becomes a bit map in AE.

If you Open a PSD into Illustrator there is an option to Import Layers as Objects. This option does not exist if you Place a PSD, you have to open a Photoshop file. Depending on the structure of your layers in the PSD you may have to Release some of the objects to layers and move them above the original layer in AI to end up with a file that can be imported as a composition. Saving a PSD as an EPS can completely foul this up.

I hope this makes sense. It's pretty straight forward. Shape layers in Photoshop will stay shape layers and they will be vectors unless you have applied raster effects.