Can you update Animate symbols via Illustrator symbols?

[rfranks]

Hi there if I have imported Illustrator symbols into Animate are they linked to Illustrator ?

ie is there anyway you can update Animate symbols via Illustrator symbols ?

eg like with After Effects...

if I update a file in Illustrator which is also used in After Effects then it will automatically be updated in After Effects.

Thanks in advance.

[kglad]

i don't see any way to do that.

for assets that can be updated in animate you can right click the library symbol>click properties and there's an option to update.

[rfranks]

thanks for the reply,

so basically it sounds like don't use illustrator for design or illustration if you know you're going to be animating the elements your creating.

[n. tilcheff]

Yes, best way to approach asset creation for Flash animation is to get comfortable using its tools and do as much as possible in Animate itself.

Generally speaking in your typical TV production the only things done outside should be painted backgrounds, if such are used.

Here is a little quote from an article that may be of interest:

"For many years the lack of understanding of the capabilities and flexibility of Flash's drawing tools, combined with habits to use Adobe programs such as Illustrator has plagued the industry with unjustified assumptions that most of the artwork has to be created outside of Flash and then imported for animation.

Creating all the vector artwork directly in Flash is the only reasonable and efficient way of producing functional digital cutout structures as we go. In most cases Flash's tools are more intuitive and faster to work with than the corresponding tools in other vector programs."

Good luck!

[rfranks]

Thanks although since I'm also working with a graphic designer where some of these assets might be used for print, I'm sure he would prefer using Illustrator.

[n. tilcheff]

Well... then you will have to find out which is less painful - going from Illustrator to Animate or going from Animate to Illustrator; or which one of you two is more willing to waste time accommodating the other one 🙂

[rfranks]

Joy! Thanks for your time.

[Colin Holgate]

One thing that may be worth a try is to import your .ai file into a new FLA, then copy the imported elements into your animated FLA, and close the new FLA without saving. If you then go on to improve the AI file you import it again into a new FLA, copy whatever has changed in the library, and paste those things into the library of the animated FLA. When asked, let it replace the existing symbols.