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Hi I've got these huge files and I can't seem to flatten them or merge.
They contain photgraphic images in the middle of leaves. File size 1,000,00kb plus much more when I play with grain.
My goal is to use each image (only one artboard per saved file)as frames in After Effects but are so big After Effects breaksdown.
Also It seems like I have many layers hidden when I release to layers sequence.
I began working by having a layer for the 'filler' for each leaf. Now its just big.
please help
Myf Mc
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Maybe it is a better idea to rasterize each one of them in Illustrator. After Effects will generate pixels anyway.
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I tried to rasterise and it did shrink file size by a third. It has also been suggested to reduce image size, I"m thinking. 1920 x 1080.
Then do the work and save again.
I have a question though, if I want this to be shown on a big screen, film, won't I end up with a work of poor quality?
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Also have you tried reducing the size of your image files before importing them..?
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I have now had a go at rasterise after making and it reduces file size by 1/3. I will also reduce the images, however won't I start to lose quality and esp if I want to show the final moving image it will look poor.
Myf
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So I want to show final image on a big screen or large projection. If I reduce image size that won't help? Rasterise to 300 or 72 gave same size outcome which was partially helpful.
Thanks
Myf
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When you are done turn back on pdf compatible as AE will need that to import, but why suffer during your design phase with slow saves.
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Thanks Mike,
Yes I need to check this before I get well into the work.
I will come back to these comments when I start over. I find all online help really important as I can't get training easily. Greatly appreciated.
I also tried opening in PShop and decrease size of the work which worked very well but the pixel dimensions were different in a constrained resizing 1920 :1099?. When I did this resize size the layout also changed - the shapes were further in from the edges rather than the whole work coming down in size evenly. A quick fix but brings up this new hurdle.
Thankyou, I will have a go all over again fresh.
Also error message for files (1st image)??
Illustrator Pixels 1920 x 1080 (2nd image)
Photoshop image 1920 x 1099 (3rd image)
Myfanwy
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Myfanwy,
In addition to the advice given already, not only big screens but also high resolution screens will undoubtedly require a higher size than 1920 x 1080.
Apart from that I can see you have non integer X and Y values for the artwork, and undoubtedly also for your Artboard, and I can see that the PS image states 300PPI.
This, and maybe other things unmentioned, brings me to add the following rather long snippet which may sound unforgivably outdated and boring, sorry (you can skip parts irrelevant to your case).
If you wish to have PNGs (PNG24 (also (little) known as PNG32, it holds 24 bit colour and 8 bit Alpha channel (transparency)), of course) look crisp and clean, at least when it is (also) to be used at moderate screen resolutions, it is important to have the images in the exact desired final pixel x pixel size, or at sizes that are powers of 2 times as large (2x, 4x, 8x, and so on, the larger values can improve the appearance on high resolution screens and still ensure best possible appearance at low resolution screens); forget about resolution which may actually lead to wrong sizes and hence blurriness, or work at 72PPI or powers of 2 times as large (144PPI, 266PPI, 576PPI, and so on).
It is easiest and safest to work at the desired size when creating the artwork.
It is important to remember that a raster image represents the whole appearance, including strokes, so to make sure you get it right you can click Show Preview Bounds in the General Preferences (and untick it afterwards).
A very common unsuitable way is to Export to PNG (remember to use PNG24 and use Transparency for artwork to be in front of different backgrounds) with a medium or high resolution, such as 300PPI.
And a common misunderstanding: (almost) 11 out of 10 times, a statement like "I created the document at 300 PPI" means that the value is chosen in Effect>Document Raster Effects Settings; however that only means that the (current) resolution of any raster effects applied to the vector artwork, such as (any kind of) Blur, is set to that value (and only unless/until the value is changed to something else); when zooming in, this resolution can be seen in contrast to and on the background of the vector artwork. So this setting has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual resolution of a raster image created from the (vector) artwork (but it ought to (at least) match it).
For clean and crisp artwork avoid JPEG.
It is also important to have the artwork and also the Artboard placed fully within integer/whole pixel X and Y values in the Workspace, which means that the X and Y values at the corners must be integer; this can be ensured by using one of the corner Reference Points in the Transform palette, and then checking that all the values X, Y, W, and H, are integer (the centre Reference Point can only be used if both W and H are even numbers).
Otherwise the resulting image will become a bit wider/taller and the extension(s) will be empty and therefore be (partially) transparent/white.
Therefore, the safest way is to create the artwork at the final pixel x pixel size and use a corresponding Artboard, then use the Legacity Save for Web (where you can look in the Image Size window for size confirmation and possibly multiply by 2, 4, 8, whatever), or use Export at 72PPI (or 144/288/576/whatever PPI), or use Export for Screens (in either way). In either case, use the relevant optimization (available with both ways); it is also convenient to have 72PPI (or 144/288/576/whatever PPI) in the Effect>Document Raster Effect Settings.
If you have pure vector artwork, you can relax a bit and have the artwork/Artboard at any size (the Artboard must have the same proportions as the final image), then use the Legacity Save for Web and set either Width or Height in the Image Size and Apply (make sure the other value is also correct).
The Legacy Save for Web may be an old carthorse, but it knows its way home, even if the driver is drunk and sleeping it off in the hay in the back.
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Bit of a read b4 bed time and I will need to do more homework but thanks alot.
I at least gather 72ppi is great base and only 2x 4x 8x doubles. I also gather desire outcome dimensions need to be known.
Someone else mentioned colour too.
Such a different world to graphic design. New rules.
Thanks!
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You are welcome, Myfanwy.