Skip to main content
A
Anonymous
October 3, 2010
Answered

Scaling Adobe Illustrator file - vector original but becomes pixilated

  • October 3, 2010
  • 2 replies
  • 31828 views

I think i remember reading somewhere that when Premiere imports an Illustrator file it rasterizes it?

If that is the case, then that explains why a large vector based graphic that I created in Illustrator CS5 becomes pixilated and aliased when I resize it so that it is much smaller than the orginal.

I need the graphic to start small and then "scale" to its full size over time, using keyframes.


However, I don't want the image (it's a company logo) to start pixilated.

Is there a setting that retains the sharp lines of my orginal Illustrator file?

Or should I redo the logo in photoshop -- will tthat give better results in scaling up and down?

Or some other solution?


Thanks

Rowby

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Colin Brougham

    Stan mentioned it below, but AE has a "continuously rasterize" toggle for vector graphics (it's the little icon that looks like a sun). Basically, this flag is telling After Effects to go back to the original vector data for each frame of an animation, scale/move/rotate/whatever the vector data, and then rasterize it. This ensures that highest quality through the course of an animation..

    My workflow with vector graphics is just what you've suggested. I drop the AI file into a PPro sequence, scale it however I see fit (yes, it will look like garbage, but that's OK), and then right-click the clip and use the Replace with AE Comp command. When AE opens, and builds the comp, all I have to do is check the Continuously Rasterize box (it might be checked by default; I can't recall exactly), and I'm done. The animation from Premiere is preserved, and the clip is already in use in Premiere, so there really isn't anything more to do.

    2 replies

    Robert Fike
    Robert Fike
    Participant
    November 16, 2017

    So... um... is this going to eventually get resolved natively in Premiere? It seems silly to have to do these workarounds when premiere could handle AI files the way AE does.

      stefan_gru
      stefan_gru
      Inspiring
      November 16, 2017

      Feature Request/Bug Report Form

      the_wine_snob
      the_wine_snob
      Inspiring
      October 3, 2010

      Though PrPro can Import AI Vector, you are correct that it will Rasterize it, and I am not keen on the results. I always use Photoshop, and the Place function to Import my AI file, then Scale in PS to exactly what I need in a New Image w/ the proper Preset for my Project. If the Scale and Position are critical, I'll even use a Freeze Frame still, as a reference image, and just not Save_As PSD with that Layer visible.

      I find that workflow yields very good results.

      Good luck,

      Hunt

        A
        Anonymous
        October 3, 2010

        Hmmmm!

        Those are good workarounds and I may have to resort to them, but for this project the image scales over time and I'd have to create several different sizes in order to avoid blatant rasterizing.

        I may have to do the effect in After Effects...

        I am wondering how After Effects handles Illustrator files.  Does After Effects rasterize illustrator files?   Or at least, do you (or anyone else here) have experience with After Effects importing Illustrator files.

        I'll also post this question in the After Effects Forum.

        Thanks


        Rowby

        Stan Jones
        Community Expert
        Stan JonesCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        October 3, 2010

        Read help re "continuously rasterize" in AE.

        For some purposes, I'd go with AE.  For others, doing what Bill suggests and bringing your max size image into PR would be fine.

        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
        Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices