Focal Easy Guide to After Effects

Working with Photoshop and Illustrator Files

One advantage of After Effects, among many, is its close relationship to Adobe’s other leading graphics production applications: Photoshop and Illustrator. The integration of these three programs comprises a powerful, diverse toolset that builds upon one another. Images created in Photoshop and Illustrator can be imported as Compositions, fully prepared with all their separate layers to be animated. This can save hours of import work because the layout is already prepared – all that’s left to add is your design touch.

Many artists and animators prefer to ‘design in Photoshop/Illustrator – finish in ...