- \n
- Make sure all your Animate layers are well organized and labeled. Get rid of any layer you don\u2019t want to include in this version (create a copy of the file before deleting anything). Also be mindful that anything outside of the Stage will not be taken into account in After Effects.<\/li>\n
- Launch Adobe After Effects.<\/li>\n
- Create a new project and save it.<\/li>\n
- Go to\u00a0File > Import >\u00a0File\u00a0<\/i>and select your .fla file. Notice that a new composition as well as a folder containing individuals .swf files (one for each of your .fla layers) has been added to your library.<\/li>\n
- Also add any other file you might be using in the project (i.e: a the background layer you created in Illustrator. Please be aware that raster files (i.e: Photoshop, Procreate, JPG, PNG etc.) will get pixelated if zoomed in\u2026 thus the preferred vector format in this case).<\/li>\n
- In the Project panel, you will notice a new composition with the name of your fla file as well as a a folder containing the individuals swf files (one for each of your .fla layers). Double click on the composition to open it (and add any layer you\u2019d like)<\/li>\n
- In order to use the camera on your layers, you must convert them to 3D: Select all of them, right-click and select\u00a03D Layer.<\/em><\/li>\n
- If you intend to use the camera to zoom onto certain part of your swf files, you will want After Effects to scale up the vector image without pixelization. In order to do so, you need to turn on the Continuously Rasterize\u00a0<\/em>option checkbox\u00a0(the little sun-like icon) for all the .swf files you will be zooming into.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Looping a sequence in After Effects<\/h1>\n
Sometimes, you will want to loop one of the layers\/animation you imported into After Effects (our 8 \u2013 frame walk cycle, for example could be looped to last for an entire minute).<\/p>\n
First, we will have to set the\u00a0Composition settings to match the total length<\/strong>\u00a0we wish our animation to be:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Go to\u00a0Composition > Composition Settings\u2026\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n
- Set the duration to your desired length<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"composition](\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/ani-260-1301-intro-2d-animation-fall-2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/539\/2020\/11\/comp-window-300x260.png\")
<\/p>\nYou\u2019ll notice that the Timeline has changed, but the length of the files you previously imported hasn\u2019t. To lengthen and loop them:<\/p>\n
- \n
- For a\u00a0static layer <\/strong>(.png, .jpg, .psd etc.), place your cursor over the very end of the layer bar in the timeline. It should be a horizontal double ended arrow cursor. Drag to the right to extend the layer to the end of the composition.<\/li>\n
- For an animated layer<\/strong> (importing an fla you made in Animate):\n
- \n
- Right-click on the layer and select\u00a0Time > Enable\u00a0Time Remapping<\/i><\/li>\n
- Place your cursor over the very end of the layer bar in the timeline.Drag to the right to extend the layer to the end of the composition.<\/li>\n
- Click on the Property pick whip icon (the little swirl on the right)<\/li>\n
- Toggle the Time Remap arrow<\/li>\n
- Click the Expression language menu (the little circle with the arrow in the center) and select\u00a0Property > LoopOut.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The screen shots below may help you follow the steps, or look at the video tutorial on Blackboard and YouTube.<\/p>\n
![\"time](\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/ani-260-1301-intro-2d-animation-fall-2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/539\/2020\/11\/time-remapping-300x217.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"pick](\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/ani-260-1301-intro-2d-animation-fall-2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/539\/2020\/11\/pick-whip-300x129.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"arrow](\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/ani-260-1301-intro-2d-animation-fall-2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/539\/2020\/11\/twirldown-300x40.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"property](\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/ani-260-1301-intro-2d-animation-fall-2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/539\/2020\/11\/loopOut-300x224.png\")
<\/p>\nMoving the background<\/h1>\n
In order to give the impression that your character is moving in space, we have to move the background (this is why you creates one that is much wider than the composition:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Place your time cursor at the beginning of the animation (0:00:00:00)<\/li>\n
- Toggle the background layer\u2019s\u00a0Transform\u00a0<\/em>menu and click on the\u00a0Position<\/em>\u00a0stopwatch<\/li>\n
- Change the X value of the background so that its left edge aligns with the left edge of the composition.<\/li>\n
- Go to the end of the animation<\/li>\n
- Change the X value of the background so that its right edge aligns with the right edge of the composition.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Camera in After Effects<\/h1>\n
Adobe After Effects allows you to add a Camera layer to your Compositions. This can add dynamism to your scene by using a variety of shots, zooming, panning etc.<\/p>\n
2.5D<\/h3>\n
By default, Solid, Text and Shape layers in After Effects are 2-dimensional. This means they have an\u00a0X(width) and Y(height) axis<\/strong>. This is also true of .swf, .png, .jpg and any other raster files you may be importing into your project. However, the camera needs 3-dimensional information in order to move properly \u2013 this means it needs an\u00a0added\u00a0Z (depth) axis<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
Before adding a camera to your composition, you must transform all the layers you want to include into your camera-enhanced scene into 3D layers:\u00a0This can be done by right-clicking on the layer and selecting\u00a03D Layer<\/em>\u00a0or by toggling the box in the 3D\u00a0column<\/strong>. While these layers aren\u2019t exactly 3-dimensional (your characters, props, backgrounds etc. are still 2-dimensional drawings), the layers are placed into a 3-dimensional space and can be moved on the Z axis. This effect is often referred to as\u00a02.5D (in-between 2D and 3D)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
Adding a Camera layer<\/h3>\n
A Camera is a layer (just like Solids, Text and Shapes). It will be added to your Timeline. In order to add one:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Go to\u00a0Layer > New\u2026 > Camera<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n
- You can change the type of camera and lens, but we\u2019ll keep the default setting:\n
- \n
- Type: One-Node Camera<\/li>\n
- Preset: 50mm<\/li>\n
- Units: Millimeters<\/li>\n
- Measure Film Size: Horizontally<\/li>\n
- Deselect Enable Depth of Field (or you might get a blurred image when zooming very close to your swf file).<\/li>\n
- Once you hit OK, you\u2019ll notice that a Camera layer has been added to the Timeline.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Previewing and controlling the camera<\/h3>\n
A second\/bird\u2019s eye view of the composition is useful when positioning elements in 3-dimensional space. Let\u2019s\u00a0change the view<\/strong>\u00a0of our Composition window:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Set the\u00a0view layout dropdown to\u00a02 Views \u2013 Horizontal<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n
- Click on the new view (on the left) and make sure\u00a03D view dropdown is set to\u00a0Top<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The Camera layer has its own Animation properties.\u00a0Toggle the Transform tab to see them. For now, we will focus on the first two properties:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Position<\/strong>: There is a number for each of the 3 axis,\u00a0X(width), Y (height) and Z (depth)<\/strong>. You can type in numbers, hover click and drag on them or control the position visually in the\u00a0Top\u00a0<\/em>view.<\/li>\n
- Orientation:<\/strong>\u00a0This refers to the angle of the camera. The first value can be used to\u00a0tilt<\/strong>\u00a0the camera (up \u2013 down), the second to\u00a0pan<\/strong>\u00a0it (left \u2013 right) and the third to\u00a0rotate<\/strong>\u00a0around the scene<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Just like any property, you must set a first keyframe (by clicking on the stopwatch icon) in order to change them over time. For a\u00a0zoom or pan, you can use regular keyframes<\/strong>. If you wish to\u00a0\u201ccut\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0from one camera position to another, use a\u00a0Hold keyframe\u00a0<\/strong>(right-click on the keyframe and select\u00a0Toggle Hold Keyframe<\/em>).<\/p>\n
I am keeping these steps fairly simple for the sake of time, but\u00a0this article from\u00a0School of Motion<\/em><\/a> is a great resource if you want to learn more about cameras in After Effects.<\/p>\n
Saving, moving and submitting your After Effects project<\/h1>\n
When you import assets into your After Effects library, you must include all the files you used when moving or sharing your project. If you only save\/submit your .aep file it won\u2019t be able to load the .swf and .png files and will send an error message saying it can not locate them.<\/strong><\/p>\n
In order to avoid this issue, keep your work organized into a single folder<\/strong>, and include the entire folder in your submissions\/when moving your file form one computer to another. You will have to zip it.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Video Tutorials<\/h3>\n
- \n
- Importing an fla file (Animate) into After Effects and looping it<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- Importing a background layer into After Effects and panning it<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
- Adding a camera layer in After Effects<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Week 10 Assignment: Import your Animate file into After Effects<\/a><\/h3>\n
Checklist<\/h2>\n
By the time of our next meeting, make sure you have:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Created a folder that contains your Animate file, your After Effects project file, your background and any other files you will be using for your project.<\/li>\n
- Imported the Animate file into After Effects and looped it, following instructions.<\/li>\n
- Imported the background file and panned it in After Effects<\/li>\n
- Added a camera layer to the After Effects project<\/li>\n
- Made some simple camera movements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Importing an Animate project into After Effects Adobe built Animate and After Effects so they could easily be combined. As we\u2019ve seen over the course of the semester the two software have a lot of similarities but also distinct strengths\/weaknesses. Importing our Animate character animation into After Effects will allow us to create more complex […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"portfolio_post_id":0,"portfolio_citation":"","portfolio_annotation":"","openlab_post_visibility":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-399","page","type-page","status-publish","czr-hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/ani-260-1301-intro-2d-animation-fall-2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/399","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/ani-260-1301-intro-2d-animation-fall-2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/ani-260-1301-intro-2d-animation-fall-2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/ani-260-1301-intro-2d-animation-fall-2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/82"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/ani-260-1301-intro-2d-animation-fall-2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=399"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/ani-260-1301-intro-2d-animation-fall-2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/399\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":987,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/ani-260-1301-intro-2d-animation-fall-2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/399\/revisions\/987"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/ani-260-1301-intro-2d-animation-fall-2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Importing a background layer into After Effects and panning it<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
- Orientation:<\/strong>\u00a0This refers to the angle of the camera. The first value can be used to\u00a0tilt<\/strong>\u00a0the camera (up \u2013 down), the second to\u00a0pan<\/strong>\u00a0it (left \u2013 right) and the third to\u00a0rotate<\/strong>\u00a0around the scene<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Click on the new view (on the left) and make sure\u00a03D view dropdown is set to\u00a0Top<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Set the\u00a0view layout dropdown to\u00a02 Views \u2013 Horizontal<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n
- You can change the type of camera and lens, but we\u2019ll keep the default setting:\n
- For an animated layer<\/strong> (importing an fla you made in Animate):\n
- Set the duration to your desired length<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n