Importing Layered Files As Single Footage Items; Transparency In Photoshop Files; To Import Layers As A Single Footage Item By Dragging; To Import Layers As A Single Footage Item By Using Commands - Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 7.0 Manual

Importing layered files as single footage items

When you import a layered Photoshop or Illustrator file as a single footage item, you choose to either merge the layers
or import only a single specified layer. Choosing to merge the layers makes After Effects treat the layers as a single
merged layer, without flattening the layers in the original file referenced by the project. Choose this option if you
don't need to animate, reposition, or edit the individual Illustrator or Photoshop layers in After Effects. If you subse-
quently change your mind, the Convert To Layered File command lets you instantly convert the merged footage to
a layered composition.
Note: If the Default Drag Import As option in the Import preferences is set to Composition, the layered file is automati-
cally imported as a composition with the dimensions of each layer matching each layer's content; you aren't prompted to
set any options. Set this option to Footage to always be prompted.

To import layers as a single footage item by dragging

Drag the file to the Project panel.
1
In the [file name] dialog box, choose Footage from the Import Kind menu.
2
Do one of the following:
3
•
Select Choose Layer to add only one layer from the file. Choose the layer's name from the adjacent menu. From
the Footage Dimensions menu, choose Layer Size to make the dimensions of the layer match the layer's content
or Document Size to make the dimensions of the layer match the original document's size.
•
Select Merged Layers to merge all the layers into a single After Effects layer. (The layers in the referenced file don't
merge.)

To import layers as a single footage item by using commands

In After Effects, choose File > Import > File or Multiple Files.
1
In the Import File or Import Multiple Files dialog box, select the file (If the file doesn't appear, select the option
2
for showing all files from the Files of Type (Windows) or the Enable menu (Mac OS).).
Choose Footage from the Import As menu and click Open.
3
In the [file name] dialog box, do one of the following:
4
•
Select Choose Layer to add only one layer from the file. Then choose the layer's name from the adjacent menu.
From the Footage Dimensions menu, choose Layer Size to make the dimensions of the layer match the layer's
content or Document Size to make the dimensions of the layer match the original document's size.
•
Select Merged Layers to merge all the layers into a single After Effects layer.
Note: You can convert a merged layered file to a composition at any time. See "To convert a merged layered file to a
composition" on page 161.

Transparency in Photoshop files

Adobe Photoshop supports a transparent area and one optional layer mask (alpha channel) for each layer in a file.
You can use these layer masks to specify how different areas within a layer are hidden or revealed. If you import one
layer, After Effects combines the layer mask (if present) with the transparent area and imports the layer mask as a
straight alpha channel.
If you import a layered Photoshop file as a merged file, After Effects merges the transparent areas and layer masks of
all the layers into one alpha channel that is premultiplied with white.
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