Illustrator layers not cropped

Usually when I import a layer from Illustrator (CS4), that layer comes into AE (CS4) cropped to the exact dimensions of the element. Lately, no matter what I do, the element keeps importing as the size of the artboard.
Even if I choose, "import > compositions, cropped layers" - the layers from Ill still come into AE as the artboard size.
Whats going on?

Nope. It happens with single, simple geometric shapes and text layers.
I've been using AI & AE for many years, and while I wouldn't call myself an expert, I'm pretty confident in my experience. I keep having the feeling that this is something small and trivial. Maybe a pref that I've switched somehow?

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AI (illustrator) layers not showing up in AE (after effects) CC 2014

I've just come across this issue for the first time. I've imported AI files into AE many times before and had no issues like this one.
After importing the layered AI doc into AE, only one layer will show up. Attached is a video I recorded of what happens. If you can make sense of it, please let me know. Note: I can save out eps as separate files and use those in AE no problem.
I'm working on a macbook pro retina and just did a fresh format about 2 weeks ago so everything is up to date. I've tried restarting AE and my computer. Also recreating a new AI file with different dimensions.
I blocked out the files on my computer in respect to my clients (in case you're confused).

Thanks for your reply, but unfortunately that's not it.
I've tried: having all the assets on separate layers, making sure the doc was in RGB, renaming the illustrator file, saving it back to different versions of AI, loading into a different AE file, and so on. I have a feeling it has something to do with the paint bucket tool. I've outlined/expanded my graphics just incase, so it shouldn't be.
OH HEY! I've seen a lot of your posts on creative cow as well in the last few years. You're kind of like a AE community celebrity to me haha.

PDF Layers to Illustrator layers

Hi,
Is it possible to open a PDF file with layers in AI and preserve the PDF layers as layers in AI?
Is it possible to do the other way round too?
Export an AI file with layers as PDF and preserve the layer structure?
Thanks,
Priya

Because Illustrator is not a pdf editor you won't be able to open a pdf with his layers preserved without a extra plugin, Esko has a plugin that supports this and more.
Is you save a pdf as at least a 1.5 out off Illustrator, the Illustrator layers will be in the pdf.

Disappearing Illustrator Layers/Assets, AE CS5

Hey guys,
First my specs, just in case:
MAC OSX 10.6.6
AE CS5 10.0.1.19
8-Core
24 GB RAM
I'm having the strangest issues with adobe illustrator layers in my timeline... they keep disappearing at random moments during playback. Somtimes its during RAM preview, somtimes its when I'm scrubbing the timeline, but never at the same point and it doesn't seem to be consistant for which layers dissapear or appear. To be clear, the layers themselves are not disappearing in the timeline, but in my active view/camera.
There are 13 illustrator layers, all of them are 3D Layers. I have, at various points, been able to see all of my layers when they should appear on screen, so Its not an issue of a layer getting in the way of my camera and obscuring anything (i don't think). It's not an opacity issue... It seems to be something with my illustrator files and CS5. I've even tried moving the files over to a different machine, and I've tried opening up the project on a Windows box, but the problem persists. I'm truly puzzled.
Its not the biggest issue at the moment, as long as I can get a clean playback in AE for my client this evening, but I'm scared to continue working only to find that I can't render out any of my final project to broadcast.
Anyone have any clues? I'll post updates as needed.
Thanks in advance,
Dylan

I have found the genesis of our problems. I first noticed this on a project where I was using Illustrator (CS5) artwork supplied by a designer. He was using the "Film/Video" presets to make an HD formatted AI file. I liked how handy the grids and title safeties were so I kept using the preset on other projects. Thats when I started noticing artwork disappearing. I had to purge it at multiple points in my timeline just to get a render out.
When I read richardbwallace's idea to look for the second artboard and delete it, everything clicked into place. Instantly everything came back. I have a feeling that Adobe needed to add that artboard to make something in the film and video presets to work the way they do and didn't anticipate or test for this issue.
I have not checked if other presets use the same double artboard trick, but if one of them does, I bet it will cause the same problems.
tl;dr - Video and Film presets in AI add extra artboards which cause the issue.

Extracting unique identifier for illustrator layers

Hi All,
Multiple layers in an illustrator file can have the same name. So the layer name cannot be a unique identifier for layers. Is there a way to extract a unique identifier for layers through scripting? I saw that if the 'Identify Objects by' property (inside Preferences -> Units) is set to XML ID, all layer names, even identical ones are replaced by some unique ids. Can we extract these ids via scripting without manually changing the 'Identify Objects by' property. Basically, extraction of any unique identifier for illustrator layers would serve the purpose. I am really stuck with this and need help urgently. Any help would be highly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

When I found this I noticed it changed the name of the layers in the layers pallet.
I had not had a chance to test this with code.
If "use XML ID" is turned on then you are not able to name layers the same thing.
this in turn would follow through to your script using layer.name
for existing files you would need to fix names manually or...
I am sure it would be possible to Script.
eg. export SVG file and pull the layer ID's from that and rename the document layers accordingly. (may be a little tricky for sublayers, but top level layers should be straight forward)
Then as long as "use XML ID" is left on the files would not need this run again as you cannot use duplicate layer names.

Illustrator layers only visible one frame

After Effects 2014.2 version 13.2.0.49
Illustrator 2014.1.1 version 18.1.1
So, I started off posting in the wrong forum (Illustrator) and with that
question, seemed to jumped that hurtle, but encountered another.
My first problem was importing an Illustrator layered image as 'Composition
- Retain layer sizes' and had to check off the sequence options as
'Illustrator/PDF/EPS Sequence' in order to keep the layers in the proper
positions (or all layers centered around individual anchor points).
Another problem I had with that was all my layers became mixed - so my
solution was to bring them into the comp in a manual order.
So, now that I have the Illustrator layers in my After Effects comp, the
layers only remain visible for one frame.
I have my comp set for a minute. I started playing with opacities and can't
get past the 'one frame visibility'.
My plans are to 'draw on' the guitar I have drawn in Illustrator, by
keyframing the layer opacities.
I have tried the Animation/Keyframe Assistant/Sequence Layers but I am
missing something.
I want to try other effects that I do not remember the specific effect name
(to draw on the guitar layers), but first I need to start with having my
layers visible for more then the one frame.
What have I missed?

Your artboard needs to include all of your artwork. That's the problem with the illustrator file you are showing.
Import as a sequence should never be checked if you are importing only one file whether it is imported as footage or a comp.
When you import as a comp you must open the comp that AE creates to keep the layers lined up.
Most people just getting started with this workflow make all three of these mistakes. The workflow is really easy. Make each object that you want to animate a separate layer, make sure all artwork fits in the your artboard and you only have one, import as a comp retaining layer sizes, then open the comp that AE creates. ALL of the layers that are in the project panel will be the size of that layer. If you are using clipping paths then the layer will be the size of the clipping mask if it extends beyond the artwork.
One last point that I failed to make. You should be creating your artwork so that it is the right size to fit in your composition at it's at rest size. In other words, if at some point in your composition you want to see the whole guitar and have it fill the screen then the strings must be thick enough to work in video. That means they must be at least 2 or 3 points wide. If you want to have the guitar fill only one quarter of the screen and your project is 1920 X 1080 then your dartboard should be set to 1920 pixels or points wide and the strings must still be at least 2 points or 2 pixels wide unless they are absolutely horizontal and vertical AND if you use thin lines or stroke values less than 3 pixels in your illustration you should have snap to pixel turned on in illustrator. Your illustration may be vector art but if there is fine detail in the illustration then it must line up with the pixel grid or it will not look good.

Pre-composed layers not consistantly casting shadows?

So. I've been trowling through th interwebs for an answer and it appears a lot of people have come accross similar issues yet I am still to solve my little hiccup.
I have a bunch of 3D layers sitting on a 3D plane. Everything was going swimmingly until I animated these layers in individual pre-compositions, when all the shadows disappeared. All shadow settings are set correctly, lights are in the right places, layers are separeted on Z axis and there are no effects on anything.
I'll include some images so you get the gist:
For some reason, 1 shadow is working. i've checked all the settings and nothing seems to be different between them.
Here's a shot of the stats on the working comp:
And one of a non-working comp:
Now the pre-comps are no longer interacting with the ground at all. You can see the working one in the background is hanging out half way through the floor where as the front characters should be doing the same but aren't.
And finally, for some reason, at the 7second mark, it suddenly works again!?
Now, nothing changes at the 7 second mark, the camera and lights are in exactly he same place. None of the figures have moved, no comps have ended. what on earth is happening??
Can anyone help me?

what do you mean by toggling the visibility?
They all have masks on them that fade them in however the originals had masks when they were just straight illustrator layers and the shadows worked fine then too.
Heres an in-comp image of the timeline. there's not a whole lot going on and again, nothing at 7seconds.
Also, here is a picture of the only comp within this comp that gets close to that 7 second mark. Again, nothing happens.
All the character comps are set up the same so problems should be consistant across the board but again, one in the background of the first image i posted works yet none of the others. i've even duplicated this layer and the duplicates don't work.

Importing adobe Illustrator layered files into Motion3???

Hello, I am working in AI, I have a layerd file and I would like to import the AI file with layers into motion to be able to move things around and have thigns come in at different times.
Is there anyway to import adobe illustrator files with layers into motion and keeping the layers, not have it turn into a flat image? please help.
Thank you very much,
Michael

There used to be a plugin called Ampede LayerLink to do just this - import AI layers into a Motion project, but it is no longer to be found. Some folks have use these tools to help themselves:
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmf36.narod.ru%2F&langpair=r u%7Cen
See this thread for a discussion: http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=5340073
Good luck...
Patrick

Blank illustrator layers?

Here's a new problem I've discovered: after importing illustrator layers, then saving project, close project, re-open project...illustrator layers are blank. After clicking purge, layers show up. This only works for layers that are actively being viewed (either in layer window or comp window) So, for layers that are further down in the timeline, they remain invisible until you park on that frame and click purge. Turning off multiprocessing has no effect. Yesterday I went through 1800 frames to find the ones where the type didn't render. Unacceptable.
10.6.4
CS5 10.0.1.19
2 x quad core 16 GB ram

This might apply here, but this is a solve I found and posted to another thread.
I have found the genesis of our problems. I first noticed this on a project where I was using Illustrator (CS5) artwork supplied by a designer. He was using the "Film/Video" presets to make an HD formatted AI file. I liked how handy the grids and title safeties were so I kept using the preset on other projects. Thats when I started noticing artwork disappearing. I had to purge it at multiple points in my timeline just to get a render out.
When I read richardbwallace's idea to look for the second artboard and delete it, everything clicked into place. Instantly everything came back. I have a feeling that Adobe needed to add that artboard to make something in the film and video presets to work the way they do and didn't anticipate or test for this issue.
I have not checked if other presets use the same double artboard trick, but if one of them does, I bet it will cause the same problems.
tl;dr - Video and Film presets in AI add extra artboards which cause the issue.

How to transfering Adobe illustrator layers into a new project?

How do I drag and drop adobe illustrator layers into another separate illustrator project? I have a few dozen illustrator layers and I wanted to transfer them to another illustrator project. Any ideas? Thanks
I'm using windows 7 cs2

You have to have an object on the layer for it to transfer (at least in my experience). Open document 1. Make a new document and make sure Paste Remembers Layers is on. Select all in document 1, copy and paste in document 2. Then hit delete to clear the objects from document 1. The layer structure will be maintained with one exception. Don't have a layer named Layer 1 in the first document that is not the top or bottom layer.

Adobe Illustrator will not launch when Flash is running

A few of our users have reported that once Flash is running Adobe Illustrator will not launch. We are moving from Windows XP SP2 to Windows XP SP3. The version of both Illustrator and Flash is CS2 (will be upgraded later to CS3).
This used to work on SP2 - anyone can give some hints on this?

Nobody ever solved this

Illustrator has not been responding for over a week, I can't open or force quit it. I've already uninstalled, reinstalled, and deleted the preferences folder, but the icon in my dock seems corrupt and is causing the program to not respond and I can't dele

Illustrator has not been responding for over a week, I can't open or force quit it. I've already uninstalled, reinstalled, and deleted the preferences folder, but the icon in my dock seems corrupt and is causing the program to not respond and I can't delete it.

Tamara,
Did you reinstall using the full three step way (otherwise strange things may linger)?
Uninstall (ticking the box to delete the preferences), run the Cleaner Tool, and reinstall.
http://www.adobe.com/support/contact/cscleanertool.html

Saving as PDF, Photoshop CS5 (Acrobat not cropping)

Just upgraded to CS5 from CS3. In the earlier version, I always saved files as PDFs from the Print box. Then I'd open the PDF in Acrobat and check "Remove White Margins" in order to crop to my Photoshop file size. When I try this same method in CS5, Acrobat will not crop my image to match my Photoshop file size.
I believe it's an issue with Photoshop CS5 because I tried my same old method using Photoshop CS3 and the new Acrobat and it works like it used to. Is there another way to save as a PDF from CS5? Any ideas?
Thanks.

Printing to PDF from the print box is an OS process - it takes the printer data that Photoshop sends and creates PDF from it.
Photoshop CS5 does use the newer Cocoa printing APIs, which could cause changes in the output (due to differences in Apple's code).
For saving PDF, I really suggest you just save the file as PDF from Photoshop and skip the print dialog.

Default keyboards folder in illustrator CC not showing- no .kys file in apps folder

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If you are on a Mac, then the default keys should be in Adobe Illustrator CSX/Presets/en_US/Keyboard Shortcuts. If it's not there then a reinstall would be in order possibly running the cleaner tool in between.

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The large image is the original, the one in the middle I scaled down by holding shift and dragging, the last one on the right hand side is scaled down by typing in a number in Transform in the W: box.
I want it to look like the middle, but I want to be able to type in a dimension without having to expand my strokes. It worked just fine in the previous version.

Illustrator layers not cropped

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