Layers Magazine tips about After Effects

Layers Magazine has just posted some tips about several applications in Creative Suite 4, including After Effects CS4.

Without seeing the file and your settings, nobody can say anything about the matter. This could be as trivial as setting the sequence button in the import dialog to issues in the file itself like a smart object that uses a different color profile like the parent document, excessive nesting of groups, some weird belnding tricks with layer styles and whatnot....
Mylenium

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Exporting layers of audio from After Effects cs6 to Premiere / or Audition? Is this possible?

exporting layers of audio from After Effects cs6 to Premiere / or Audition? Is this possible?
Help - I have an After effects project with multiple layered files and want to copy these to Premiere / Audition. For example I know if you select multiple video files from After Effects these can be pasted straight into Premiere intact - but this does not work with audio. I want to take existing layered audio files from After Effects to Audition / or Premiere but can't copy and paste - is there a simple solution for this?

Hi thanks Dave for responding - yes that could work as a 'workaround' - I was hoping there would be a way I can keep the existing independent audio layers and corresponding audio levels from After Effects- in the same way I can copy and paste video files from After Effects to Premiere - rather than exporting a flattened AIFF /WAV from After Effects.
This would then allow me a lot more control working on the final edit - especially as currently a lot of the audio layers overlap. It does seem there is no simple solution for this, so otherwise I can do what you suggest - and 'stagger all the audio files' in sequence so they do not overlap on the timeline and then when I import the flattened exported AIFF file into Audition/ Premeire / I then can cut it up again and recreate the overlaps. Was hoping there might be a simple copy + paste method or other 'export method' but I guess this is simply not possible. It would save me about 7 hours of work, but not the end of the world I guess
One final point - some of the audio clips are .mp3s but the majority are WAVS, hopefully this should not create any issues on the export.
thanks again for your help, if you or anyone has any other solution pls let me know
Best
Alex

Hallo, i have a problem with the intallation about after effects. I have a mac 10.6.8 and they told me I can't installete it because i don't have a system with 64 bit. how can i do? someone told me i can .. but i don't know how. thank you

hallo, i have a problem with the intallation about after effects. I have a mac 10.6.8 and they told me I can't installete it because i don't have a system with 64 bit. how can i do? someone told me i can .. but i don't know how. thank you

You cannot. If someone else told you there is a way then they will need to show you. After Effects requires a 64-bit system and the latest release requires Mac OS X v10.8 or v10.9 minimum

General but very urgent question about After Effects...

I registered for an online course with my college called "Motion Graphics."
The class description states that the course teaches Adobe Flash and Adobe After Effects,
and requires the "Classroom in a Book" textbooks for both applications.
Part of the class description says, "Students will learn how to manipulate text, produce simple animations,
incorporate audio and video, and learn the necessities of Action Scripting."
I don't know much about After Effects; I signed up for the class to learn Flash because I am interested in using it
to create games, mobile apps, and embedded web content. I have no interest in making flash movies.
After the course opened up today online, it says only the After Effects textbook is needed,
and that the Flash textbook is not required because Flash has been "phased out" of the course.
I have been intending to take the ActionScript course after this completing this Motion Graphics course.
This Motion Graphics course is actually a prerequisite for the ActionScript course.
Does that even make sense considering Flash has been "phased out" of the course?
As I said, my intention was to learn Flash and move on to learning ActionScript for the purpose of
creating games, mobile apps, and embedded web content. Should I even be bothering with this class?

I contacted the course instructor about the situation, to which she replied:
"So sorry, summer was the last time flash would be taught. Advanced Flash, after this semester, will not longer exist either.
It will be renamed "Advanced Motion Graphics" however, the number for the DIG class will remain the same.
It will only cover After Effects, as flash can no longer work with creating many "apps" and other applications do not except flash.
If you want to take a flash course, maybe the college offers a weekend course, maybe?
Classroom in a book is a great book to learn on, so if you want, you could keep the textbook and learn it on your own.
Again, sorry for your disappointment, but this class will only cover after effects."
What does she mean by "It will only cover After Effects, as flash can no longer work with creating many "apps" and other applications do not except flash."?
Why would she say this?

A few questions about After Effects and CGI (Computer-generated Imagery)

Hi,
I'm very new to After Effects and this forum. But I have a few questions.
Now, I have recently started a movie project with my friend at a workshop. It's an action/sci-fi film and I'm probably going to be the editor and if needed in charge of visual and/or special effects. This sounds like a pretty big job for a noob, but we don't have a time limit with the project so there's time to learn.
But to my questions. I've thought of introducing CGI to myself (very simple of course). I've studied the use of blender, and I think I'll use it for the modelling and animation. But should Ae be used in any stage of producing the CGI or should everything be done in blender? If I do, how? Am I going in the wrong direction (wrong kind of software, etc.)?
Also, I'm not talking of fully producing the scene with the computer, but adding things like characters or items, maybe special effects.
I'm hoping for an answer to all my questions, but if you have just one or two answers I'm happy to hear them too. You're also welcome to correct me if I've misunderstood something. Please ask for further specifications if you need any!

pek859 wrote:
1. I'm very new to After Effects and this forum. But I have a few questions.
2. Now, I have recently started a movie project with my friend at a workshop. It's an action/sci-fi film and I'm probably going to be the editor and if needed in charge of visual and/or special effects. This sounds like a pretty big job for a noob, but we don't have a time limit with the project so there's time to learn.
3. But to my questions. I've thought of introducing CGI to myself (very simple of course). I've studied the use of blender, and I think I'll use it for the modelling and animation. But should Ae be used in any stage of producing the CGI or should everything be done in blender? If I do, how? Am I going in the wrong direction (wrong kind of software, etc.)?
4. Also, I'm not talking of fully producing the scene with the computer, but adding things like characters or items, maybe special effects.
5. I'm hoping for an answer to all my questions, but if you have just one or two answers I'm happy to hear them too. You're also welcome to correct me if I've misunderstood something. Please ask for further specifications if you need any!
1. Welcome to the family. AE is big, Really big. It's hard. Really hard. You have no idea how hard AE is to learr and to master.
2. No time limit is good but you will need some money.
3. This is not a Blender forum. You want to explore filmmaking, CGI and Blender-specific forums for that kind of assistance.
4. AE is for your compositing and special effects. But you will need to learn how both apps work before you can decide how to divide up your project. A comparison would be shooting your film. Are you using a DSLR? Do you know why? Or are you using a GoPro? Another example might be Apple's Final Cut Pro. You can edit audio in it but it's better to use an audio application. You can do some special effects in FCP but it's best to do complex stuff in Motion of After Effects. How do you know what app is appropriate Lots of experience. Lots of failures.
5. We were all new to AE and to vidoe editing and to special effects at one time or another. The user forums are not places to learn how to use these applications. You do that with tutorials and books and tons of time. Learning to use Blender to make a robot move is one thing. Making the robot into a character that compels the audience to care about it is quite another. Using AE to create a layer of clouds is one thing. Having those clouds react to the bow waves created by your flying robot as it approaches sonic speeds is quite another challenge.

Best tutorial about After Effects?

Hi people!
Look..i'm newbie. And i need to learn how to work with Adobe After Effects ASAP for business purposes. I really need to learn it fast (well...at leats the fastest that it can be learn. I think that my IQ get me able to do that lol)
So... do you guys know about a good e-book, or a tutorial series that can teach you the A to Z (especially KINECT/ DYNAMIC TYPOGRAPHY)?
Or a web site that have all the information that i need (for free,of course ; ) )
Thank you vary much,fellas!
C.G

https://partner.video2brain.com/angietaylor/courses.htm
Graco12 wrote:
Ok bro... so..lets be direct up here
A need to now ASAP how to make KINECT/DYNAMIC typography.I know that you know that i know that you know what it's that all about. ; )
So...any suggestions of a good tutorial or video that teach you how to do it?
Thanks!
We see this exact same post about once a month around here. So there exists a reliably and thoroughly documented precedent for Dave's responses. You can searcdh the forum for "kinetic typography" and you will find those conversations. Some of them may have good links for you to follw but you caould also try to contact the authors to see how they ended up dealing with their sudden and hurried and mission critical and crucial needs to become experts in an artform using materials and crafts systems they've never seen before. It's tough.
You can help similar seekers tremendously by returning after your project is successfully behind you and letting us know what resources served you well. Post those links to the online tutorials and other research your performed.
There is a great book/DVD on the market from Angie Taylor and our own Todd Kopriva. It's targeted precisely at people like you who need to or want to get up to speed quickly. Here are some other useful links from Ms Taylor. Don't let that ring in her nose scare ya.
http://www.angietaylor.co.uk/
http://angietaylor.wordpress.com/tag/todd-kopriva/
https://partner.video2brain.com/angietaylor/courses.htm
http://www.angietaylor.co.uk/kinetic-typography-techniques-for-after-effects/
http://www.angietaylor.co.uk/font-links-for-kinetic-typography/

Question about after effects

hi im new to after effects and trying to learn a few step,iv been using youtube for help but this aspect i want to find out about i dont know what to look up to find my answer.
my question is when im making an intro for a video
i have design 1, design 2, then design 3 ,then my name appears .then i want to keep my name on the screen but dissapear the design 1.2 and 3 behind the name then start a dif design behing the name . how to i get from my name along with the 3 designs to my name with no designs and then be able add more designs ?
sorry but above is the best way i feel i can describe it :/ .
is it to do with a new layer or solid that i put after my name to seperate the two ?
if someone can find a video on youtube they feel can show me rather than tell me it would be appreciated!.
thanks!

Don't go to YouTube. Go here: Getting started with After Effects

Talk something about After Effects

Hi everyone, I love to make VFX and I love After Effects. I just want to talk something about future of AE. I used to try using many softwares like Nuke, Fusion and specially Hitfilm. Hitfilm's really impress, it's so fast and easy to use. With some projects, I can playback realtime in Hitfilm while I got 30 seconds per frame in After Effects. In the future, Hitfilm (and another new compositing/VFX softwares) will developed fully like After effects, but After effects can't be developed to be faster like them, because they got the new technology platform and AE's too old. I'm afraid, afraid oneday, when hitfilm (and the others) grow more and more, get powerful tools like After effects plugin+script, there'll be no one use After effects :(. So I hope Adobe will re-build After effect at the beginning, whether have to renounce the old system that builded from 1993 for that After effect would become to be fast like Hitfilm, powerful like Nuke. I love After Effects .

The majority of the After Effects team is working on rewriting the core of AE to make it run faster, so your wish is coming true.

Really my question is about after effects, which then renders to a quick time movie. I have imported music into after effects many times, and all of a sudden after import and playing it under ram preview, it stops about 4/5 through the work.

when I import a song into after effects it only plays 4/5 and then stops. I'm viewing it in RAM preview.
the composition time is fine.
can you help me???
Roxanne

See this:
"FAQ: Why does RAM preview only play part of my composition?"

I need to edit upward of 25 three dimensional layers in 1080p if After Effects.

I'll be editing in Premiere Pro.
What hardware would it require?
CPU?
GPU (I ONLY want Nvidia, because all the software I'll use is optimized for that, and it's CUDA technology is great) - should I SLI, or will the software not use that? Dual GPU cards, such as GTX 690?
RAM (should be 2-3 GB per processor core, I know)
Motherboard?
I just want to keep the price as low as possible, but I don't care if it goes up to $5000. I just mean that I would rather get an 7 3930k than 3960x, since it is a barely noticeable performance difference. Would I need a Xeon? In dual CPU setup?
Also, I'm staying at 1866 mhz at the MOST. I know that anything higher is useless and overkill.
Also, if you want a place to make a concept list more easily, try http://pcpartpicker.com
I use it a lot, but I don't know whether my concept builds are accurate to my needs.
Thank in advance!
Sorry if it shows up copied and pasted, I asked this somewhere else, but the answers were really bad.

Premiere Pro does NOT support SLI so the GTX690 is a waste... for PPro
I do not use After Effects so I do not know if it will use SLI http://forums.adobe.com/community/aftereffects_general_discussion
Buy a Desktop Video Editing PC
http://www.adkvideoediting.com/
-ADK Kudos http://forums.adobe.com/thread/877201
Build a Desktop Video Editing PC
-http://ppbm7.com/index.php/intro-part-1
-http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1098759
-http://forums.adobe.com/thread/878520?tstart=0
-http://forums.adobe.com/thread/815798
-http://www.shawnlam.ca/2012/premiere-pro-cs6-video-editing-computer-build/
-http://www.videoguys.com/Guide/E/Videoguys+DIY9+Its+Time+for+Sandy+Bridge+E/0xe9b142f408a2 b03ab88144a434e88de7.aspx

Is Sequence Layers command broken in After Effects CC 12.2.1.5?

I select 10 layers. I select Animation > Keyframe Assistant > Sequence Layers. I choose the Overlap option. I set an offset of 9 seconds. I click OK. Nothing happens. Not one thing. Not one layer is moved at all. This used to be working. Is it broken in 12.2.1.5? Is anyone else experiencing this? Has anyone found a solution?

I cannot get this to break... Works fine for me. Try setting all layers to 20 frames and set the overlap to 0.
Is your comp long enough to hold the sequenced layers. Lets see, I don't know how long the layers are but if the overlap is 9 seconds (wow that's allow dissolve) Then you need 10 times the length of your total footage - 90 seconds for a comp length.

Questions about After Effects CC (12.0.1)

Having now licensed AE, I got some errors reported due to ray shading. Reboot stopped that. Then I get random errors during app startup at the cleaning up ray tracing step. And, still no improvement on warp stab performance. I need some guidance here. Thanks...

I am having the problem in AE, I tested PP to see if the problem existed there and it did not. In the PP case, it appears that PP executes the warp stab itself rather than farming it out to the Analysis Server in a separate process.
Problem may very well be with Mavericks but the net result is that an interaction between Adobe software and Mavericks is causing a problem that your customers will fault Adobe for.
However, more information for you. It appears only to be a problem with a sequence that I drag and drop from PP to AE (dynamic linking). If I import the PP project into AE using File->Impot->Adobe Premiere Pro Project, warp stab runs with Adobe Analysis Server at 100% CPU and completes in a reasonable amount of time (20 minutes). Using dynamic linking I started warp stab last night after my last post and four hours later it was 50% complete and AAS was running around 10% CPU.
I was hoping for a workaround, but it now seems that I am informing Adobe of a potential problem that a bug report needs to be filed on.
Thanks for pursuing this with me. I am posting my prefs you requested next.

Questions about After Effects CC (12)

Went ahead and subscribed for the full monty. First startups produced a shader error about ray tracing. Reboot of the MacBook and that went away. However, I am still not getting multi cpu capability in warp stab. I have gone into preferences to enable multi cpu and 8 cpus are reported which is what I expect to see for my 15" MacBook Pro Retina. What do you suggest?

1Password:
Version:          4.0
Source:          Mac App Store
Install Date:          10/4/13, 6:08 AM
1Password:
Version:          4.0.3
Source:          Mac App Store
Install Date:          10/14/13, 9:46 PM
Adobe Flash Player:
Version:
Source:          3rd Party
Install Date:          10/14/13, 9:15 AM
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.2:
Version:          Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.2
Source:          3rd Party
Install Date:          10/3/13, 6:33 PM
AirPort Utility:
Version:          6.3.1
Source:          Apple
Install Date:          10/3/13, 11:15 PM
Brorsoft:
Version:
Source:          3rd Party
Install Date:          10/6/13, 9:22 PM
Carbonite:
Version:
Source:          3rd Party
Install Date:          10/5/13, 7:46 AM
Chinese Word list Update:
Version:          1.9
Source:          Apple
Install Date:          10/3/13, 8:45 PM
CUDA 5.5:
Version:
Source:          3rd Party
Install Date:          10/21/13, 6:19 PM
CUDA 5.5:
Version:
Source:          3rd Party
Install Date:          10/23/13, 12:53 AM
CUDA 5.5:
Version:
Source:          3rd Party
Install Date:          10/23/13, 12:54 AM
DaisyDisk:
Version:          3.0.1
Source:          Mac App Store
Install Date:          10/9/13, 6:39 AM
Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update:
Version:          4.09
Source:          Apple
Install Date:          10/3/13, 11:15 PM
Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update:
Version:          4.09
Source:          Apple
Install Date:          10/22/13, 3:08 PM
Evernote:
Version:          5.3.0
Source:          Mac App Store
Install Date:          10/4/13, 8:10 AM
Evernote:
Version:          5.4.1
Source:          Mac App Store
Install Date:          10/13/13, 11:19 AM
Flip4Mac:
Version:
Source:          3rd Party
Install Date:          10/15/13, 8:55 AM
GoProStudio:
Version:
Source:          3rd Party
Install Date:          10/5/13, 7:37 AM
HP Printer Software Update:
Version:          2.14
Source:          Apple
Install Date:          10/7/13, 11:11 AM
iMovie:
Version:          9.0.9
Source:          Mac App Store
Install Date:          10/3/13, 5:52 PM
iMovie:
Version:          10.0.0
Source:          Mac App Store
Install Date:          10/22/13, 10:30 PM
iPhoto:
Version:          9.4.3
Source:          Mac App Store
Install Date:          10/3/13, 5:51 PM
iPhoto:
Version:          9.5.0
Source:          Mac App Store
Install Date:          10/22/13, 10:26 PM
iTunes:
Version:          11.1.1
Source:          Apple
Install Date:          10/3/13, 11:21 PM
iTunes:
Version:          11.1.2
Source:          Apple
Install Date:          10/22/13, 9:57 PM
Java 7 Update 40:
Version:
Source:          3rd Party
Install Date:          10/5/13, 4:54 PM
Java 7 Update 40:
Version:
Source:          3rd Party
Install Date:          10/5/13, 5:04 PM
Java 7 Update 45:
Version:
Source:          3rd Party
Install Date:          10/17/13, 6:34 AM
Java for OS X 2013-004:
Version:          1.0
Source:          Apple
Install Date:          10/5/13, 4:56 PM
Java for OS X 2013-005:
Version:          1.0
Source:          Apple
Install Date:          10/17/13, 6:35 AM
Java for OS X 2013-005:
Version:          1.0
Source:          Apple
Install Date:          10/22/13, 7:51 PM
Keynote:
Version:          5.2
Source:          Mac App Store
Install Date:          10/3/13, 11:27 PM
Keynote:
Version:          6.0
Source:          Mac App Store
Install Date:          10/22/13, 10:03 PM
Lame Library v3.98.2 for Audacity:
Version:
Source:          3rd Party
Install Date:          10/4/13, 2:33 PM
MacBook Pro Retina SMC Update:
Version:          1.2
Source:          Apple
Install Date:          10/3/13, 11:21 PM
Nmap 6.40:
Version:
Source:          3rd Party
Install Date:          10/21/13, 1:01 PM
Numbers:
Version:          2.2
Source:          Mac App Store
Install Date:          10/3/13, 11:30 PM
Numbers:
Version:          3.0
Source:          Mac App Store
Install Date:          10/22/13, 9:57 PM
OS X:
Version:          6.0
Source:          Mac App Store
Install Date:          10/22/13, 2:27 PM
OS X:
Version:          10.9 (13A603)
Source:          Apple
Install Date:          10/22/13, 2:46 PM
OS X Update Combined:
Version:          10.8.5
Source:          Apple
Install Date:          10/3/13, 11:15 PM
Pages:
Version:          4.2
Source:          Mac App Store
Install Date:          10/3/13, 11:32 PM
Pages:
Version:          5.0
Source:          Mac App Store
Install Date:          10/22/13, 10:11 PM
Xcode:
Version:          2.0
Source:          Mac App Store
Install Date:          10/7/13, 12:29 AM
Xcode:
Version:          2.0
Source:          Mac App Store
Install Date:          10/22/13, 10:11 PM
XQuartz 2.7.4:
Version:
Source:          3rd Party
Install Date:          10/21/13, 1:04 PM

An approximately comprehensive list of good and current online After Effects resources

You can search for material related to After Effects or other Adobe products using the
Adobe Community Help search. (This service is in beta, so please use the feedback link to tell us how to make it better.)
Adobe provides documentation resources for After Effects on the Adobe website:
www.adobe.com/go/learn_ae_documentation.
To make a feature request or file a bug report, fill out the
feature request and bug report form on the Adobe website.
For information on plug-ins available for After Effects, visit the Adobe website at
www.adobe.com/go/learn_ae_plugins.
Adobe provides resources for scripting and plug-in creation on the Adobe website:
www.adobe.com/go/learn_ae_devcenter.
To exchange scripts, projects, and other useful items with other After Effects users, visit the After Effects Exchange on the Adobe website:
www.adobe.com/go/learn_ae_exchange.
Michael Coleman, After Effects product manager, provides news and notes about After Effects on his
"Keyframes" blog.
Todd Kopriva, After Effects documentation lead, provides... uh... stuff about After Effects on his
"After Effects region of interest" blog.
A good place to ask questions about After Effects, especially with regard to integration with 3D applications, is the
Mograph forum.
The ProVideo Coalition (PVC) website (
www.adobe.com/go/learn_ae_pvchome) contains
articles and blogs on topics of interest to professionals in the video industry. In addition to articles by Chris and Trish Meyer, the PVC website includes articles by Mark Christiansen, Frank Capria, Jim Feeley, Adam Wilt, Mark Curtis, and Scott Gentry.
The
Toolfarm website provides forums, tutorials, and other resources related to After Effects and other Adobe products. The
AE Freemart website is a division of Toolfarm that provides free tutorials about After Effects.
The AE Enhancers forum provides example scripts and useful information about scripting (as well as expressions and animation presets) in After Effects:
www.adobe.com/go/learn_ae_aeenhancershome.
Jonas Hummelstrand provides tutorials, troubleshooting tips, and insights about After Effects and motion graphics in general on his
General Specialist website.
Trish and Chris Meyer provide instructional resources for After Effects in many places, including their
CyberMotion website.
Lutz Albrecht provides a list of After Effects error codes and some possible solutions on his
Mylenium website.
John Dickinson provides tutorials and other resources for After Effects and related software on his
Motionworks website.
Alan Shisko provides insights and tips about motion graphics on his
Motion Graphics 'n Such blog.
Harry Frank provides tutorials on all areas of After Effects, with an emphasis on expressions and use of third-party plug-ins on his
graymachine website.
Andrew Kramer provides tutorials and training on his
Video Copilot website.
Dan Ebberts provides scripting tutorials and useful scripts on his website:
www.adobe.com/go/learn_ae_danscripting. Dan also provides an excellent collection of example expressions and tutorials for learning how to work with expressions on his website:
www.adobe.com/go/learn_ae_motionscripthome.
Lloyd Alvarez provides a collection of useful scripts on his website:
www.adobe.com/go/learn_ae_lloydaescripts.
Jeff Almasol provides a collection of useful scripts on his website:
www.adobe.com/go/learn_ae_redefineryhome.
Stu Maschwitz provides insights and tips about After Effects and video, visual effects, and compositing in general on his
ProLost blog.
The Creative COW website provides several resources for After Effects users. Many of these resources feature Aharon Rabinowitz:
Multimedia 101 podcast
After Effects podcasts
After Effects tutorials
After Effects articles
After Effects Basics forum
After Effects forum
After Effects Expressions forum
The
Layers Magazine website provides articles and tutorials about After Effects and other Adobe creative products.
David Van Brink provides tips, insights, and downloadable utilities for After Effects and other digital video software on his
Omino website.
Colin Braley provides tutorials, mostly about expressions, on
his website.
Rich Young maintains a list of After Effects resources on his
AE Portal News blog.
Rick Gerard provides tips and tricks on his
AE Tips and Tricks website.
David Torno provides tips and tutorials about visual effects and compositing on his
AE I Owe You blog.

In addition to Todd's list, i'd like to add a few more:
Maltaannon's blog/website, where you'll find tutorials, and custom effects (some are free, others are not):
http://maltaannon.com/
Red Giant TV, cool tutorials & discounts about Red Giant plugins, hosted by Aharon Rabinowitz: http://www.redgiantsoftware.com/videos/redgianttv/
If you leave in a french speaking country:
Great tutorials from Mattrunks, a young but yet really cool Motion Designer: http://tutoriaux.mattrunks.com/
emob, a french video formation website with free tutorial (http://www.emob.fr/dotclear/index.php?Tutoriaux-video), including some VideoCopilot trnascription into Molière's language, full blown paid tutorials (http://www.formationvideo.fr/vod/logiciel/d/0/after-effects-cs3.html), and a marketplace for users to users sell & buy tutorials (http://www.weecast.fr/).

Can After Effects CC handle this many Illustrator layers?

I designed a world map in Adobe Illustrator with many layers for a documentary about interwar Europe (1919-1939). The Illustrator map actually has 80 layers. Would this be a map with too many layers to animate in After Effects?
In AE I plan to add a camera to zoom in on parts of the map like Europe and the Middle East. But I'll also need to animate the opacity of individual layers to show territorial changes and invasions in Europe before and after 1919 Versailles Treaty and the 1938 Munich Agreement. The reason I have so many layers is that I thought I could use this one map in multiple different map animations for my film.
Can AE handle this many layers? Or is it wiser to keep the layers to a minimum number?
Also, is there no way in After Effects to group the layers other than pre-comping them? It would be great to be able to have sub-layers in AE like you can in Illustrator. I could then reduce the number of layers in my map from 80 to less than 20, by grouping all European states as sub-layers into a Europe layer, as so on for Africa, Asia, etc.
Unless I'm mistaken, Illustrator sub-layers are not visible in After Effects, are they?

Rick and Mylenium,
Thank you both for your feedback. Much appreciated. Mylenium, I'm sure you're right. I probably was trying to do too much in one map. I'll follow your suggestion and use the minimum number of layers for each scenario. I'm spending too much time as it is looking for particular layers among the 80.
I do wish it were possible in AE to simply group layers without pre-comping them though. Or that Illustrator sub-layers could be visible. It would really help to streamline the workflow. I suppose I could precomp all layers and then simply add a camera to the pre-comp.
Rick I'll try the expression controls and parenting, but can you elaborate a little further regarding your suggestion of pre-planning in Illustrator?
Thank you both again for your helpful suggestions.

Layers Magazine tips about After Effects

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