Saving images for use in motion graphics

You can save images in Photoshop for use in motion graphics software like Adobe After Effects. A Photoshop (PSD) file can be imported directly into an After Effects project with the option of preserving individual layers, layer styles, transparent areas and layer masks, and adjustment layers. Importing layers makes it easy to prepare still images for animation.

You can reduce the rendering times and problems in After Effects by doing the following:

• Organize and name layers. If you change a layer name or delete a layer in a Photoshop document after you have imported it into After Effects, After Effects will not be able to find the renamed or deleted layer. The After Effects Project window lists that layer as Missing.
• Make sure that each layer has a unique name, because After Effects manages layers by their names. Duplicate layer names can cause problems when you update footage.
• If you want to import a composited version of a layered Photoshop file along with a layered version, select the Include Composited Image With Layered Files option in the Photoshop Saving Files Preferences dialog box.

If you are creating a Photoshop file for export to After Effects for use in a video project, use one of the file size presets for video in the New file dialog box. For more information on why you must specify specific pixel aspect ratios for use in video, see Saving images for use in video.