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Exporting layers from Flash

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Exporting layers from Flash

hi;
i'm a traditional animator starting to use flash and one of the problems i'm having is the unbelievably long time it takes to export layers. does anyone know of a tool to make this easier? my characters are composed of many layers for each part of the character; head, arms, hands, legs, body etc., and i need to export these to after effects and it's a nightmare.

thx,

animatricks

Hi animatricks. I do not know of any tool that can aid you but I can recommend a technique that you can use to make the work that you are doing easier and help you do away with dealing with those layers.

What you must do is to create a character comp. A character comp is a symbol containing all the body parts of a character. You mentioned before that your character is composed of many layers for each body part. What you can try is to select all of these body parts and then press the f8 key to convert these into another symbol. Once you do that, all the body parts of your character will now be nested inside one symbol. I hope this helps.

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thanks Sandrocks:
i think i know what you mean and try it out tonight. however, does that limit what i can do with individual layers later on in after effects?

regards,

animatricks

I do not work in Flash but I have a idea on this subject. Once you finished make sure you save your work then make a copy of it. Take the copy and group and/or collapse layers. This is a guess on my part but make a number of different grouped and/or collapse layers. Just give them different iteration when you save them.

One more thing, if you need those layers in a different application (AP) like "After Effect" you will have to export files that preverses them. (Like Photoshop)

I have a couple of questions because I'm not quite sure what you are trying to do.

First, why are you exporting all the character parts layers into After Effects?

Second, have you already animated the character, or is this just one pose with all the symbols on different layers?

Finally, what are you animating this for? Web? Broadcast?

This will give me a better idea on how to reply to your question. I can most likely help you with this, but I just need more info.

Mahalo,
the Ape

...we must all face a choice, between what is right... and what is easy."

Exporting Layers

Hi All,

Actually there is an awesome tool to do just that. You can have an unlimited number of layers in Flash. Then choose export, it will export in 3 formats, SWF, Quicktime, and PNG with alpha support. You can select frame ranges, and layers to export to. It even has the ability to change DPI upon export. An awesome tool, go to: http://www.4gsw.com

--
Tazz, animator

Hey there:
Thanks for getting back to me. I'm doing traditional style animation and going out to after effects for editing, then out to TV. Does that answer the question. I'm kinda new to this so any help would be apreciated.

Cheers,

Animatricks
-

I have a couple of questions because I'm not quite sure what you are trying to do.

First, why are you exporting all the character parts layers into After Effects?

Second, have you already animated the character, or is this just one pose with all the symbols on different layers?

Finally, what are you animating this for? Web? Broadcast?

This will give me a better idea on how to reply to your question. I can most likely help you with this, but I just need more info.

Mahalo,
the Ape

Exporting layers automatically

Hi Ape:
I hope I'm doing this properly;

I'm really late getting back to you but . . . . i found a tool call layerex that automatically exports all the layers in my flash document. I use the layers to go into after effects (my favorite), or any other compositing program so I can create effects on the individual elements. the tool is at www.4gsw.com it works for me! thanks for the feedback and sorry for the lack of protocol in answering sooner.

animatricks

I have a couple of questions because I'm not quite sure what you are trying to do.

First, why are you exporting all the character parts layers into After Effects?

Second, have you already animated the character, or is this just one pose with all the symbols on different layers?

Finally, what are you animating this for? Web? Broadcast?

This will give me a better idea on how to reply to your question. I can most likely help you with this, but I just need more info.

Mahalo,
the Ape

automatically exporting layers

hi wontobe;
thanks for getting back to me. i'm replying to those of you who were kind enough to get back to me. i'm new to this forum stuff.

i found a tool from tazzman called layerex that exports layers automatically. man what a time saver! anyway, it's at www.4gsw.com check it out.

thanks again for the info.

animatricks
-

I do not work in Flash but I have a idea on this subject. Once you finished make sure you save your work then make a copy of it. Take the copy and group and/or collapse layers. This is a guess on my part but make a number of different grouped and/or collapse layers. Just give them different iteration when you save them.

One more thing, if you need those layers in a different application (AP) like "After Effect" you will have to export files that preverses them. (Like Photoshop)

exporting layers automatically

Hi Sandrocks:
i'm replying to those of you kind enough to get back to me. i'm not used to these forums but it seems like the least i could do.

i heard from tazzman about a tool called Layerex that automatically exports layers and i bought a copy. it's only $29 and it does the job really well. it's at www.4gsw.com

so thanks for the tip. i appreciate it.

animatricks
-

Hi animatricks. I do not know of any tool that can aid you but I can recommend a technique that you can use to make the work that you are doing easier and help you do away with dealing with those layers.

What you must do is to create a character comp. A character comp is a symbol containing all the body parts of a character. You mentioned before that your character is composed of many layers for each body part. What you can try is to select all of these body parts and then press the f8 key to convert these into another symbol. Once you do that, all the body parts of your character will now be nested inside one symbol. I hope this helps.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

may be this will help ...

hi;
i'm a traditional animator starting to use flash and one of the problems i'm having is the unbelievably long time it takes to export layers. does anyone know of a tool to make this easier? my characters are composed of many layers for each part of the character; head, arms, hands, legs, body etc., and i need to export these to after effects and it's a nightmare.

You have not explained the method you use to export layers from Flash and what format are you exporting to?

Probably the easiest method of exporting each layer , is to guide all the other layers ( By selecting each layer, right click and , guide) other than the layer that you want to export.
If its many frames then you may choose to export as a PNG sequence.

But if the effect you desire is that only the character is exported and not the (white) work area, then (donot guide layers) export all the layers as a PNG , 24Bit with Alpha ( so that the BG is All Alpha'ed ( is there such a word like Alpha'ed ?? humm)

Hope that Helped

exporting layers automatically

Hi Space Monkey:
sorry for being so late in saying thank you and in replying.

i heard from tazzman about a tool that automatically exports layers, and i bought it for $29 it's at www.4gsw.com and it does exactly what i need.

thanks for the reply and sorry about being so late.

animatricks
--

You have not explained the method you use to export layers from Flash and what format are you exporting to?

Probably the easiest method of exporting each layer , is to guide all the other layers ( By selecting each layer, right click and , guide) other than the layer that you want to export.
If its many frames then you may choose to export as a PNG sequence.

But if the effect you desire is that only the character is exported and not the (white) work area, then (donot guide layers) export all the layers as a PNG , 24Bit with Alpha ( so that the BG is All Alpha'ed ( is there such a word like Alpha'ed ?? humm)

Hope that Helped