AfterEffects

Copy a path from Illustrator, Photoshop, or Fireworks

You can copy a path from Illustrator, Photoshop, or Fireworks and paste it into After Effects as a mask path or shape path.

Note: To make the data copied from Illustrator compatible with After Effects, the AICB option must be selected in the Files & Clipboard section of the Adobe Illustrator Preferences dialog box.
  1. In Illustrator, Photoshop, or Fireworks, select an entire path, and then choose Edit > Copy.
  2. In After Effects, select the layer into which you want to import the path, or select an existing mask path or shape path.

    If you select anything within a shape layer other than a Path property, the path pasted from Illustrator creates a mask path on the layer, not a shape path.

  3. Choose Edit > Paste.
    Path drawn in Adobe Illustrator (left) and pasted into After Effects as a mask (right)

Note: You can also use a copied Illustrator, Photoshop, or Fireworks path as an After Effects motion path. See Create a motion path from a mask, shape, or paint path for more information.