By selecting properties in After Effects and transferring updates, it is possible to update the property with the first selected shape in Illustrator. This is useful for updating shapes in Ae with the layer in place, and not needing to create additional layers.

If the updated property already has keyframes, additional keyframes will be added at the playhead.

Activate an artboard in Illustrator and click to create a matching After Effects comp

While not the primary use of Overlord, it is also possible to send shapes from After Effects to Illustrator.

Note: This was designed to paths to Ai for more complex editing, and is not designed to be a full-featured vector exporter. It is unfortunately unable to support everything in Ae.

New in 2.1.0 - Read the release

Click to import the current Illustrator file into the open After Effects comp as layers. This streamlines the process to remove several steps and create a more Overlord-like behavior for when importing an Ai file is necessary or faster for your comp.

The standard Ai import process:

1. find the file

2. import the file

3. pick settings for Composition and Layer Size

4. open imported comp

5. copy layers

6. open work comp

7. paste layers

• Text layers

• Layer rotation

• Parenting

• Effects

• Shape layer modifiers

Select swatches inside of Illustrator and click to build in After Effects as a guide layer on the side of the current comp.

Note: This button is hidden by default and may be revealed by editing button visibility in the Overlord app.

⚠️ (July 2024) Ray is currently not compatible with the latest 24.4 version of After Effects. Compatible with AE 24.3 and below. ⚠️

If you have Ray Dynamic Color installed, the option to use it with swatch transfer will appear in the right-click menu when the Swatches button is visible. Editing button visibility in the Overlord app.

Select swatches inside of Illustrator and click to build in After Effects as a guide layer on the side of the current comp.

• Guides that are created by dragging from the Ai ruler will be created as native Ae guides

• Guides created from by selecting a shape in Illustrator and right-click > Make Guides will be created as a shape layer set to guide mode

Note: This button is hidden by default and may be revealed by editing button visibility in the Overlord app.

Open a comp in After Effects and click to create a matching Illustrator Artboard.

Is Illustrator open but you haven't created a file yet?

Overlord will go ahead and create one for you with a matching artboard.