Adobe's software allows you to transfer workflows and assets from one program to another. While the more common use of this cross-working is via the Adobe Dynamic Link between Premiere Pro and After Effects, After Effects also supports layered Photoshop files.

This is important because After Effects is less focused on design and image manipulation. So, by importing them via Photoshop, you can finesse your animated graphics' layers before animating.

In this article, we'll show you how to take several photos into Photoshop, manipulate and prepare them into layers, and then import them into After Effects for animating.

Preparing Your Imagery In Photoshop

Let's start by finding pictures for the final animated graphic.

For your own project, you can use whatever you want. But in this case study, images from Pexels will be used. There's a wide range of websites that let you download royalty-free imagery.

Once you've found the pictures you want, create a new image in Photoshop. Ideally, you want the dimensions of your Photoshop file to match your video output. So, if you're producing an animation in HD, you'll want the dimensions of the canvas to be 1,920 pixels wide by 1,080 pixels tall.

HDTV Preset

Once you've got your HD canvas loaded, bring in the downloaded imagery. In this example, the basic images have already been added.

Photoshop Layers 1

Next, let's cut out the subjects, scale them, and add some props and text. If you're not sure how to do this, or find yourself a little stuck, our guide to Photoshop editing basics should help point you in the right direction.

Once you're happy with your editing, you should have a base set of images and layers.

Example Layout

Preparing Your Layers

In this example, we want the dog's paw to hit the irritated cat on the head. Let's select the paw by using the lasso tool.

Lasso tool

Once selected, right-click on your keyboard and choose Layer Via Cut. The selection, which in this case is the paw, will now become a new layer.

Speaking of layers, you should rename each of these clearly. Then, you'll know what corresponds to what. An example of how to do this is below:

Layers in photoshop

Finally, you want the cat to react to getting hit on the head by the dog's paw. Let's duplicate the layer called Cat, titling one Cat_Normal, and the duplicate Cat_Bonked.

Bonked cat

For the Cat_Bonked layer, googly eyes have been drawn on to add an extra effect.

So, now you have all the elements of your graphic. Make sure your layers are labeled and everything is where you want it to be. Then, it's time to start animating in After Effects.

Bringing Your Photoshop File Into After Effects

First thing's first: you need to make sure your layers are saved as a .PSD file. Hit File > Save As. By default, it will save in the .PSD format. This is how it then be imported into After Effects from Photoshop.

In this example, the file will be called Dog_Cat_Animation.PSD.

Next, open After Effects. Hit File > Import > File. Navigate to your new .PSD file, where you will then see a dialog box. In the Import Kind dropdown menu, select Composition - Retain Layer Sizes.

This will import all of the individual layers of your Photoshop file, while keeping the sizes in line with the dimensions (hence why you chose an HD resolution at the start). Hit OK.

Import Kind Dialogue Box

You should now have a new composition with the same name as your .PSD file. Double-click to open it. Each of your layers from Photoshop is now a layer in your composition timeline.

Imported PSD in After Effects

Now, the animating can begin. Start by moving the title text off-screen---it's going to be animated to "fall" into the screen.

Text moved offscreen

Let's also move our furry friends down; they're going to gradually move into frame as the text falls in place.

To save time, hit Layer > New > Null Object, and parent the Dog, Dog Paw, Cat_Normal, and Cat_Bonk layers into it.

Now, any motion you apply to the null object will apply to all of these.

Let's keyframe the motion at the bottom of the composition at frame 0, and have a gradual rise over five seconds.

Don't forget that you can add keyframes to Motion parameters by clicking the Stopwatch icons too.

Next, let's animate the dog's paw and the cat's reaction.

In the Transform attributes of the dog's paw layer, set the Anchor Point to the bottom of the dog's leg. Doing so will ensure that any rotation you animate pivots around that point, where the joint of the bone would naturally be.

Anchor point

Next, depending on how you want it to look, you could either keyframe the rotation of the dog's paw and add a looping expression, or use the Wiggle - Rotation effect to create a set of randomized movements.

You can find a variety of effects in the Effects & Presets panel. Drag and drop it on the layer to apply, and adjust the parameters to determine the speed and rotation amount of the layer.

Wiggle rotation effect

Finally, create the effect of the cat being hit by the dog's paw by cutting in between the two frames we prepared earlier, to create the illusion of motion.

Cutting layers

Animate in the text and there it is, you have your animated graphic! Now you can use it wherever you want.

Dog Cat Final

Though it's harder to demonstrate without a video example, you can rest assured that the dog's paw is striking the cat with joyous gusto.

Using Photoshop and After Effects Together

This was a quick run-through of how to create a layered image in Adobe Photoshop and later animate the individual layers and elements in After Effects. Although the case study looked at was basic, you can use the same steps to create complex layered files that can be animated in After Effects.

This quick exercise should give you an understanding of how the two programs can be combined together to create some awesome content. And don't forget that this process has all taken place in two dimensions to keep things simple, but rest assured that you can also animate Photoshop layers with 3D motion.