Copy/Paste PATH into After Effects

In this tutorial, I show you how to copy and paste a path from Adobe Illustrator into After Effects. We will start off by visiting the Noun Project (thenounproject.com) to download a free icon (.svg), open it in Illustrator, copy its path, pasting it into After Effects, and how to apply effects onto your path once its been copied.
One of the issues you run into when pasting a path is that it registers as a mask path. You will learn how to convert the mask path into a path that can be animated.
This technique will allow you to take any vector shape and import it into After Effects for animation.
The smiley face that I used in this example was created by Stephen Borengasser, US and can be found here: thenounproject.com/search/?q=...

[@snakedogman]

I guess even with all that money Adobe is unable to program a simple way to paste paths from illustrator into shape layer. This is an insanely cumbersome workaround.

[@strokeofgenius8345]

This saves a huge amount of time trying to recreate illustrator designs.
thank you!

[@technojoe]

THANK YOU. was driving myself crazy trying to paste a few simple shapes from AI -> AE. This helped.

[@MANEPOWO]

Thank you! This is just what I was looking for! Nice explanation and results.

[@kimasdf58]

Nice tutorial. You saved my day!

[@billacheson]

I've followed the steps and it just creates a new mask within the shape layer rather than creating a path or stoke. Anyone else had this issue?

[@mostafakhajavi8223]

after 5 years work 3d software i forgot simply option . this is crazy . and thank you so much .

[@leoribeirop]

THANKYOUOUUU i was freaking out trying to do that. +1 like! ;)

[@hamzajavid1074]

thanks man

[@sajiiidali]

Excellent ❤

[@score-yourcollegecounselor]

This is what I figured out as well. No faster way to go straight to paths without going through the mask step I suppose? Still, super clear instruction, it's appreciated.

[@teabagNBG]

somebody needs to make a plugin for this! i also found no solution!

[@ashishstanley]

i used to use the 'Overlord' plugin by battle axe, had some issues with it, never knew it was this complicated without Overlord. please invest in the plugin if you do this on the daily!

[@moederthemeddlesome2384]

berry good berry nice

[@ydang7076]

great'

[@Wysgas]

There is a MUCH easier way to do this FYI. Import your Ai file into After Affects, drop the file in the sequence then -> right click -> Create -> Create Shapes from Vector Layer. Then you will have a shape with all the paths ready to go! ENJOY!

[@loloyouyoutubetube]

is this new?? this is amazing!

[@Wysgas]

@@loloyouyoutubetube been there for ages but it’s one of those tools no one learned about. Classic Adobe.

[@dablackwizards5312]

Is there not a simpler way?

[@COMPTHIS]

I wish! I think there are scripts on AEscripts.com that do it. But I don't know of a better way right now. :(

[@nhatquangvu6884]

there is no others way? I have 1000 of shape need to convert to path, damn ADOBE

[@discoghost6168]

I found a "less bad" solution:
I import the layers from illustrator, then I go to "create shape from vector layers" and then I can manage their attributes individually. It's not ideal, but it's better than the whole mask process.