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A guide to getting started with your AE project file
Chris Phoenix avatar
Written by Chris Phoenix
Updated over 3 years ago

So, you’ve accepted a Vidsy brief and you’re ready to get creative? 🔥

There are a few essentials you need to know before you get started, so you can really make the most of the brief.

1. Download the assets pack

The assets pack provides everything you need to make your digital masterpieces.

In the assets pack, you will find two folders:

  • Assets - within this folder, you’ll find everything you need to fulfil the brief (including fonts, logos, images, videos, audio etc.). This folder may also contain additional brand information and guidelines. These will really help you get to grips with the aesthetic, style and tone of the brand you’re working with.

  • YourName_[VJXXX-XX] - this folder contains the After Effects project, which you’ll need in order to carry out your work.

2. Prepare your After Effects file

When you submit work with Vidsy, we require your After Effects file so our in-house creative team can handle any amends with the client. To ensure we can make quick edits, we need your AE files to follow a set structure, which is why you must use our pre-prepared After Effects project.

Start by renaming the YourName part of the folder with your own name. This is the folder you will be submitting to Vidsy, so including your own name will help us identify you.

In the YourName_[VJXXX-XX] folder you will find two additional folders:

  • After Effects Project - this folder contains the AE project you’ll be working from.

  • Drop your working files here - this is where you’ll upload any assets that you create or modify during the brief.

  1. Open the 1. After Effects Project folder. Here, you’ll find at least two versions of the same file (a latest and previous version of After Effects, depending which you are running).

  2. Choose the file you’ll be using, and replace the YourName part of the AE file name with your own name.

  3. Open the file and import your assets pack into the project window. You’re good to go!

What else is good to know?

  • Use Text Animator - if you’re working with text, we recommend using Text Animator. It’ll ensure your text is both dynamic and easily editable, saving you time. Here’s why you should embrace Text Animation.

  • Use Precomps effectively - precomps have the potential to make or break the editing process. Get it right, and you’ll make our team and your future clients very happy. Here’s our guide to using precomps intelligently.

  • Looking for more? Here are some additional ideas from the Vidsy team to keep your After Effects file organised.

  • Avoid plugins - we can't accept any videos that include an After Effects plugin, as we need all content to be completely editable by ourselves and the client, and we don't always have access to the specific plugin. There are sometimes exceptions, you can view them here.

  • Don’t use external assets - due to licensing restrictions, you can’t use external assets when creating with Vidsy. We’re talking audio, image, videos, backgrounds, textures, effects, scripts etc. (even if they’re labelled as free). Please stick to the assets provided by the brand in the assets pack. You're welcome to create assets from scratch (using PhotoShop or Illustrator, for example). Please include these in the 2. Drop your working files here folder when submitting your work, so we know they're original.

Wondering how to package your After Effects file for submission after you’ve completed your videos? View our guide here.

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