Imagine a colleague needs to swap out only the images in a finished animation template, without you having to open the project again. This is exactly what After Effects CC 2021 offers new options for in the March update. With the Essential Graphics Panel, you define which media in a template can be replaced later, and you export everything so that Premiere Pro can work with it directly. In this tutorial, I'll guide you step by step through the process: from the placeholder layer to the image formats to the export to the local presets folder.
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Key Takeaways
Via the Essential Graphics Panel, you determine which elements of the template can be changed later.
A placeholder created via right-click allows the user to swap the media without changing the composition itself.
For lossless results, you should use PNG files, even though JPG files technically work.
The export must go to the local presets folder of Premiere Pro, otherwise Premiere Pro will not find the template.
A keyword during export helps you quickly find the template again later in Premiere Pro.
Step 1: Open the Essential Graphics Panel
First, open your composition that will later serve as an animation template. Then go to the arrow at the top in the menu and navigate to the Essential Graphics Panel. The panel then appears, through which you make all the settings for the later editing by the user.
Step 2: Replace media in the project
Before you set up placeholders, you should know how to replace media in the project in general. In the Project panel, you can click an imported image and replace it with another one. The corresponding element in the composition then changes automatically. A second option is replacing with the Alt key: hold down the Alt key and drag the new footage onto the existing element in the timeline. These methods help you with testing, but they don't yet change anything about the template for other users.
Step 3: Create a placeholder via right-click
The most important new feature in the update is the placeholder. To do this, right-click the layer whose media should be replaceable, and choose the option to replace it with a placeholder. This way, you make exactly the element changeable that your user is supposed to replace later.
Step 4: Build the placeholder in the example
Let's assume you want to place an image as a placeholder at the top of the template. To do this, create a layer, scale it appropriately, for example slightly reduced, and position it at the desired spot. Make sure the placeholder looks sensible in the image composition, because the user will later see only the result and the controls in the panel.
Step 5: Decide whether the element remains changeable
You now have a choice. Either you leave the file fixed in the composition, in which case it can no longer be changed by the user. Or you grant access by placing the placeholder over the image, moving it, and arranging it hierarchically. This decision determines what freedoms your colleague will have later in Premiere Pro, so you should make it deliberately.
Step 6: Check the footage in the panel
Once you have set up the placeholder, you can open the associated footage by right-clicking the element in the Essential Graphics Panel. A window appears in which you view and edit the material. Here you decide which image the template uses as the default.
Step 7: Choose the right file format
When selecting the images, the format plays a major role. The instructions in the panel recommend PNG because it is lossless. In the example, JPG files were used. So always make sure to use the appropriate format so that the quality of the template is preserved.
Step 8: Prepare the template
Before you export, you can still tidy up the template. In the Essential Graphics Panel, you have formatting, comments, and groups at your disposal. With groups, you organize the controls clearly; with comments, you explain to others what they do. This makes work easier for everyone who uses the template later.
Step 9: Save and export the project
Save the project before you call up the export function. Then, in the export dialog, select the local presets folder. This folder is crucial, because Premiere Pro accesses exactly this location and loads the tools and templates you created from there. Before you complete the export, you can also run a few compatibility checks.
Step 10: Assign a keyword for the template
In the export dialog, you can add a keyword. You will be able to find the template again later in Premiere Pro under this term. It is best to use a unique term that describes the project, such as the project's name or an abbreviation.
Step 11: Use the result in Premiere Pro
After the export, your AEP file and the footage are merged into a template. It is stored together with all images in the local folder of Premiere Pro. There you can use it directly and fill the placeholder with your own media without opening the After Effects project.
Summary – Preparing media replacement in After Effects CC 2021 as a template for Premiere Pro
With the March update of After Effects CC 2021, you can make media in motion graphics templates specifically replaceable. You set up placeholders via the Essential Graphics Panel, define which elements are editable, and choose suitable file formats such as PNG. During export, you make sure the template ends up in the local presets folder, and you assign a keyword for quick searching. Afterwards, the template can be filled with your own images in Premiere Pro without you having to touch the composition again.
FAQ
Do I have to save the project before exporting?Yes, save the project before exporting, as otherwise not all changes will be included in the template.
Which image format should I use for placeholders?PNG is the better choice because it is lossless. JPG also works, but can cause quality loss.
Where do I have to save the exported template?Save it in the local presets folder, because Premiere Pro accesses the templates and tools from there.
What is the keyword used for during export?The keyword helps you quickly find the template again in Premiere Pro, especially if you manage many templates.
Can I also leave a medium permanently in the template?Yes, simply leave the file in the composition without opening it as a placeholder. Then it remains unchangeable for the user.
