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Hello, I am an animator working in Spine. Currently, my workflow is animation in the spine then importing it into After Effect to add FX. I have been doing PNG Seq but the problem is that it is only a single layer causing me to export several PNG Seq with different layers which is time-consuming. Another way I had done it is by creating the FX in After Effect first then importing the FX as PNG Seq into spine so I don't have to bother with layers. Both ways work but only if I do the animation and FX myself so I can go back and forth between these files but with a new FX artist joining us I will be handing all the FX work to him. This might cause workflow issues with us going back and forth to each other. I want to find a better workflow for both of us.

Thank you

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    To streamline your workflow between Spine and After Effects, you can consider the following approaches:

    1. Exporting PNG Sequences with Layers: While Spine does not natively support exporting animations with separate layers, you can export different parts of your animation as separate PNG sequences. This allows your FX artist to work on each layer individually in After Effects. Although this method is time-consuming, it ensures that each element can be manipulated separately.

    2. Using JSON and Photoshop: If you can export your After Effects project as a JSON file according to Spine's format, you can import it into Spine. However, this requires custom scripting as Spine does not provide a direct tool for this. Alternatively, you can export a frame from After Effects as a PSD file, use the PhotoshopToSpine script, and import it into Spine using the exported JSON file.

    3. Frame-by-Frame Animation: You can create frame-by-frame animations in After Effects and import them into Spine as a mesh sequence. This allows Spine to manipulate and bend the images, adding to the effect of the frame-by-frame animation. This method is useful for complex effects that require detailed manipulation.

    4. Improving Video Export Functionality: Spine is working on improving its video export functionality with more codecs and container formats that allow better compression, including ProRes support. This can help reduce file sizes and improve the quality of exported animations.

    5. Collaborative Workflow: To minimize back-and-forth between you and the FX artist, establish a clear workflow where you handle the skeletal animations in Spine and the FX artist handles the effects in After Effects. Use a shared file naming convention and directory structure to keep track of different animation layers and sequences. Regularly communicate and review each other's work to ensure consistency and avoid rework.

    By adopting these approaches, you can create a more efficient and collaborative workflow between Spine and After Effects, reducing the time spent on exporting and importing animations.

    Eglo Unfortunately, there is no convenient way to simplify a workflow that requires switching back and forth between After Effects and Spine. The only thing I can suggest is that the PNG export can be done from the CLI, and when you run it from the CLI, another instance is run to do the export, so you can still work in Spine while waiting for the export.

    We have provided a script that makes it easy to do exports from the CLI, so if you are interested, see the following blog post for more information: Blog - New export shell scripts