After Effects Localization

Required files and assets from the client:

• • After Effects project files: .AEP files with all compositions and layers intact
• • Linked assets: All linked media files (video clips, images, audio files) referenced in the project
• • Fonts: All fonts used in text layers, including custom or licensed fonts, or links to font sources
• • Graphics source files: Editable source files (.PSD, .AI, .SVG) for graphics containing text or requiring localization
• • Audio scripts: Original audio scripts or transcripts for voice-over and transcription services
• • Plugins and effects: List of third-party plugins or effects used, and access/licenses if required
• • Reference video: Final rendered video showing intended output and timing
• • Style guide: Brand guidelines, color specifications, typography standards, and animation preferences
• • Reference materials: Glossaries, terminology databases, and previous translations for consistency

• • Organize text layers: Use descriptive names for text layers and organize them in a logical hierarchy for easy identification
• • Use editable text layers: Ensure text is in editable text layers rather than rasterized or pre-rendered graphics
• • Extract on-screen text: Identify and extract all on-screen text (OST) instances, categorizing by complexity (simple, average, difficult)
• • Handle text expansion: Design compositions with flexible text areas that can accommodate text expansion in target languages
• • Maintain animation timing: Preserve animation keyframes and timing while updating text content
• • Update graphics separately: Extract text from graphics, translate, and update source graphics or recreate localized versions
• • Test text rendering: Verify that target language fonts render correctly and maintain visual quality
• • Preserve effects and styles: Maintain layer effects, styles, and animations when updating text content
• • Handle complex recreations: For difficult OST instances, use masking, tracking, or recreation techniques as needed

• • Text expansion: After Effects compositions may need significant adjustments for text expansion, especially in complex animations
• • OST complexity: Simple OST (editable text layers) is fastest; difficult OST (complex backgrounds, masking required) takes 1.5x longer
• • Animation preservation: Text expansion can affect animation timing and positioning; keyframes may need adjustment
• • Font availability: Ensure target language fonts support all required characters and maintain visual consistency
• • Graphics with text: Graphics containing text require separate localization workflow; uneditable graphics may need recreation
• • Audio synchronization: If audio is replaced, ensure proper synchronization with animations and on-screen text
• • Rendering time: After Effects rendering can be time-consuming; factor in render time for quality checks and revisions
• • Version compatibility: Ensure After Effects version compatibility and plugin availability across systems
• • Project organization: Well-organized projects with clear layer naming make localization more efficient

1. File Preparation: Receive .AEP project files, collect all linked assets, analyze compositions, and prepare for localization (30 minutes per video file)
2. OST Extraction: Identify and extract all on-screen text instances, categorizing by complexity (5 minutes per OST instance)
3. Graphic Extraction: Extract text from graphics and identify graphics requiring localization (3 minutes per image)
4. SRT Creation: If subtitling is needed, create English SRT file with accurate timing (10 minutes per runtime minute)
5. Transcription: If transcription is needed, create STT transcription of audio content (2 minutes per runtime minute)
6. Translation: Translate all text content (OST, graphics, subtitles) using CAT tools, maintaining terminology consistency
7. Graphics Localization: Update source graphics or create localized versions (1 hour per 10 editable graphics, 1 hour per 5 uneditable graphics)
8. OST Localization: Update text layers in After Effects, adjusting compositions for text expansion and maintaining animations (1.5 hours per 10 simple OST, 1.5 hours per 5 average OST, 1.5 hours per 2 difficult OST)
9. Audio Services: If needed, record voice-over (TTS: 4 min/min (TTS + QA), Human: 1h/6min) or create subtitles (10 min/min runtime)
10. Audio Dubbing: If audio dubbing is needed, synchronize new audio with video (10 minutes per runtime minute)
11. Quality Assurance: Review all text, graphics, animations, and audio synchronization
12. Output Rendering: Render final video in specified format (30 minutes per video file)
13. Revision: Implement client feedback and corrections (33% of total time excluding file prep)
14. Final Delivery: Deliver rendered video files and updated project files if requested