# After Effects beta pastes Illustrator and SVG art as shape layers

By Steven Van · 2026-04-20

Paths stay editable with no conversion step, though SVG text must be converted to curves and animated or raster SVGs aren't supported.

The [After Effects](<https://creatorstoolbox.com/tools/adobe-after-effects>) beta can now paste Illustrator or SVG artwork straight into a project as native, editable shape layers, with no separate conversion step and all paths staying editable.

- From Illustrator, copying requires the "Include SVG Code" option checked under Clipboard Handling preferences.

- Pasting with no project open creates a new project and composition containing the SVG content; pasting into a project with no composition selected creates a new composition; pasting with a composition selected adds the content as a new layer within it.

- SVG text needs to be converted to curves before pasting, and animated or raster SVGs aren't supported.

Adobe says it does not currently work in reverse: After Effects can't paste shape layers into Illustrator. The [announcement](<https://community.adobe.com/announcements-532/new-in-beta-copy-and-paste-illustrator-and-svg-content-as-native-shape-layers-26-3x51-1558094>) asks for feedback on which apps people paste from most.

[![](<https://creatorstoolbox.com/images/blog-media/ae-shape-layers-beta.jpg>)](<https://community.adobe.com/announcements-532/new-in-beta-copy-and-paste-illustrator-and-svg-content-as-native-shape-layers-26-3x51-1558094>)

![Adobe After Effects](<https://creatorstoolbox.com/images/after-effects-logo.png>)

Adobe After Effects

Motion graphics, VFX, and compositing on a timeline — animated titles, rotoscoping, 3D tracking, particles, and expression-driven animation.

[View Adobe After Effects →](<https://creatorstoolbox.com/tools/adobe-after-effects>)

[Original source](<https://community.adobe.com/announcements-532/new-in-beta-copy-and-paste-illustrator-and-svg-content-as-native-shape-layers-26-3x51-1558094>)

[Read After Effects beta pastes Illustrator and SVG art as shape layers on Creators Toolbox](<https://creatorstoolbox.com/blog/adobe-after-effects-paste-illustrator-and-svg-as-native-shape-layers-beta>)

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Canonical source: https://creatorstoolbox.com/blog/adobe-after-effects-paste-illustrator-and-svg-as-native-shape-layers-beta