# Importing Files
Bring SVGs, images, Lottie animations, and After Effects projects into Lottie Creator. For a wider range of formats — design files, video, Flash, and more — use the Universal Importer.

## Supported File Types

### Vector Formats (SVG)

**Recommended format for clean, editable vector graphics.**

**What imports:**

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>Paths and bezier curves</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Shapes (rect, ellipse, circle, polygon, star)</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Groups and nested structures</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Fill, stroke, and gradients</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Transform properties</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Layer names and hierarchy</ListItem>
</List>

**After import:** SVGs become fully editable vector shape layers. You can edit paths, change colors, adjust strokes, and animate any property.

**Limitations:**

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>No filters (blur, drop shadow, glow)</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Some blend modes not supported</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Text should be converted to outlines</ListItem>
</List>

### Animated SVG (SMIL)

SVG files containing **SMIL** (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language) animation elements — such as `<animate>`, `<animateTransform>`, and `<animateMotion>` — are imported and converted into Lottie keyframes.

**What imports:**

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>All paths, shapes, and styling from the underlying SVG</ListItem>
  <ListItem>SMIL animations on transform, opacity, color, and path data</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Timing attributes (`dur`, `begin`, `repeatCount`)</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Motion paths from `<animateMotion>`</ListItem>
</List>

**After import:** Animated SVGs become fully editable shape layers with native Lottie keyframes — adjust timing, easing, and properties just like any other animation.

**Limitations:**

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>Complex easing functions are approximated</ListItem>
  <ListItem>`<set>` elements and event-based triggers (e.g. `begin="click"`) are not supported</ListItem>
</List>

### Raster Formats (PNG, JPG)

Images import as **Image Layers**.

**Supported:**

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>PNG with transparency</ListItem>
  <ListItem>JPG for photographs</ListItem>
</List>

**What you can do:**

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>Position, scale, rotate</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Adjust opacity</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Parent to other layers</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Apply vector masks</ListItem>
</List>

**Note:** Images can't be edited as vectors and will increase file size. Use vectors when possible.

### Vectorizer

Convert a raster image into a clean, editable vector directly inside Creator.

1. Drag and drop an image onto the canvas, or import it through the **Upload Assets** button
2. Select the image and go to **Image Options** in the right property panel
3. Click **Vectorize** to instantly convert the image into an editable vector

You can also right-click any image on the canvas and select **Vectorize** from the context menu.

### Lottie Formats (JSON & dotLottie)

**Lottie JSON (.json)**
Standard Lottie animation file with vector layers, keyframes, easing, masks, and nested compositions. Imports become fully editable.

**dotLottie (.lottie)**
Compressed format containing animations, images, themes, state machines, and multiple animations in one file. Retains all bundled assets and configurations.

### After Effects Projects (AEP)

Drag and drop an `.AEP` file onto the canvas, or import via **Upload Assets**. A composition picker opens automatically for multi-comp projects — choose which composition to bring in.

**After import:** Imports as a fully editable composition layer, preserving keyframes and structure.

## Import Methods

### Drag & Drop (Fastest)

Drag files from your computer onto the canvas and release. Works for SVG, PNG, JPG, JSON, dotLottie, and AEP.

### Upload Assets (Left Sidebar)

Open **Upload Assets** and choose **Upload Files** or **Open Animation from URL**. Supports multiple files. Formats that need conversion settings will open the Universal Importer automatically.

### Import From URL

Choose **Upload Assets → Open Animation from URL**, paste a JSON or dotLottie URL, and the file loads as editable. Great for CDN-hosted animations or team sharing.

## What Happens After Import

**SVG** → Shape layers (fully editable paths and properties)

**Animated SVG (SMIL)** → Shape layers with native Lottie keyframes converted from SMIL animations

**PNG / JPG** → Image layer (transform and opacity only)

**Lottie JSON / dotLottie** → Composition layer (preserves keyframes, editable)

**AEP** → Composition layer from the selected comp

## Quick Reference

| Format              | Editable | Animatable     | Best For                    |
| ------------------- | -------- | -------------- | --------------------------- |
| SVG                 | Full     | Yes            | Vector workflows            |
| Animated SVG (SMIL) | Full     | Yes            | Web-authored SVG animations |
| PNG / JPG           | No       | Transform only | Photos / raster art         |
| Lottie JSON         | Yes      | Yes            | Standard animations         |
| dotLottie           | Yes      | Yes            | Production files            |
| AEP                 | Yes      | Yes            | After Effects projects      |

## Universal Importer

The Universal Importer supports additional file types beyond standard drag-and-drop, and provides conversion controls before inserting.

**To use:** Open **Upload Assets** in the left sidebar → select your file. If the format requires conversion settings, the Universal Importer dialog opens automatically.

## Supported Formats

**Design files:** AI, EPS, PDF, PSD, SVG

**Image files:** PNG, JPG, WebP

**Animation files:** AEP, FLA, RIVE, LOTTIE, GIF

**Motion files:** SMIL (animated SVG), JSON

**Video files:** MP4, WebM, MOV

## Highlights

**Flash / Animate support**
Import `.FLA` files directly into Lottie Creator without any intermediate conversion step.

**After Effects support**
Import `.AEP` files with a built-in composition picker — choose exactly which composition to bring in when working with multi-comp projects.

**Video and GIF to Lottie**
Convert video and GIF files to Lottie animations. Trim clips up to 10 seconds and set your target frame rate before converting.

**SVG optimization**
Flatten text, merge paths, and apply SVGO optimization options on import for cleaner, smaller output.

**Three insert modes**
When importing, choose how the file is inserted:

- **Vector** — editable shape layers
- **Lottie animation** — preserved as an animation composition
- **Rasterized** — flattened to PNG or WebP

<Card title="Asset Manager" href="/en/creator/09_assets-and-importing/asset-manager" variant="interactive" />