Import Illustrator layers to After effects without artboard size selection

Question

when I import an AI file into AE, when I drag a layer into the composition the selection size is the same size as the AI file's artboard. When I am importing 30+ layers its very annoying.

How can I import layers from AI into AE with a normal sized selection?

Thanks

Answer 1

When you import, through the import window select the .ai file and under "Import As" select "Composition-Retain Layer Sizes"

That will make the bounding box the size of the layer as opposed to the artboard.

Answer 2

"it seems when I right click a layer and select 'create shapes from vector path' it creates a huge selection box..."

Answering your question 3 years later...

• The selection box size seems to depend on "Group" and "Clipping mask" in AI. You can ungroup and release clipping mask for unnecessary stuff when you need the selection box size to fit exactly.
• If a huge selection happens when you create shape from vector layers, try to look under group and delete the "merge path" and "group" above merge path.

• 

• However I do not encourage you to create shapes from layers that contain a gradient or any complicated effects from AI.

Answer 3

When I had this problem, I found that if some random layer with gradients was deleted then it would import correctly in AE. Just look around your layers and see if one of them is causing this problem.