I have hit a wall because I have a gradient feature that is only available on Illustrator (freeform gradients), but it can't be imported as an editable object within after effects. I planned to simply animate the nodes within After Effects as a simple animation. I now have to work hard to make this look as seamless as it could have been.
I am really annoyed that features such as this are completely disregarded or treated as un-needed for motion but very much a necessity for vector graphics. I'll say for example, when a client asks for a graphic using a freeform gradient done in illustrator needs to be animated, and you have to explain that the feature isn't available on my motion graphic software because it hasn't been developed yet, it's very embarrassing.
I'm trying workaround techniques, but it is nowhere near as smooth as it is within the freeform gradient tool in illustrator.
I can't find the right avenue for a feature request for the freeform gradient to be transferable over different applications, as photoshop and InDesign also lack the use of this too. I have to make document links or smart object as the only way to import a non-destructive version of the gradient. But this isn't an option for After Effects, if you wish the gradient nodes to animate.
I would prefer not having the freeform gradient available at all, because it is not able to be used in other applications and only seems to hinder me rather than help.
It feels like a half-arsed feature, as it's completely landlocked to only Illustrator.
Sorry, I'm getting exasperated by this.
I really should make this into a better discussion, rather than me pissing in the wind about my woes:
Does anyone seem to be developing a gradient tool/plugin that can emulate the freeform gradient tool within After Effects?
or
Is there a possibility that Adobe is planning to make the freeform gradient more available on other applications, such as After Effects?