What are Open Files? QUICK ANSWER Open Files are the original, layered design files For static designs, send . PSD, .PSB, .AI, .EPS or .FIG For editable animation, send the original .AEP project .PNG, .JPG, .PDF, .MP4 and .MOV files are finished outputs, not Open Files WHAT SHOULD I SEND? WHAT YOU WANT TO CREATE FILES TO SEND US A template banner .PSD | .PSB | .AI | .EPS | .FIG files, including font files A custom rich media banner with animated elements .PSD | .PSB | .AI | .EPS | .FIG files, including font files A custom rich media banner with video elements .PSD | .PSB | .AI | .EPS | .FIG files, including font files AND .MP4 | .MOV files, or YouTube link A custom rich media banner with video elements that need to be edited .PSD | .PSB | .AI | .EPS | .FIG files, including font files   AND .AEP files A custom rich media banner with custom animation .PSD | .PSB | .AI | .EPS | .FIG files, including font files Need more detail? Read the explanations below👇 DEFINITION Open Files (also called working files or source files ) are the original, editable documents created by a designer using specific creative software.  They are organised into  layers , with different parts of the design kept separate. For example, the background, product, logo and text may each sit on their own layer. This allows Creative Studio to open the artwork and move, resize, replace or edit each part individually. OPEN FILE TYPES The correct Open File format depends on whether we are working with a static design or a video . 🖼️ STATIC DESIGNS (TEMPLATE BANNERS + CUSTOM RICH MEDIA) FILE TYPE CREATED IN .PSD Adobe Photoshop .PSB Adobe Photoshop .AI Adobe Illustrator .EPS Adobe Illustrator .FIG Figma These files can contain separate, editable layers for elements such as the background, product, logo and text. 🎬 VIDEO DESIGNS FILE TYPE CREATED IN .AEP Adobe After Effects ⚠️ Do not send .AEP files for static banner executions. We only need an .AEP file when we must edit the original video, for example: Cropping it to different dimensions Isolating a specific section or playback time Moving or editing elements within the video, like text or a logo An .MP4 or .MOV file can only be used exactly as supplied. We cannot change its dimensions, playback time or content. ❌ FILES WE CAN'T USE FOR EDITS FILE TYPE WHY WE CAN'T USE IT .PNG It's a flat image without editable layers .JPG / .JPEG It's a flat image without editable layers .MOV It is an exported final video, not the editable video project .MP4 It is an exported final video, not the editable video project .CDR It is a proprietary CorelDRAW format that we don't support ⚠️ IMPORTANT EXCEPTION A .PNG or .JPG can still be used as one element inside a larger Open File . For example, a layered Photoshop file might contain: A client logo supplied as a .PNG A product image supplied as a .JPG Editable text on a separate layer A background on another layer The .PNG or .JPG is only one part of the design. Because the overall .PSD, .AI or .FIG file remains layered, we can still edit and adapt the complete banner. Simple rule: A .PNG or .JPG can be an element inside an Open File, but it is not an Open File by itself. *Static images can also be animated. FONT FILES If the creative assets have any text, we also need to have font files included in the Open Files .  We do also need the original font files when we do image resizes for banners. Think of it like opening a file on your computer that uses fonts that you don't have installed - your computer can't display the original font because it doesn't exist on your system. If a computer does not have the specific font installed, the design software will substitute a default font. This ruins the layout, changes line breaks, and alters the visual style. Without the original font, we have two options:  Substitute it with a different font , which changes the appearance of the design and may no longer match the brand guidelines Flatten the text as part of the image , meaning it can no longer be edited, resized, repositioned, or updated independently An Open File is incomplete if its fonts or linked assets are missing. ANIMATING STATIC ELEMENTS We can use layered static Open Files (.PSD, .AI or .FIG) to create a new animations.  Because the design elements are separate, we can animate the logo, text, product, background or other elements individually. Exported videos cannot be reanimated. A .MOV or .MP4 is a completed, exported video. Its original elements and animation settings are no longer separate, so we cannot take it apart and reanimate them. ANIMATION TYPES An animation is movement created by a developer, or by an animator. Creative Studio produces animation in two different ways. The right approach depends on whether we are adding movement to existing design elements or creating new animated content . 1.  ADDING MOVEMENT TO EXISTING ELEMENTS Our developers can animate the separate layers supplied in a static Open File. For example, they can make an existing: Floating logo or text Objects fade onto the screen Product grow or shrink Button pulse Elements move, rotate or respond to interaction The elements already exist. The developer is adding movement to them using code. Think of this as moving existing pieces around the screen. 2.  CREATING NEW ANIMATED CONTENT Some concepts require movement or visual content that does not already exist in the supplied design. For example: Making a product move realistically in 3D Creating an object from different angles Animating liquid, smoke, leaves or other effects Building movement that cannot be created from flat design layers Creating a complete animated scene This work must be created by an animator or 3D artist. It requires specialist animation software, additional production time and a separate editable project file. Think of this as creating a new moving performance that didn't exist before, not simply moving existing pieces. ANIMATION TYPE WHAT NEEDS TO BE EXECUTED CREATED BY Movement added to existing elements Layered static assets that already exist Developer New animation production New movement, angles, effects or scenes that still need to be created Animator and / or 3D artist Both developers and animators create movement. The difference is whether we are animating visual elements that already exist, or first need to create new visual content. VIDEO Unlike animation, video refers to completed footage supplied by the client . It is treated as a fixed asset rather than something we can recreate or reanimate.  We treat this footage as a finished visual asset. We can use it within a creative execution, but we cannot create additional footage or change what was originally filmed. ✅ WHAT WE CAN DO Depending on the supplied file and the request, we may be able to: Crop the video to fit different dimensions Select or trim a specific part of the video Add separate elements over the video, such as a logo, text or button Use the video as part of a larger banner execution ❌ WHAT WE CAN'T DO Create additional footage that was not supplied Change the actions taking place in the footage Make a person or object move differently Reposition individual people or objects inside the video Separate elements that are already part of the footage Reanimate the footage as if it were an editable animation Simple rule: We can adjust how the supplied video is used, but we cannot change what happens inside the footage. WATCH OUR VIDEO TUTORIAL ⚠️ 3D projects have their own separate, additional asset requirements. Read the 3D-modelling specific Help Page here .