Convert 3d layers, Show or hide 3d axes and layer controls – Adobe After Effects User Manual
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Alan Shisko provides a detailed video tutorial on
demonstrating how to create a complex 3D environment from 3D layers, beginning
with simple 2D assets.
Chris and Trish Meyer provide a tutorial on the
that demonstrates how to create 3D reflections.
Chris and Trish Meyer provide a demonstration of importing and using extruded 3D objects from Photoshop, including those created using the
Repoussé feature in Photoshop. See “Repoussé in After Effects CS5” on the
3D object layers from Photoshop
.)
Paul Tuersley provides a pair of scripts on the
converting a composition based on a layered Photoshop file into a set of 3D
layers.
Andrew Kramer provides a video tutorial on his
in which he demonstrates the creation of 3D reflections.
Andrew Kramer provides a video tutorial on his
in which he demonstrates the creation of a 3D room and the use of an
animated camera and lights.
You can download an example project from the
shows how to arrange several 3D layers in the shape of a sphere,
control the layers with a null layer, and light them.
Several plug-ins add the ability to manipulate, warp, and extrude 3D shapes in After Effects. Rich Young provides information about Zaxwerks 3D
Warps and Zaxwerks Invigorator PRO, two such products on his
.
Rob Schofield provides a custom effect (a multi-part, packaged animation preset) on the
distributes and animates 3D
layers. This custom effect works especially well for animations that involve a large number of 3D layers dispersing or converging. In the video
tutorial accompanying the custom effect, Rob explains the installation of custom effects.
By default when creating a new layer, After Effects places it at the top of the stack. It is possible to create new layers immediately above a
selected layer, and have them trimmed to match the duration of the selected layer.
Animatika software,
which does just that.
Convert 3D layers
When you convert a layer to 3D, a depth (z) value is added to its Position, Anchor Point, and Scale properties, and the layer gains Orientation, Y
Rotation, X Rotation, and Material Options properties. The single Rotation property is renamed Z Rotation.
When you convert a 3D layer back to 2D, the Y Rotation, X Rotation, Orientation, and Material Options properties are removed, including all
values, keyframes, and expressions. (These values cannot be restored by converting the layer back to a 3D layer.) The Anchor Point, Position,
and Scale properties remain, along with their keyframes and expressions, but their z values are hidden and ignored.
Convert a layer to a 3D layer
Select the 3D Layer switch
for the layer in the Timeline panel, or select the layer and choose Layer > 3D Layer.
Convert a text layer to a 3D layer with per-character 3D properties enabled
Choose Animation > Animate Text > Enable Per-Character 3D, or choose Enable Per-Character 3D from the Animate menu for the layer in
the Timeline panel.
Convert a 3D layer to a 2D layer
Deselect the 3D Layer switch for the layer in the Timeline panel, or select the layer and choose Layer > 3D Layer.
Show or hide 3D axes and layer controls
3D axes are color-coded arrows: red for x, green for y, and blue for z.
To show or hide 3D axes, camera and light wireframe icons, layer handles, and the point of interest, choose View > Show Layer Controls.
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