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Activity Forums Adobe After Effects Large Motion Graphic Project: Workflow issues, do my layers have to be 3D layers?

  • Large Motion Graphic Project: Workflow issues, do my layers have to be 3D layers?

    Posted by Emily Burrow on May 27, 2012 at 10:08 pm

    The project that I am working on is going to be approx. 3 minutes long, and it has a load of elements that I use. If I had to guess I’m using about 50 or more. This makes the workflow a little tedious. I somewhat manage this by using the shy mechanic and colour labels.

    One of the problems I’m running into is when I precompose multiple 3D layers, I loose the composition and things disappear in z space. I will admit that this is my first large project and I am still testing out the waters. I continue to do more research to maximize my workflow, but one of the ideas I have had, is since my project is very linear, and none of the elements do any tricks in z-space, am I able to make all my element layers 2D to keep things organized and in the proper order? So then I would just keep my Camera and Null as 3D Layers to continue the camera movement? Would this work?

    I am also looking at some plugins that will help me manage all my elements, like SureTarget by VIDEOCOPLIOT

    Thanks for your time.

    Joseph W. bourke replied 14 years, 2 months ago 3 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • Erik Waluska

    May 28, 2012 at 4:11 pm

    When you pre-comp your 3D layers you can turn on the collapse transformations switch and the layers should return to their original 3D positions. Alternatively, depending on the project, you could pre-comp groups of 2D layers and then just turn on the 3D switch for that pre-comp. The difference is that with the first option the layers inside of the pre-comp remain 3D in the main comp so they can be individually rotated or moved in Z space, but with the second option all of the layers will basically become a flat 2D image that can be rotated or moved in Z space in the main comp as if it is a single 3D layer.

    HTH

  • Emily Burrow

    May 29, 2012 at 3:28 pm

    Thank you for your insight! I believe it will help me a lot.

    Thanks for your time,

    Em

  • Erik Waluska

    May 29, 2012 at 3:47 pm

    You’re welcome. Glad I could help.

  • Joseph W. bourke

    May 29, 2012 at 4:14 pm

    Emily –

    You may want to take a look at Zorro, as script for AE which gives you powers which far surpass the color coding and shy layers you’re using. Check it out:

    https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/exchange/index.cfm?event=extensionDetail&extid=1694092

    It’s free, but well worth a donation to the programmer.

    Joe Bourke
    Owner/Creative Director
    Bourke Media
    http://www.bourkemedia.com

  • Joseph W. bourke

    May 29, 2012 at 4:22 pm

    Just in case you didn’t go to the creator’s website, he’s updated Zorro to work with up to AE CS5.5:

    https://aescripts.com/zorro-the-layer-tagger/

    Joe Bourke
    Owner/Creative Director
    Bourke Media
    http://www.bourkemedia.com

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