-
3d text in after effects?
Hi, this is my first post and I’m *really* new to after effects.
I want to have 3d extruded text that I can fly the camera around. I know how to make the text layer in AE, and how to rotate the camera around it, but the text is flat.
My understanding from limited searches is that I would need a 3rd party plugin for AE to create the 3d text, or I can create the text in Maya and import it.
Would appreciate advice on the best options I should pursue. Thanks.
-
8 Replies
-
To mimic a reel 3D, you have to use “Invigorator LE”.
This free plugin (on AE’CD) can manage the *.obj files from Maya or extrude a path (form Illustrator for example).sebastien
-
Here are three ways for 3D Text in ae:
1) Invigorator. Here’s a link from the “Look Here First” thread (above):
https://forums.creativecow.net/cgi-bin/new_read_post.cgi?forumid=2&postid=881579
2) Quick and Dirty. Not that dirty really, you just don’t want to linger with the camera “side-on” the text, as AE text has no real z depth. For a quickie that looks fine unless you linger side on, just add this expression to a text layer (make it 3D):
position+[0,0,(index-1)*1]
Now duplicate the layer as many times as you want it to be thick (the expression tells the layer to be offset 1 pixel in the z direction for each layer it’s down in the layer stack). If you want to move the letters as a unit, parent all to the first text layer, then rotate/move it, or precompose the text layers.
You can change the color of the front by changing the Color of the text in the Character Palette ( and the back too) You can even bevel the front and back with Perspective>Bevel Alpha (quite nice, really)
Note: You may get a warning for certain plugins to use AE’s Advance 3D Rendering, so go Composition>Comp Settings>Advanced>Render Plug-in: Advanced 3D.
The same principal is used in this tut, without the expression (he uses a 3 pixel separation), but with nice use of precomposing to make changing the text easy, and a control null to animate the text enmass:
http://www.creativecow.net/articles/woodall_traylor/3dtypetut2/index.html
3) Also you can use Shatter:
Make your text, duplicate it, add a Black Solid, arrange as below:
Text
Text
Black SolidNow Select and precompose the bottom two layers (move all attributes), this precomp will be as a custom Shatter map.
Add Effect>Simulate
Pattern: Custom
Custom Shatter Map: Precomp
Extrusion Map: This controls how deep the letters areA tut for a logo extrusion here:
https://www.creativecow.net/articles/kahlenberg_roland/3d_logo_extrude/index.html
Force 1>
Strength: 0 (this keeps the letters from being blown away)
Physics>Gravity: 0 (keeps the letters from succumbing to gravity)Textures… You can control the Front, Side and Back Modes with precomped layer (a red solid precomped choose, Side Mode:Layer, Side Layer Red Solid Precomp.
Camera System: Comp Camera
Add a Camera to the Comp, Layer>New Camera (C toggles the Camera Orbit Tool).
For a walk through, click on Roland R. Kahlenberg
-
Welcome to the family.
You can use SHATTER to create extruded text but the results are crude and the procedure is complicated.
AE is not a 3d environment, it has 3d capabilities. You must use third party resources to achieve superb 3d text within AE or use a 3d application and import the movies. There are ways to import 3d data from some 3d apps. That stuff scares me do I don’t bother.
bogiesan
This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”
-
Could this be added to the FAQ/sticky?
… Ron? 🙂
-
I dont get it why Adobe cant add extrude filter to AE. Motion has had Extrude since version 2 and it wasnt even 3D back then.
Anyway , thanks to yikesmikes for taking his time to write that great post. I saved it , this stuff will come handy , i’m sure.
-
I find it baffling that you still can’t add a solid drop (a fake directional extrusion) in Photoshop. Paintbox Express could do that 15 years ago!
I know you can use Illustrator’s extruder filter but it is very clumsy and obviously not true 3D, but why not add that to PS or something a little simpler? AE does have ways round it like mentioned, but Zaxwerks is so cheap and brilliant for that. your best bet.
*Production Studio Premium / *Combustion 3
————————————-
Win XP Pro SP2 / Intel P4 3GHz / 2GB RAM / GeForce FX5200 / DeckLink Pro / Sony BVM-20G1E / DVS SDI Clipstation / 110GB boot/80GB media/600GB RAID-0 -
thanks for the info!
-
Roland R. Kahlenberg wrote some long expression to have light all around logo. I could not make this work, but just set the ambient light within shatter to 1, and turned down the main light. And there was light all around the logo…
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up