3D Bend Nested Comp Problem

[Edward Wu]

Hi Chris,

No, the manual is addressing the issue I was talking about in the earlier posts about objects interacting in the same 3D space. If objects are not created in the same 3D Invigorator scene, then they are not within the same 3D space. This means that the objects cannot interact with each other, meaning that the objects cannot intersect, go through one another, etc.

The hot tip is referring to times where you may want a After Effects 3D layer to interact with the objects you create in 3D Invigorator. If you want the After Effects 3D layer to go through the objects you create in 3D Invigorator for example, you will need to take the 3D Layer, and make it into a Layer Map. Then, inside of 3D Invigorator, create a 3D Primitive, and change the 3D Primitive into a “Plane” (flat surface). Adjust the size of the Plane so that the dimensions are exactly the same as the After Effects 3D Layer. Then, apply the layer map onto a material, and apply the material onto the Plane. Now your Plane will look exactly like the After Effects 3D layer. You can now have the Plane move through the other objects you create within 3D Invigorator.

Best,
Edward

[Christopher Rotter]

No, the manual is addressing the issue I was talking about in the earlier posts about objects interacting in the same 3D space. If objects are not created in the same 3D Invigorator scene, then they are not within the same 3D space. This means that the objects cannot interact with each other, meaning that the objects cannot intersect, go through one another, etc.

What you’re saying is the only way objects can interact with invigorator objects is if they are applied as a layer map then they are in the same 3D space and this is what the manual is pointing out ?

The hot tip is referring to times where you may want a After Effects 3D layer to interact with the objects you create in 3D Invigorator. If you want the After Effects 3D layer to go through the objects you create in 3D Invigorator for example, you will need to take the 3D Layer, and make it into a Layer Map. Then, inside of 3D Invigorator, create a 3D Primitive, and change the 3D Primitive into a “Plane” (flat surface). Adjust the size of the Plane so that the dimensions are exactly the same as the After Effects 3D Layer. Then, apply the layer map onto a material, and apply the material onto the Plane. Now your Plane will look exactly like the After Effects 3D layer. You can now have the Plane move through the other objects you create within 3D Invigorator.

I think I understand, but a simple example would help to nib it in the butt or a simple tutorial, I could follow to do exactly what you mentioned

[Christopher Rotter]

The hot tip is referring to times where you may want a After Effects 3D layer to interact with the objects you create in 3D Invigorator. If you want the After Effects 3D layer to go through the objects you create in 3D Invigorator for example, you will need to take the 3D Layer, and make it into a Layer Map. Then, inside of 3D Invigorator, create a 3D Primitive, and change the 3D Primitive into a “Plane” (flat surface). Adjust the size of the Plane so that the dimensions are exactly the same as the After Effects 3D Layer. Then, apply the layer map onto a material, and apply the material onto the Plane. Now your Plane will look exactly like the After Effects 3D layer. You can now have the Plane move through the other objects you create within 3D Invigorator.

After reading it again, I think I understand and by doing this you are making the After Effects 3D Layer and the Invigorator layer in both the same 3D space as well as interact with each other ?

[Edward Wu]

Hi Chris,

Here’s an example to follow:

1) Create a Color Solid in After Effects
2) Apply 3D Invigorator to the Color Solid
3) Create a 3D Primitive in 3D Invigorator, and select the “Use Comp Camera” option in the Effect Control panel
4) Import an image into After Effects
5) Drag the image onto the timeline, and convert it into a 3D Layer

Now, if you rotate the camera around, notice that the objects are not in the same 3D space. This is the issue that the Hot Tip is addressing. To have the primitive be in the same 3D space as the 3D layer, you will have to use the technique of applying a layer map onto a plane.

The picture below shows that the Sphere primitive and the 3D layer are not in the same 3D space. The sphere is always “in front” of the 3D Layer no matter what.

So, to make the 3D layer be in the same 3D space, we will have to bring the 3D layer “into” 3D Invigorator.

6) In the 3D Invigorator Effect Controls panel, assign the image layer as Layer Map 1
7) Go into the 3D Invigorator Setup window
8) Create another 3D primitive. You should now have 2 Sphere primitives. Take one Sphere, and in the Object tab, convert the Sphere into a Plane.
9) Go into the Materials tab, and assign the Layer Map 1 as a texture map for a new material
10) Apply the new material onto the Plane

The image below shows the pictures for assigning a Layer Map, and also what you should have after completing steps 6-10.

Now that you have the Sphere primitive and the Plane primitive together in 3D Invigorator, when you rotate the camera around, the objects will “interact” with one another and be in the same 3D space. The picture below shows what the Sphere and the Plane look like in the same 3D space. You can compare it with the first picture to see the difference in what they look like.

Hope this helps.

Best,
Edward

[Christopher Rotter]

The hot tip is referring to times where you may want a After Effects 3D layer to interact with the objects you create in 3D Invigorator. If you want the After Effects 3D layer to go through the objects you create in 3D Invigorator for example, you will need to take the 3D Layer, and make it into a Layer Map. Then, inside of 3D Invigorator, create a 3D Primitive, and change the 3D Primitive into a “Plane” (flat surface). Adjust the size of the Plane so that the dimensions are exactly the same as the After Effects 3D Layer. Then, apply the layer map onto a material, and apply the material onto the Plane. Now your Plane will look exactly like the After Effects 3D layer. You can now have the Plane move through the other objects you create within 3D Invigorator.

After reading it again, I think I understand and by doing this you are making the After Effects 3D Layer and the Invigorator layer in both the same 3D space as well as interact with each other ?

I have one more question, in the manual for setting up profiles it states the following below where and how do I know where 0,0 point is in illustrator?

Setting The Scale Of A Custom Edge Profile
Edge profiles are based on a 100 point grid. Use the bottom left
corner of the vector drawing program’s page as the 0, 0 point, (origin.)

[Edward Wu]

Hi Chris,

When you create an object in Illustrator, you can see the X, Y coordinates in the top tool bar. You will be able to see a section where it lists the X and Y values, as well as the object’s width and height. The coordinates are what the manual is referring to, so if you want to create an object at the (0,0) coordinate, then you will need to position it at the bottom left corner.

Best,
Edward

[Christopher Rotter]

Could you please show me a screen shot of what you mean ? I have another question which I don’t understand in the manual but I will ask once I understand this.

[Edward Wu]

Hi Chris,

If you look at the right hand side of the Illustrator toolbar, you’ll see the “X” and “Y” values.

Best,
Edward

[Christopher Rotter]

In other words, I have to make sure that my X & Y values are at 0 that is all the manual is stating ?

[Christopher Rotter]

Also I wanted to ask “what is a controller plane” ?