3D layer having a different colored sides

[Steve Roberts]

You could duplicate all the layers, move the dupes back in z-space 1 pixel or so, then fill them with a color.

But if you want to do it without duping the layers, sorry, no can do.

There’s a plugin (“backside”?) that purports to do just that, but if the layer was moved more than 30 degrees or so off-axis, it reverted to showing the front of the layer. Not good.

[Dan Ebberts]

This should work. Apply Fill to your layer. Then apply CC Composite to the layer and apply this expression to the effect’s Opacity parameter:

if (toCompVec([0, 0, 1])[2] > 0 ) 100 else 0

Dan

[Dan Ebberts]

An even easier way, if you want both sides of your layer to be solid colors, would be to just use the Fill effect, with this expression applied to the Color parameter:

frontColor = [0,0.5,0.5,1]; // turquoise
backColor = [0.5,0.5,0,1]; // dark yellow
if (toCompVec([0, 0, 1])[2] > 0 ) frontColor else backColor

In case you don’t know, in expressions colors are represented by arrays [r,g,b,a] wher r, g, and b are the amounts of red, green, and blue, expressed as numbers between 0 and 1. a is the alpha, just leave it set to 1.

Dan

[Steve Roberts]

Thanks, Dan — great tip.

Steve

[Serge Hamad]

Hey Dan,

I love this one! Thanks.

I used to use shatter as it has the ability to differently color a layer back face but it is a limited option.

Thanks again.

Salut.
Serge

[Dan Ebberts]

Glad you like ’em, guys. 🙂

Dan

[Kevin Reiner]

Dan,

You have pulled through for me again.
Thanks so much!

Where can I send the Omaha Steaks to show my gratitude?

[Chris Burns]

Would I be right in that if I wanted to say put a different photo on the back of the 3D layer I would duplicate the layer, replace the layer and then move it back 1 pixel and possibly rotate it 180? This would give me a different photo on the backside of the 3D layer? I know this if very basic but I just wanted to check. Thanks

[Dan Ebberts]

Then you’d probably want to make it the child of the front layer.

Dan