3d strokes between two 3d layers

[Dan Ebberts]

There’s always a way. 🙂

Are you talking about straight lines connecting 3D layers? Do they have to respect the 3D stacking order? For example, for a line connecting a layer close to the camera with one far away, you would expect the line to be obscured as it goes behind the closer object but you would see the attach point on the most distant object. With text I guess it’s even more complex – do you need to see the line between the letters of the forground text layer?

Depending on what you’re after, I may have a very nice solution for you, but I think it may be a little too complex to post in the forum but we’ll figure something out.

Dan

[Ronenshaya]

Thanks Dan for responding so fast
Is there always a way?
I wish!

I have managed a way to make it with 2d lines
which I connected to the 3d values
(I used the beam effect that allows you to drow a line between 2 points)
But, as you asked,I’ll have some problem with the stacking order.It looks nice and I even connected the width o the lines
to the Z position of the objects so it seems a reel 3d lines.

Thats OK, but here is what I really need:
When in the first post I wrote “3d strokes” I didnt explain that I was talking about TRAPCODE 3d stroke (or something similar), A curved flexible stroke that react to the positions of two 3d layers (start and end of the stroke) and might react to wind or some kind of wave generator without loosing the connected start and end points.
Is there a way to send a jpeg through posts or an AEP?

Thanks Dan

[Aaa Aaaa]

Hello, I am looking to achieve the exact same effect and was wondering if a solution to curved lines in space ever came about? I went through the tutorial using BEAM to connect thing via a straight line, but need it to be curved. Thanks a bunch!!

Peter

[Ronenshaya]

Hi Peter

Didnt find it yet
I thought I would get some kind of way from our dear Dan Ebberts
but not really.
I guess for now there is no way to do it in AE but only with
some kind of a 3D apps, I will be thankful if you will find the solution.

cheers

[Michael Becke]

Hi Dan,
I’m looking to do something similar to what you were talking about back then. A straight line between 3d objects, they don’t have to be true to 3d space/stacking. (ie the lines can be at the back.)

Any tips would be great.
Cheers,
Mike

[Dan Ebberts]

Have you tried the Beam Effect applied to a comp-sized 2D layer? Then you’d use expressions (use the pickwhip to create them) to connect the Start and End parameters of the beam to the positions of your layers.

Dan

[Michael Becke]

I did and it works for most parts, but when you move the element too far forward paralax reveals the end of the beam. Maybe I should make the objects bigger and work further from the camera. I’ll see if that works.

Cheers,
Mike

[Michael Becke]

Hi Dan,
I can’t seem to get beam to work when moving my layers in z-space. The ends of the beam move away from my objects due to paralax. Any ideas?

many thanks,
Mike

[Dan Ebberts]

Ah yes. Try changing the expressions to something like this:

L = thisComp.layer(“Layer 1”);
L.toComp(L.anchorPoint)

Dan

[Michael Becke]

Brilliant, thanks Dan, that worked a treat.

And for anyone else who finds this useful.

Copy that expression into the “starting point” and “ending point”

The “layer1” = “the layer that you’re moving about and want one end of the line to follow”

Thanks again Dan.
Mike

(for the search feature: Using Beam to follow two points in 3D)