3D text like this

[Don Sciore]

But on a positive note, here are some options to try. They are from a search here for 3D text. #2 and #3 will probably get the job done for you.

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 Solid

Now Select and precompose the bottom two layers (move all attributes), this precomp will be as a custom Shatter map.

Add Effect>Simulate
View: Rendered
Render: Pieces
Shape>Pattern: Custom
Custom Shatter Map: Precomp
Extrusion Map: This controls how deep the letters are

A 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