Apply Effects and Continuously Rasterize Vector Art

[Erik Waluska]

Hi Bryan,
Is your layer a Pre-comp and/or 3D? If it’s a Pre-comp you may have to move the effect to the layer inside the pre-comp rather than applying it to the pre-comp itself.

If it’s a 3D pre-comp and the layer inside of the pre-comp is a different size or in a different 3D location than the pre-comp itself then the image will jump to a new location in Z space when you click the continuous rasterization button, which, by the way, is also know as “collapse transformations” because it carries the transformations such as 3D into the main comp. Confusing isn’t it?

Give me a little more info and I may be able to help you better.

-Erik Waluska

[Bryan Nieman]

Erik,
Thanks for your response.

The object is in 3D space.

After reading your explanation I put the object into a pre-comp and applied the effect and the object did not disappear but it messed up the 3D space, it made it so there is no longer a floor. Please see the images below for a better indication.

[Erik Waluska]

Bryan,
The pictures are a big help, thanks.

It appears that you still have the glow effect applied to the comp, which will break the 3D rendering order in AE (After Effects). The result of this is that your 3D pre-comp (Road/road_course) is no longer a part of the main comp’s 3D space, but instead is rendered and flattened and the effect is then applied. So essentially, your 3D pre-comp is a flat movie of your pre-composed layers.

Try applying the glow effect to the pre-composed layer(s) inside the pre-comp and removing the effect from the pre-comp itself. If you need the glow to be applied to multiple layers in your pre-comp then apply it to each of the layers that require the effect individually. Don’t use an adjustment layer or you’ll have the same problem as it will also break the 3D rendering order (I don’t know why, but it does).

The 3D switch does not need to be selected on your pre-comp but the “collapse transformations” switch does. Also, you will get very different results depending on whether your pre-composed layers have their “collapse transformations” switch turned on or not. Try it and see.

I hope this helps. Believe me, I pulled out my hair trying to figure this stuff out before.

I would have included pictures but I don’t know how to post them here.

-E