Create 3d Text in AE

[Aharon Rabinowitz]

Start here:

https://forums.creativecow.net/cgi-bin/new_read_post.cgi?forumid=2&postid=881579

Also consider using an external 3D program like C4D, Maya or 3DSMax

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Aharon Rabinowitz
arabinowitz(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
http://www.allbetsareoff.com

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Click the link below to subscribe to the Creative Cow After Effects Podcast, and get free AE video tutorials:

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[Mike Clasby]

Here are a couple of other ways:

1) Quick and Dirty. Not that dirty really. 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:

https://www.creativecow.net/articles/woodall_traylor/3dtypetut2/index.html

2) 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>SimulatePattern: 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

[Darby Edelen]

[yikesmikes] “position+[0,0,(index-1)*1]”

Ahhh, if only it were so simple.

You need to have one of the text layers be the parent to the others so that they reside 1 pixel ‘farther back’ relative to the parent (instead of to world coordinates), otherwise when you rotate one layer, the others will not rotate with it. Then you want this expression applied to the layer under the parent layer:


fromWorld(thisComp.layer(index-1).position) + [0,0,1];


And this one on every layer under that:


thisComp.layer(index-1.position) + [0,0,1];


There are other expressions/methods that will work, but I guarantee you’ll want to parent the layers to one controller layer however you go about it.

Darby Edelen
DVD Menu Artist
Left Coast Digital
Aptos, CA

[Mike Clasby]

It is that simple, if you’re only moving the camera, not the text.

If you’re moving the text, you’re correct, Parenting is needed. Just make the original text layer (topmost) the Parent of all the dups, or use a Null as the parent for all, as in the tutorial link I provided in 1), my original post.

One expression works fine for everthing… with a little Parenting applied… if the text moves.

Like the tut, I sometimes like Bevel Alpha on the two end layers, chased with a little Drop Shadow on the bottom layer. Lightning Bolts are optional.

[Darby Edelen]

[yikesmikes] “One expression works fine for everthing… with a little Parenting applied… if the text moves.”

The one expression you provided is assuming that the composition has nothing but the text layers in it (or that they are at the top of the stack). Its just an old programming habit of mine not to make assumptions, which is the reason I suggested parenting the text as well. If assumptions are made then you should be sure to document them so any others accessing the code know what’s what.

Darby Edelen
DVD Menu Artist
Left Coast Digital
Aptos, CA

[Mike Clasby]

Good point.

[John Dickinson]

Don’t forget Zaxwerks 3D Invigorator and ProAnimator also.
https://www.zaxwerks.com

JD

John Dickinson
Motionworks
http://www.motionworks.com.au

[Aharon Rabinowitz]

That’s right. In case you did not read the link I provided above (it’s part of our AE FAQ at the top of the forum), the best way to create easily eidtable (meaning you can change the look and feel) 3D text directly in AE is to use one of the Zaxwerks plug-ins.

—————————————-
Aharon Rabinowitz
arabinowitz(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
http://www.allbetsareoff.com

—————————————-
Click the link below to subscribe to the Creative Cow After Effects Podcast, and get free AE video tutorials:

https://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=111087911

[Videoisthefuture]

Thank you soo much for the advice!

[Benjamin Eshagpoor]

i actually used woodalls tut for a project i just did, and it was good enough to wow the studio execs. instead of a 3 pixel gap per layer along the z-axis, i use a 1 pixel gap (sometimes a .5 pixel gap), but i try to mask the gaps with flares and flashes whenever possible. the only reason i use this technique, is that its quick, and sometimes easier to manage when you have other render intensive plugins.

plus, when dealing with studio execs…they almost NEVER know what they want, so i was changing the text QUITE frequently!

i think i’m the only one that notices the pixel gaps everytime i see the project.

but 3D invig and proanimator are the shiznit when it comes to hi-end 3D text effects!

bE