Floating 3D box

[Steve Roberts]

In a composition:

1. Add a null object (null layer). Click its 3D button.
2. Add a solid. Set it to be square, maybe 800×800, with square pixels.
3. Click the 3D button for the solid.
4. Parent it to the null. The null will be the parent, the solid will be the child. Check the manual if you need help.
5. Duplicate the solid (ctrl+D or cmd+D) five times, so you now have six solids.
6. Now you need to move the solids into position to form the box. Imagine the null as being at the center of the cube. Don’t move the null yet. You’ll need to rotate the solids on their X, Y and Z axes 90 or 180 degrees so they form a cube. The sides will have to be 800 units apart (right?), with the null in-between. So the distance from the null to each side has to be 400 pixels. If you don’t know how to move stuff around in 3D space, check the manual.

Now, to get the whole cube moving or rotating, move or rotate the null. All the cube walls will follow along, being good little children. 🙂

Now … if you actually want a camera to orbit a point in space, make another 3D null, make it the parent of the camera, and rotate the null so the camera orbits around it.

Remember: it’s often best to leave the parent alone until you’ve finished setting up its children relative to it. You’ll get the hang of it. 🙂

That should get you started …

[Nate Tull]

Thanks soooooo much. You’re the greatest!

[Mike Clasby]

Here’s a script that make it easy:

https://wemads.com/stuff/3d_cube.zip