Raytracing – Precomps Visible in Reflections Only

[Walter Soyka]

You can use light adjustment layers. By ticking the adjustment layer toggle for the light in the timeline (it looks like a black-and-white cookie), you tell the light to only affect layers beneath it in the timeline.

You’d move your extruded 3D layer to the bottom of the layer stack, place the logo-only lights above it and turn on their adjustment layer toggles, then place all the rest of your layers, cameras and such above those.

Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
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[Roland R. kahlenberg]

Walter’s given you a direction using Adjustment Lights. You should also consider using your precomp (note the singularity) as an Environment Layer.

Lots of info on Ray-tracing in AE here – https://provideocoalition.com/ryoung/story/the-ray-traced-3d-renderer-in-after-effects

HTH
RoRK

Intensive mocha & AE Training in Singapore and Other Dangerous Locations

Imagineer Systems (mocha) Certified Instructor
& Adobe After Effects CS6 ACE/ACI

[Chris Brett]

Hi –

– you can also select ‘ appears in reflections only’ in the ray trace properties drop down menu – ( just make sure your precomp is set up to enable this if you need it ).

This can be very useful as you can use moving footage as well and also more than one layer thus having the option for very complex reflections.

Also using this you can get loads of fine detail if you are close up to the logo / lettering — ( its worth playing around with the position of the reflection layers quite a lot ) .

It might also be worth noting also that this kind of comp is a lot easier if your kit is either very powerful or has multiple graphics cards.

All the best

Chris Brett

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