[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

[Don Sciore]

Link to screen capture

https://sacanimation.com/information/cube.html

[Don Sciore]

One thought is if you are using an older version of AE, the Advanced 3D from the Composition Settings may not be on.(now it is default on) This causes interesting intersection problems. Secondly make sure you are working in a “Square pixel” comp. Otherwise, creating a cube is a rather simple effort of creating six sides, adjusting them by 90 degrees and changing relative x,y,z by half the width. Parenting all to a Null.

Good luck.

[Don Sciore]

This happens if your layer is not the same size as your comp.
Make your layer same size as comp.

Good Luck.