[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

The technique Eran explains works great in a space where you can set the order of the layers reversed to the actual 3d positioning. If you can’t do that (maybe you have several layers at the same z depth), the Lights as adjustment layers will affect anything that is under them, so you may still get some lighting issues. In this situation there is a workaround as well. Precompose each layer you need to be individually lit, in the precomp turn the layer 3d, add a light or two to get the look you want. Back in the main comp turn the 3d switch for the precomp and you get what you’re after. If you want to have controls over each light in the precomps without having to go inside every time you want to change something, you’ll have to do a bit more work. You can link the controls for every light in the precomps with sliders in the main comp through expressions.

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

You need to provide more information- what is the size, frame rate and color space you are using? Progressive or interlaced footage? when you render out, do you keep the same specs? Is all your footage the same? Why are you rendering from AE? Any effects you applied in AE?
Maybe posting a short render will help as well.

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

I agree with Dave – it would be easier without the object or with just a simple object that resembles the final virtual one. You will need to track and roto (Mocha should help you with that) and most likely add shadows in post.

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

I just finished rendering a H264 out of CS6 and I have QT 7.6.9.
What are your system specs- os and all?

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

Why not use a Shape layer and draw a shape – then you can control the outline easily and you get sharp vector graphics.

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

I think you can either use animated masks to ceate the illusion or use a path that you animate to form the text and apply a stroke to that. With the path it’s easier if you animate in reverse- start with the final position, draw the line with the text formed and then work backwards to unravel and flatten the line. The trick is to design a look that will allow you to have the text formed by one continuous line.

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

3d stroke should be able to do what you are after- check out this tutorial:

https://vfxtutorialsblog.blogspot.no/2010/02/trapcoe-3d-stroke-tutorial.html

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

Instead of nesting your comp and re-sizing, use the Scale Composition script that comes with AE. It’s under Files>Scripts>Scale composition.

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

If you have the money, definitively! I think the extra desktop real estate can help you, especially if you work with 1080, plus the new Nvidia cards make it a good choice for CS6.

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

Thanks for sharing – I agree with Roland, a tutorial with more detail will be better.

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist