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Adobe After Effects Help
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3D Compositing
Understanding 3D
Many graphics programs, including After Effects, display images in two dimensions, or 2D,
which means that these images exist in and can only be moved to locations along the
horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) axes.
A conventional After Effects 2D image (left) and an image with 3D properties (right).
Programs that work in 3D add distance, or depth, as another dimension in which an
element of the image, or object, can be placed. Depth is expressed as an additional
coordinate, called "Z." As with X and Y coordinates, the Z coordinate defines the position of
an object along the depth axis, called the Z axis. 3D coordinates are expressed as the
variable (x, y, z). A positive Z coordinate indicates that an image is located farther from the
viewer; a negative Z coordinate indicates that an image is nearer to the viewer. Adding
depth allows objects to display more realistic depictions of how they reflect light, cast
shadows, and move through space.
In most 3D programs, lights of varying intensities and positions are combined with images
and views. All of them can be animated in 3D space. Colors and surfaces change realisti-
cally as the objects move through the lights, often creating dramatic and complex anima-
tions that can effectively simulate actual motion and perspective.
Understanding 3D compositing in After Effects
After Effects 3D layers are two-dimensional rectangles that can be moved in three dimen-
sions. When they are first created they are placed at 0 on the Z axis.
Any layer, except an adjustment layer, can be a 3D layer. You can also create and animate
camera and light layers to respectively view or illuminate images from any angle. Though
you can import composited files with 3D information into After Effects, you cannot manip-
ulate the objects of those files nor can you create models within the program.
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Index
Index
3D Compositing
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