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After Effects renders the X, Y, and Z rotation Transform properties in their descending
Timeline order, regardless of the original order in which you set those Transform
properties.
Note: After Effects does not render intersecting layers.
Rendering compositions containing both 2D and 3D layers
If compositions contain both 2D and 3D layers, After Effects renders the 3D layers in
independent, noninteractive groups that are separated by the 2D layers.
For example, if the Timeline contains (from top to bottom) two 3D layers, two 2D layers,
then two final 3D layers, After Effects first renders the bottom two 3D layers as a set,
according to their spatial order in the Composition window. Next, it renders the 2D layers
according to their Timeline order, from bottom to top. Finally, it renders the Timeline's top
set of 3D layers.
However, this top set of 3D layers is rendered in a geometric space independent of the
lower Timeline set of 3D layers. In effect, the 2D layers have split the 3D space into
identical, but separate universes. The result is that shadows cast by either Timeline set of
3D layers do not fall on the other set, and the two sets of 3D layers do not interact geomet-
rically. For example, if the animation calls for a single 3D layer to pass in front of a second
3D layer and cast a shadow on the second layer as it passed, then this occurs if there is not
a 2D layer between them in the Timeline. However, if there is a 2D layer between them
(and it is small enough to allow you to see both 3D layers in the Composition window),
then the 3D layers are rendered in separate 3D universes, and, therefore the first layer does
not pass in front of the second and does not cast a shadow upon it. Instead, though the
animation will still occur, it will happen on separate sides of the 2D layer.
The sets of 3D layers do, however, share both cameras and lights, since these two elements
are global to the composition.
Using the Adobe render plug-in
After Effects uses the included render plug-in to composite both RAM previews and
output files. It is chosen by default. After selecting the 3D renderer, you still need to adjust
your render and output settings through the Render Queue. For information on rendering
After Effects files, see "Using the Render Queue window" on page 279.
When rendering a composition that includes cameras, After Effects renders only the
topmost, active camera in the Timeline window.
To use the After Effects 3D renderer:
1 Select the composition you want to render and choose Composition > Composition
Settings.
2 Click the Advanced tab.
3 Click the Rendering Plug-in list, choose Standard 3D, and click OK.
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