Importing 3D Image Files - Adobe AFTER EFFECTS CS3 PROFESSIONAL User Manual

Edit the file, and then do one of the following:
3
• If you're editing an audio-only layer, choose File > Save to apply your edits to the original audio file, or choose
File > Save As to apply your edits to a copy of the audio file. If you choose File > Save As, you need to reimport the
copy of the file into After Effects.
• If you're editing a layer that contains both audio and video, choose File > Save As. After you save the file, import
it into After Effects, add it to the composition, and mute the original audio in the audio-video clip by deselecting
the Audio switch in the Timeline panel.
Note: Any effects applied to audio in After Effects aren't included in the copy that is sent to Adobe Soundbooth or Adobe
Audition.

Importing 3D image files

3D files from other applications
After Effects can import 3D-image files saved in Softimage PIC, RLA, RPF, and Electric Image EI format. These 3D-
image files contain red, green, blue, and alpha (RGBA) channels, as well as auxiliary channels with optional infor-
mation, such as z depth, object IDs, texture coordinates, and more.
Note: Some 3D applications, such as Cinema 4D, can export an After Effects composition directly.
With RLA and RPF files, all of the auxiliary channels are included in a single file. Softimage PIC files have a corre-
sponding ZPIC file that contains the z-depth channel information. Although you can't import a ZPIC file, you can
access the additional channel information as long as the ZPIC file is stored in the same folder as the imported PIC file.
Similarly, Electric Image (EI) files can have associated EIZ files with z-depth channel data. Just as with ZPIC files,
you cannot import EIZ files into After Effects; instead, you simply store them in the same folder as the EI files. For
information about creating EIZ files, see your Electric Image documentation.
After Effects can also import baked camera data, including focal length, film size, and transformation data, from
Maya project files as a single composition or two compositions.
Though you can import composited files with 3D information into After Effects, you cannot manipulate or create
3D models directly with After Effects.
A common technique when working in a 3D modeling application is to insert null objects, such as null lights or null
locator nodes in the locations where you want to composite in an image in After Effects. Then, after you have
imported the 3D file into After Effects, you can use these null objects as a reference for the placements of other visual
elements.
After Effects treats each composited 3D file from another application as a single 2D layer. That layer, as a whole, can
be given 3D attributes and treated like any After Effects 3D layer, but the objects contained within that 3D file cannot
be manipulated individually in 3D space. To access the 3D depth information and other auxiliary channel infor-
mation in 3D image files, use the 3D Channel effects.
See also
"Working with 3D layers" on page 174
"Cameras, lights, and points of interest" on page 179
"3D Channel effects" on page 366
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