Advanced 3D Techniques in After Effects: Bending, Shading, and Creating Dynamic Backgrounds
In this tutorial, we dive into advanced techniques for working with 3D objects in Adobe After Effects. If you're familiar with After Effects, you know that 3D transformations are usually limited to basic rotations and positioning. However, today, I’m going to show you how to bend 3D objects within After Effects and create stunning 3D backgrounds—all without leaving the software. This approach will allow you to create visually compelling scenes with dynamic geometry and smooth animation effects.
1. Creating a 3D Shape Layer
● Let’s start by creating a simple 3D shape.
● New Composition: Open a new composition.
● Draw an Ellipse: Select the Ellipse Tool, hold Shift to make it perfectly round, and align it to the center of your composition.
● Convert to 3D: Turn this shape layer into a 3D layer. Next, rotate it on the x-axis by 90 degrees for proper orientation.
● Adjust Anchor Point: Use the Anchor Point tool (Command + Click) to snap it to the bottom of the layer. This adjustment is crucial for accurate 3D rotation.
● Create a Null Object: Position the null object at the center of the composition, convert it to 3D, and parent your shape layer to this null object. This setup allows you to control the rotation and scaling of the shape layer through the null object.
2. Animating the 3D Layer
● Animation is key to bringing your 3D objects to life.
● Duplicate and Position: Duplicate the shape layer and position the copies to create a stack. Parent these layers to the null object.
● Keyframing Rotation: Animate the y-axis rotation for both shape layers and the null object. This movement will create a smooth wave-like effect as the layers rotate.
● Fine-Tune Animation: Keyframe the orientation of the null object to enhance the wave effect. Adjust the speed and timing of the animation to ensure smoothness.
● Easy Ease Keyframes: Select all keyframes and press F9 to apply Easy Ease, which smooths out the animation curves.
3. Shading and Extruding the 3D Object
● Now, let's add some depth and shading to make your 3D objects pop.
● Geometry Options: Ensure the composition is set to Advanced 3D mode. Go to Geometry Options and increase the extrusion depth to around 30. This adds thickness to your shape.
● Bevel Depth: Set the bevel depth to 2 and choose a convex shape to round the edges, adding a realistic highlight effect.
● Lighting Setup: Introduce three point lights to illuminate your scene from different angles. Adjust the intensity of each light to create a balanced, dynamic lighting environment.
4. Bending 3D Objects
This is where the real magic happens—bending your 3D objects.
● Time Displacement Effect: Start by creating a gradient ramp on a solid layer, transitioning from white to black horizontally. This gradient will serve as the map for the bending effect.
● Apply Time Displacement: Hide the solid layer and apply the Time Displacement effect to the 3D layer. Set the source to Effects & Masks, and adjust the displacement amount to achieve the desired bending effect.
● Fine-Tuning: Increase the time resolution to improve the effect’s smoothness. A value of around 400 works well but be mindful of increased render times.
5. Creating Dynamic 3D Backgrounds
Finally, let’s add a visually engaging 3D background to your scene.
● Grid of Ellipses: Create a grid of ellipses using the repeater tool. This will form the basis of your background.
● Fractal Noise Effect: Apply the Fractal Noise effect to a solid layer, setting the noise type to "Block" and reducing complexity to zero. Animate the evolution of this noise for a dynamic background.
● Applying Luma Matte: Use this animated noise layer as a luma matte for the ellipse grid, creating a twinkling effect.
● 3D Warp with CC Lens: To finalize the background, apply the CC Lens effect to an adjustment layer. Animate the lens size to warp the grid, matching the bending motion of the 3D objects.
6. Final Touches and Conclusion
With everything set up, you now have a beautifully animated 3D scene with dynamic backgrounds, all created within After Effects. This technique is perfect for creating intros, title sequences, or any project that requires sophisticated 3D effects.
By following this process, you can push the boundaries of what’s possible in After Effects, creating complex 3D scenes without the need for external 3D software.
If you enjoyed this tutorial, please give it a like and consider subscribing for more in-depth After Effects tutorials. For further techniques, such as morphing from one font to another, check out this video below!
Happy animating!
