By default, After Effects layer exist on a 2D plane: an X and Y axis. However a third dimension can be added to any layer, adding a Y axis and whole set of parameters to the Transform properties.
We’ll explore 3D space in After Effects in this simple tutorial. You can watch the finished example below and download the .aep file here.
Let’s start by creating a new Composition
- Go to Composition > New Composition (or Command + N) and use the following Settings:
- Name: “3D Example”
- Preset dropdown: HDTV 1080 29.97
- Duration: 0;00;12;00
- Set the background color by clicking on the color swatch at the bottom of the Window (#FF9898)
Let’s create our first layer – a large yellow circle:
- Activate the Ellipse tool and set the Fill (#FFFBC6) and Stroke (none)
- Click and drag on the Composition to create the Ellipse (make it almost as tall as the composition)
- Rename the layer “yellowEllipse”
- Center the layer/ellipse:
- Go to Layer > Transform > Center Anchor Point in Layer Content
- Go to Layer > Transform > Center in View
Let’s add our second layer – a smaller green circle:
- Make sure the “yellowEllipse” layer is inactive
- Activate the Ellipse tool and set the Fill (#86BE91) and Stroke (no Stroke)
- Click and drag on the Composition to create the Ellipse (make it smaller than the yellow ellipse)
- Rename the layer “greenEllipse”
- Center the layer/ellipse:
- Go to Layer > Transform > Center Anchor Point in Layer Content
- Go to Layer > Transform > Center in View
Finally, we’ll add our text layer:
- Activate the Text tool
- Set the options in the Character Panel, in this example, we used:
- Font: Helvetica Neue, Condensed Bold
- Color: #FFFFFF Fill, no Stroke
- Size: 210px
- Click on the Composition and type your text (“3D”)
- Center the layer/text:
- Go to Layer > Transform > Center Anchor Point in Layer Content
- Go to Layer > Transform > Center in View
These three layers are stacked in the Timeline but only have a X and Y axis. Let’s turn all of them into 3D layers:
- Turn on the 3D Layer option for each layer
The Composition will look the same but we’ll now be able to use the layer’s Y axis (depth). A second/bird’s eye view of the composition is useful when positioning elements in 3dimensional space. Let’s change the view of our Composition window:
- Set the view layout dropdown to “2 Views – Horizontal”
- Click on the new view (on the left) and make sure 3D view dropdown is set to “Top”
We’ll now adjust the Y position of each layer:
- Activate the yellowEllipse layer. You’ll see a little blue arrow appear in the Top view, representing its Y position.
- Click and drag the blue arrow until you are happy with the Y position of the ellipse (provide a little space between the edge of the window and the ellipse)
- Do the same for the greenEllipse and Text layers (bringing both forward a bit – make sure the Text is in front of the green ellipse)
Let’s animate! We’ll start by pulsating the yellow circle. The process is the same as if the 3D was turned off.
- Set the Time Indicator to where you’d like the pulsing to start (0;00;00;00)
- Toggle the Transform tab of the yellowEllipse layer
- Click on the little Stop Watch icon next to the Scale property
- Set the Time Indicator to where you’d like the circle to reach its smallest point (0;00;01;00)
- Set the value of one of the Scale parameters to 98% (they will all change to 98% since the “preserve aspect ratio” link is turned on).
- Copy the two keyframes (select them both and click Command + C) and copy them (Command + V) every two seconds (starting at 0;00;02;00)
Next, we’ll have our green circle appear by rotation:
- Hide the Text Layer to focus on the green circle
- Set the Time Indicator to where you’d like the circle to start appearing on the screen/rotate (0;00;02;00)
- Toggle the Transform tab of the greenEllipse layer
- Click on the little Stop Watch icon next to the Y Rotation property and set the value so that the circle disappears (0x+90.0)
- Set the Time Indicator to where you’d like the circle to stop rotating (0;00;05;00) and set the value to how many rotations you want the ellipse to undergo, making sure it faces the viewer at the end (3x+0.0)
- Let’s add an Easy Ease to the Keyframes to make the animation more dynamic:
- Select the two Keyframes and press F9
Next, we’ll have our text layer fade in and move towards the viewer until it is out of view:
- Reveal the Text Layer
- Set the Time Indicator to where you’d like the Text to start fading in (0;00;05;00)
- Toggle the Transform tab of the Text layer
- Click on the little Stop Watch icon next to the Opacity property and set the value to 0%
- Set the Time Indicator to where you’d like the Text to be fully opaque (0;00;06;00)
- Set the value of the Opacity property to 100%
- Set the Time Indicator to where you’d like Text to start moving forward (0;00;08;00)
- Click on the little Stop Watch icon next to the Position property and leave the value as it is.
- Set the Time Indicator to where you’d like Text to be out of view (0;00;08;15)
- Set the third value of the Position property (the Y axis) to a large negative number, so that it is beyond the Composition view (~-2,700)
Finally, we’ll have the green circle recede behind the yellow one.
- Set the Time Indicator to where you’d like the green circle to start moving backwards (0;00;09;00)
- Toggle the Transform tab of the greenEllipse layer
- Click on the little Stop Watch icon next to the Position property and leave the value as it is.
- Set the Time Indicator to where you’d like the green circle to reach it’s final position (behind the yellow circle) (0;00;11;00)
- in the Top View, click and drag the blue arrow until the green circle is behind the yellow one
