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Chapter 9: 3D layers
3D layers overview
About 3D layers
After Effects can work with layers in two dimensions (x, y) or three dimensions (x, y, z). When you specify a layer as
three-dimensional (3D), After Effects adds the z axis, which provides control over the layer’s depth. After Effects 3D
layers are two-dimensional rectangles that you can move and rotate in three dimensions. By default, they are at 0 on
the z axis. As you increase the z value, the layer moves farther away in space; as you decrease it, the layer moves closer.
By combining this depth with a variation of lights and camera angles, you create projects that take advantage of the
full range of natural motion, lighting and shadows, perspective, and focusing effects.
You can add 3D properties to any layer. In addition to being able to adjust the depth variables that are added to the
layertransformproperties,youcanalsoaddeffectsandmasksto3Dlayersandcombine3Dwith2Dlayers.Youcan
also create and animate camera and light layers to view or illuminate 3D layers from any angle.
Conventional After Effects 2D image (left) and image with 3D properties (right)
You can specify any layer, except an adjustment layer, as 3D.
Though you can import composited files with 3D information into After Effects, you cannot manipulate the objects
of those files, nor can you create models within the program.
For additional information, go to Adobe Studio on the Adobe website.
Adobe periodically provides updates to software and Help. To check for updates, click the Preferences button in
Adobe Help Center, and then click Check For Updates. Follow the on-screen instructions.
See also
“About layers” on page 149
Using third-party 3D files
Though After Effects can import some third-party files with depth information and interpret the z-axis information
in those files, it cannot animate individual objects within those files. After Effects treats each composited third-party
3D file as a single 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. To access the 3D depth information
in these files, use the 3D Channel effects. For more information on 3D Channel effects, see “About 3D Channel
effects (Pro only)” on page 381.
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