MAJOR updates for 3D in After Effects!

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3D models are starting to feel like a natural part of After Effects, and the updates just keep coming! 3D model import has been possible in the beta version of After Effects for a while now, but the dev team is really pushing what's possible lately. In this video, I'll show you how to work with 3D models in After Effects, and how to use features that were recently released. Image-based lighting with HDRIs, voxel-based shadows, and the new Adobe Standard Material is making 3D much more interesting in After Effects.

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Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:11 Getting the beta version of AE
02:05 Revopoint Inspire 3D Scanner
02:49 Prepping the Models
03:23 Importing
05:11 Working with 3D Objects
07:49 Environments & Lighting
09:50 Adding a Background
11:34 Renderer Options
13:57 Shadow Box Size
15:07 Custom Mattes
17:31 Matted Adjustments
20:06 What do you think?

[JakeInMotion]

Wow, this video got some serious responses from you all! I'd like to say just a few things.

Firstly, thank you for not directing your frustration at me :). I am doing my best to present the information and show how you could able to make use of it. I do agree with a lot of the frustrations that have been brought up, and fully admit that basically any alternative is a better choice for 3D work than this beta feature which is very much a work in progress.

I'm generally a very optimistic guy, and I've been using AE long enough to remember non-dockable workspace panels. I've been seriously impressed by how far it's been pushed as a software and what's capable using it now versus when I first started using the program. At the same time, it's incredibly frustrating to have to rely on third-party tools to make AE tollerable to work with.

Every piece of software is going to have downfalls; every program crashes, is missing a feautre, or does something absurdly complicated for no apparent reason. But the fact that AE has virtually zero competition in the scope of it's application makes it difficult for me to be pessimistic. Yes there's Cavalry, but that's not going to replace compositing work. Yes there's the Grease Pencil in Blender, but that's not going to replace text animators and shape layers. Yes there's Resolve, but I use AE for more than just VFX and compositing.

If there were an alternative that could do all of the things I use AE for, I'd be much less likely to stick with Adobe. Learning softward like UE5 and Blender for FREE is making it difficult to be satisfied with some of AE's pitfalls, but I've made a career out of working with and teaching others how to use After Effects, so I won't be jumping ship any time soon.

One final note! I realize how hacky the Calculations matte layer technique is, but that's exactly what it is -- a hack! This is a beta feature of After Effects, and it will not be long before that hack is completely uneccesary. I showed it to teach a technique, and to make use of a beta feature that is not ready for primetime yet.

Keep being awesome, and thanks for all the comments.

[Tantacrul]

I have been waiting 20 years for this.

[virsagomk]

I'm totally mind blown with this new 3D capabilities in AE & the way you presented it is just perfect, I loved it.

[gusmaiawork]

this is interesting but to be honest I just wish Adobe would properly re-code After Effects instead of adding more stuff to make it slower and even less stable
there are plenty of decent options when it comes to 3D Mograph/Animation but no decent alternative when it comes to 2D Motion Graphics

[AntPictures]

I'm shocked that Adobe just have implemented that which Element 3D was able to do 10 years ago. Just goes to show how talented VCopilot team is!

[herrwoland]

This is a very welcome addition, but Element 3D is still king if you ask me. Much faster render time + custom texture from a composition + instancing ability + ability to break down model into pieces etc etc
The dream would be for Adobe just to buy and implement E3D

[janeelliott]

Jake! this is beyond my ken at the moment - and not at all what I want to do as an artist - But that you are here - everyday(ish) - with the goods and the explanation and the energy is what makes this community The Thing. Thank you for what you do and all that you give. Many many many of your videos have improved my understanding of AE and desire to learn much more - technically and artistically - Much Thanks!

[alejmc]

That “Calculations” is probably the best thing I have learned from AE in years (been also years since I have used it)… so many times that I just ended up pre-comping, duplicating and whatnot just to get exactly what Calculations does 🤦‍♂️

[seencapone]

Pretty nice -- when I switched to using 3D plugins in After Effects several years ago it changed my work fundamentally. This will really game changing once they incorporate 3D deformations, reflections, or the appearance of PBR materials. One thing to note about Element which I think most people forget, is that it was designed to be a 3D particle/flocking/morphing animation engine, not so much a full 3D scene designer.

[dixieechann]

This is such a life saver tutorial, especially the workflow bit. I was hesitant to jump into this cos of fear of it being too buggy but I am ready to take the plunge after this tutorial, thanks Jake!

[joostdehaas]

Although this is great, I think it’s absurd that the AE team spends its time on these kind of things. As if the software is mature… meanwhile a lot of the basic things don’t work or are annoyingly complicated. Timeline folders? That’s way overdue right? How about a normal way to loop a layer without having to go ‘enable time remapping > shorten by one frame > option click on a stopwatch > write a case-sensitive expression that you always forget’… I mean, how can you explain that to anyone… the software is made by developers, not by designers. There’s still no real alternative (mainly because of the plug-in ecosystem), but jeez, I would switch in a split second.

[SANJEEVKUMARGUPTA]

I have a problem, please help me out. i will be grateful. if i make logo using 3d models like box, cone etc present in create section of element, then that model is able to be saved and imported into 3D element scene . but when i autotrace any image in after effects and then apply video copilot's E3d effect load image on texture map and auto traced mask in mask map and open E3d scene set up and extrude that model in preview and and load texture on that and save it in folder whose destination is Documents/VideoCopilot/Models, then i am not able to import it . the E3d scene shows it, but E3d preview does not show the model but it is showing the gizmo of that folder which contains model . please help me out.if i make logo using 3d models like box, cone etc present in create section of element, then that model is able to be saved and imported into 3D element scene . but when i autotrace any image in after effects and then apply video copilot's E3d effect load image on texture map and auto traced mask in mask map and open E3d scene set up and extrude that model in preview and and load texture on that and save it in folder whose destination is Documents/VideoCopilot/Models, then i am not able to import it . the E3d scene shows it, but E3d preview does not show the model but it is showing the gizmo of that folder which contains model . please help me out.

[InfinitySiam]

I used to play with Element 3D almost 7/8 years ago. Still a killer tool

[randallhernandez]

Jake muchas gracias por informarnos acerca de esto y mostrarnos tu habilidoso workflow.

[animaki]

Good luck with 3D in after effects.
Have this in mind: Native layers like "Shape layers" in 2D take insane amount of computing power to work on Full reso preview. Now imagine all that in 3D.

[dpmjmun]

Super happy to see this, i only wish it was sooner! Testing it out now :D

[indys]

Clearly After Effects will never replace Blender or C4D. But even still, this new feature might be a great option when the workflow needs to be a little faster than a full traditional 3D pipeline.

[AlishaOdonnell-yv]

Very exciting. Thanks for your showing your workflow jake. Really helpful. Thanks Jake for always doing amazing and helpful videos!.

[williamcousert]

Blackmagic Design recently added USD support to DaVinci Resolve 18.5. How does it compare to Adobe's recent changes? Can Blackmagic Design keep up? The main reason why I like DaVinci Resolve is you only pay once and you get to use it forever, including updates. Adobe is by subscription only, and a single year subscription is more than a lifetime license for DaVinci Resolve.

[MotionHatch]

Thanks Jake for always doing amazing and helpful videos!