After Effects Tutorial: Basic Application of 3D Graphics (Part 2)
After Effects Tutorial: Basic Application of 3D Graphics (Part 2)
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1. Scene Setup
• Create a new composition, then create a deep red Solid layer as the background to give the frame a premium, high-end feel.
• Use the Ellipse Tool (hold Shift) to draw a perfect circle, and set its color to red.
• Shortcuts: Press Ctrl+Alt+Home to center the anchor point inside the circle, then Ctrl+Home to center the layer to the composition view.
2. Enable Advanced 3D
• Toggle on the layer's 3D Layer switch.
• In the top-right corner of the Composition panel, double-check that the renderer has been switched to Advanced 3D.
3. Sculpting Thickness & Bevels (Core Step)
• Expand Geometry Options:
o Extrusion Depth: Set to 10 (this turns the flat circle into a thin coin-like disc).
o Bevel Style: Select Angular.
o Bevel Depth: Set to 10 (this creates a sharp, beautiful chamfer along the silhouette edges to catch and refract light).
4. Setting Up Reflection Textures
• Expand Material Options: Set Specular Intensity to 100%, Specular Shininess to 100%, and Metal to 0.
• Tips: This specific configuration gives the surface a glossy plastic or polished lacquer texture, making it look incredibly sleek.
5. Dynamic Rotation Animation
• Locate the Y Rotation property: Set the first keyframe to 55° and the ending keyframe to 35°.
• Select the keyframes and press F9 to apply Easy Ease, then open the Graph Editor to sculpt a speed curve that is fast in the middle.
• Alt + Click the Y Rotation stopwatch and type the expression: loopOut("pingpong") to create a continuous, swinging pendulum motion.
6. Array Duplication
• Adjust the physical layout and placement of your first circle.
• Press Ctrl+D to duplicate the layer multiple times, shifting each consecutive layer an equal distance along the X-axis (e.g., adding 240 pixels each time).
• Crucial Step: Stagger the layers sequentially on the timeline by 2 to 3 frames to create an elegant, wave-like cascading movement.
7. Lighting & Rendering
• Create a new Ambient Light layer.
• Adjust the X/Y Rotation values within the light options to fine-tune the illumination angle, searching for the perfect position that catches and accentuates the highlights on the Bevel Edges.