Element 3d and Blender text TUT
TUTORIAL IN DESCRIPTION
Optimum Films, Inc. a post production and motion graphics company. 303-463-1958
www.optimumfilms.com
Tutorial:
To make this work you have to create your text in Blender. Convert your text to mesh, and then in the vertex edit mode, convert all triangles or odd shaped quads to ngons or a more uniform quad if you want to take the time. Next extrude in object mode and export as an .Obj. using the export function under the "File" menu. If you have hidden or non rendered layers in your export they WILL show up in your export, so delete them. Staying with Blender, you next have to make a shattered text. Use the Cell fracture add on, and delete your original layer before you export another .Obj.
Over in After Effects you can import your .Obj's into Element and place them on separate layers. If you didn't take the time to UV unwrap your text, you can use Element texture presets by making sure the "auto normals" box is checked in the "Edit" panel. Make sure you have "multi-object" settings enabled in your project effects panel, or your animations will use the .Obj as a single 3d asset. Multi-object make all fracture shards into separate animate able objects. Enable the animation engine and use the "animate" property to key frame your shatters.
Use multiple instances/ layers of Element to switch from multi-object layers, and the solid text .Obj so you can display the asset without crack lines. Let me know if this helps!
The light streaks are WiggleStroke plugin and the particles are just particle world. Camera is tracked to a null object.