{"id":710,"date":"2017-11-26T21:32:10","date_gmt":"2017-11-27T03:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ciraldo.stream\/uwm-vfx2\/?page_id=710"},"modified":"2017-11-28T18:35:07","modified_gmt":"2017-11-29T00:35:07","slug":"extrusion","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ciraldo.stream\/uwm-vfx2\/topics\/extrusion\/","title":{"rendered":"Extrusion"},"content":{"rendered":"

Extrusion of Text and Shape Layers<\/h1>\n

[ Lecture<\/a> | Lab<\/a> | Homework<\/a> ]<\/h5>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

By default, AE handles the rendering of 3D layers using its so-called “Classic 3D”<\/strong> renderer,<\/strong> which was originally added in 2001. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Classic 3D <\/strong>is a good default choice for 2D comps with a bit of basic 3D,<\/strong> but can be limiting<\/strong>\u00a0for more advanced\u00a03D projects.\u00a0 For example, in Classic 3D<\/strong> mode, all 3D layers are essentially\u00a0rigid, flat planes<\/strong> with<\/strong> zero thickness,<\/strong> there are\u00a0no reflections<\/strong> of light<\/strong> on surfaces, and there’s\u00a0no<\/strong> refraction<\/strong>\u00a0(e.g., bending of light in water.)<\/p>\n

Then, more than 10 years later,<\/strong> in 2012<\/strong> Adobe added a fancy-schmancy\u00a0“Ray-traced 3D”<\/strong>\u00a0renderer option as an alternative to the Classic 3D<\/strong> mode.<\/p>\n

The Ray-traced 3D<\/strong> mode allows extrusion<\/strong> of text and shapes layers,<\/strong> as well as the curving or bending<\/strong> of any other type of footage layer. Looks very nice at max quality, but is pretty slow (without the right hardware.)<\/a><\/p>\n

In 2016 <\/strong>Adobe added the\u00a0“CINEMA 4D”<\/strong>\u00a0renderer option. Essentially the same as the Ray-traced 3D<\/strong> option but usually lots faster.<\/strong>\u00a0 Currently the Adobe-<\/strong>recommended choice<\/strong> for doing extrusion<\/strong>\u00a0(or curving\/bending.<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

Setting Up For Extrusion<\/h2>\n

Create a new comp.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Create a new layer to extrude.<\/strong> Since extrusion only works with Text layers<\/a> or Shape layers,<\/a>\u00a0create either a new Text<\/strong> or Shape layer.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

FYI, In the Shape below, a hole is cut out of the middle using a subtractive<\/strong>\u00a0Merge Paths operation.<\/a><\/p>\n

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A shape layer of distinction<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Make this layer a 3D<\/strong> layer.\u00a0<\/strong>Now that a 3D layer exists you should see the Renderer options button<\/strong> in the top-right<\/strong> of the comp window:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Click the button (with the word\u00a0“<\/strong>Classic 3D”<\/strong> on it) to open the Composition Settings<\/strong> window (with the 3D Renderer tab<\/strong> already open.) Change the Renderer choice to “CINEMA 4D.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Click OK<\/strong> to dismiss the window. In the Timeline, twirl open the layer to reveal its properties. There will now be a new Geometry Options<\/strong> property group with an\u00a0Extrusion Depth<\/strong> property. Change it’s value to something like 50<\/strong> or so.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In the Comp view panel<\/strong> you might not see much change, since the extrusion is extending away from the camera, behind the shape or text. But if you rotate<\/strong> the extruded layer, or switch to a different camera angle such as Custom View 1,<\/strong> you can see that the layer now has some thickness.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Add a new\u00a0Light layer\u00a0<\/strong>in order to see what’s going on a bit better.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Beveled Edges<\/h3>\n

You can give your extruded shapes and text layers a beveled edge.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Under the Geometry Options<\/strong> property group choose a Bevel Style.<\/strong> You can choose None,<\/strong>\u00a0Angular,<\/strong> Concave,<\/strong> or Convex:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a0\"\"\u00a0\"\"\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

Once a\u00a0Bevel Style<\/strong>\u00a0is set you can also customize the Bevel Depth<\/strong>\u00a0(thickness of the bevel) and Bevel Hole Depth\u00a0<\/strong>(thickness of bevel around the holes in shapes.)<\/p>\n

Changing the Colors<\/h3>\n

Let’s change the color of the Sides<\/strong> of the extrusion. We need to add this property<\/strong> because it doesn’t exist yet on this layer. We’ll do this in the Timeline panel.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Changing Side Color: Shape Layers<\/h5>\n

For\u00a0Shape layers,\u00a0<\/strong>first select a\u00a0Shape Group<\/strong>\u00a0under the Contents<\/strong> property group:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

..and then click the \"\"\u00a0button to open the Shape attributes<\/strong> menu<\/strong> where you can select\u00a0Side > Color<\/strong>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Shape layer<\/strong> will now have a new Side Color property<\/strong>\u00a0that you can customize and\/or animate:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Changing Side Color: Text Layers<\/h5>\n

For Text layers<\/strong> the process is similar but a tad different. Open up the\u00a0Text layer’s<\/strong> properties in the\u00a0Timeline:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

..and then click the\u00a0\"\"\u00a0<\/strong>button to open the Text Property Animation menu<\/strong>\u00a0where you can select Side > Color > RGB:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Text layer<\/strong> will now have a new Side Color property<\/strong> that you can customize and\/or animate:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Changing Other Colors and Properties: Front, Back, Bevel<\/h5>\n

You can use the same technique for adding a\u00a0Side Color property<\/strong> to add various other properties to the\u00a0Front, Back, <\/strong>and Bevel<\/strong> of the extruded layer.<\/p>\n

Final Note: Nesting 3D Comps<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In order to nest comps<\/strong>\u00a0with 3D layers<\/strong> into a 3D hierarchy of parts<\/strong> that can still be manipulated as a whole<\/strong> in some outer comp, you must<\/strong> enable both<\/strong> the 3D Switch\u00a0<\/strong> \"\"\u00a0 and the Collapse Transformations Switch\u00a0\u00a0\"\"\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>as in the image below:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In this particular outer comp there’s a Camera<\/strong> and a Light,<\/strong>\u00a0and AE will use them when viewing or rendering this comp.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

But!<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 If there are any Cameras<\/strong> or Lights<\/strong> within the nested sub-comps, they will be ignored. <\/strong><\/p>\n

In other words, with nested 3D comps\u00a0only one comp should contain your cameras and lights <\/strong>(in general).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Extrusion of Text and Shape Layers [ Lecture | Lab | Homework ]   By default, AE handles the rendering of 3D layers using its so-called “Classic 3D” renderer, which was originally added in 2001. Classic 3D is a good default choice for 2D comps with a bit of basic 3D, but can be limiting\u00a0for … <\/p>\n

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