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JoaoMorgado
JoaoMorgado
Participant
September 28, 2022
Open for Voting

3D Workspace

  • September 28, 2022
  • 31 replies
  • 1314 views

It would be great to have a real 3D workspace in After Effects with possibility to import 3D models. Here's a couple of features we could have:

-Possibility to import 3D models (this used to be possible through a clunky and slow photoshop workflow)
-PBR Shaders with inputs for textures
-Default generation of UVs (Cube map, Sphere map, etc) for models without UVs
-Possibility to project textures from a camera or a special projector object
-Simple deformers for 3D models (Bend, Twist, Displace, etc...)
-Possibility of extruding shape and text layers
-Simple Open GL render engine
-Raytraced Render Engine
-Possibility to use 3rd party renderers

In node based compositors that do have a 3D workspace usually the 3D work needs to go through a render node so that it can then be composited back with the normal 2D nodes. This could be accomplished with a new type of comp called 3D Comp which would contain all the 3D models cameras, lights, etc… and render out a flat file.

I know some of these features can be accomplished through Cinema 4D, but the chinaware workflow is clunky and slow, also it requires an external software.

      31 replies

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      PFuerst
      PFuerst
      Inspiring
      September 28, 2022
      Working in the 3d space of AFX is such a pain! Often I try to avoid it or look for workarounds(someimtes using C4d to set up cameras and lights to than pass it over to AFX just to not have to navigate it in AFX)

      It is not easy to navigate the 3d space as it doesn't use industry standart shortcuts to start with.
      In addition it is so hard to grab these little 3d widget handles. I constantly select another layer when I try to move the one I focus on. If we would have the option to restrict the movement of a layer (to XY, YZ or XZ a standart in all the 3d apps) it would be so much easier to move a layer.

      Than there is the constant problem with the different 3d spaces:
      1. Please unify the 3d space so that also Plug in Developers can use it and not have to set up there "own 3d space" which would make it so much easier to have different Plug ins interact with one another.
      It is probably a huge task to develop but for me it would make so much sense in a long therm.
      2. To have the 0,0,0 Point in the upper left doesn't make sense anymore in my eyes. This would exchanging data with 3d apps a lot more streamlined (even though all the scripts and plug ins seem to deal with the offset)
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