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reindeer4
Inspiring
March 28, 2018
Question

Making a 3d cd disc

  • March 28, 2018
  • 1 reply
  • 899 views

Any suggestions on how to make a 3d CD disk that could have a non-reflective label on one side and then metallic appearance on the edges and undersurface using After Effects CC 2018?  

Have tried two options - one using a round, 3d shape layer with Renderer set to 3d ray traced so I can use extrusion. Can set another 3d layer as label by having that layer in 'Reflections only' - but want to make all the uncovered parts of the disk shiny metal.

Also tried using a solid with a round mask. Can then link z position to index and make lots of duplicates, each offset by 1 pixel so simulates a disk with some thickness. but not sure what settings to use to make layers react like shiny metal. (Would plan to just put the label/image on the very first layer).

Also considered using script to make an actual cylinder and just have with very little height - but I want to use a second mask to create a hole in the middle of each disk - and I'll be making about a dozen of these, so want to keep processing light to avoid any CPU/GPU slowdown.

Thanks for any suggestions.

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    1 reply

    Mylenium
    Mylenium
    Legend
    March 28, 2018

    but not sure what settings to use to make layers react like shiny metal.

    You can't. Optical media such as a CD/ DVD/ Blu-Ray has a specific diffraction pattern due to the tiny pits and grooves causing different wavelengths to interact and thus cause the rainbow effect. That is even far from trivial to emulate in a real 3D program with a spectral shader. Also CDs are not flat. They have specific rounded edges. If you really want it realistically, then a 3D program is way to go. Otherwise there seems little point in making this so complicated. Simple 3D layers in AE will do and the shifting gradient effect can easily be faked by using one of the 3D layers as a matte on a gradient. Combined with the layer's texture and some experimentation with scene lights this could look kinda okay, even if not ultimately realistic.

    Mylenium

    R
    reindeer4Author
    Inspiring
    March 28, 2018

    Simple (and not too realistic) is fine for what I'm doing.

    Looking for pointers on how to apply an image on the top of the disk while faking shiny metal on the extruded edges and undersurface.

    Thoughts on multiple offset solids versus a shape layer with extrusion depth?  And if using shape layer, is there a way to 'texture' the top with an image and everything else with fake metal/shiny?

    Kevin J. Monahan Jr.
    Community Manager
    Kevin J. Monahan Jr.Community Manager
    Community Manager
    April 24, 2018

    Hi reindeer4,

    Did you ever get this issue solved? Let us know.

    Thanks,
    Kevin

    Kevin Monahan - Sr. Community and Engagement Strategist – Adobe Pro Video and Audio
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