Cannot see composition in composition window

Report · Mar 01, 2020

Hi all,

New to After Effects so not sure what to ask, but I am working on a tutorial to make a 3D timeline animation and I have shape composition that I have added to my main timeline composition, however in the window I can only see the outline to transform the object, but the object itself is invisible. Does anyone know why I can't see it?

Many thanksBefore 'Frame' comp is dragged into 'Timeline Complete' compAfter 'Frame' comp is dragged into 'Timeline Complete' comp, and nowhere to be seen

Report · Mar 01, 2020

You are looking at Custom View 1. None of the 2D layers will show up in this view and it will not render. The only reason for the different views is to help you set up your 3D stage.

Report · Mar 01, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9aVeJOHjcA&t=397s

See 11:20 of this video. They put their composition into their main comp in custom view as well, as in order to view the object correctly I need to be able to see the timeline from that angle. Is this no longer doable because of an update in AE since this video was released?

Report · Mar 02, 2020

I took a look at the tutorial. I would only give it a C. The workflow does work but it is inefficient and the explanations lack clarity.

In the presenter's workflow, the layers in the nested comp must be 2D layers and positioned in the center of the comp panel when looking at the Active Camera, and the nested comp (Frame) must be 3D. If the layers in the Frame comp are out of position or are 3D layers and they are not in the center of the comp, they will be out of position in the main comp when you collapse transformations.

You have just made a workflow error somewhere. Center up the layers in the nested comp making sure that they are all 2D and you are looking at the Active Camera view. That will move them back into the right position as long as you have not changed the camera in the custom view. You should really be looking at two views in the comp panel when you are lining things up in 3D. There is no bug here, just user error caused by a less than good tutorial with a bunch of views.