How to create a 3D ball?

[sergeim82261357]

Hello, I have a ball and I would like to create the 3D copy of it in adobe after effects. I searched online, watched a lot of tutorials but I haven't found the solution.

Does anybody can help please or point me to youtube tutorial?

Thanks in advance,

[Andrew Yoole]

This kind of question will get much more specific answers if you explain specifically what you want to create, rather than just a simple "How do I make a ball."  A screen grab of your current work with the ball you mentioned would also be useful.

The built in effect CC Sphere will create a sphere wrapped in the layer you apply the effect to, but it is not truly 3D.

Using the Cinema 4D features in After Effects you can create a true 3D sphere and animate it within After Effects 3D space.

Video Copilot has a free plugin called Orb that can also be used to wrap a texture around a 3D sphere, with some fancy extra features.

VIDEO COPILOT | After Effects Tutorials, Plug-ins and Stock Footage for Post Production Professional...

[sergeim82261357]

Hi Andrew,

I'll try to make it more clear . I have a ball ( say a soccer ball) and I'd like to create an exact 3D copy of it. I've seen on youtube how guys took pictures of each side of existing box and created a 3D box (cube). The same goal I have the difference is that I need my ball. Can I take a picture or pictures of my ball and use cc sphere to create a 3D ball? I tried to do it with pictures and it did not work for me. If I use a ball map (vector graphic) from any internet resources then yes it does work. But the problem that I need my ball.

Please advise.

[Szalam]

You will need to recreate your ball's pattern in Photoshop or Illustrator in the same kind of format as the other ball textures you find online. You basically have to "unwrap" your ball so that you can wrap it around a sphere digitially.

[Andrew Yoole]

The short answer is no.  In order to texture a 3D sphere in any 3D application, you need to have a flat texture to wrap around it.

As Szalam has explained above, you will need to find a suitable texture or create your own.  Creating textures is one of the rudimentary skills involved in working in 3D. 

There are plenty of free ball textures online, just Google what you want and you'll find plenty of possibilities.  If there's something unique about your ball, you might use another texture as a starting point and then replicate your own ball's features on top.

Ball stock 3d assets, models, lights and materials | Adobe Stock

[sergeim82261357]

I think Andrew that you are correct. Let's just wait to see if there is a miracle and somehow it is possible

[angie_taylor]

You can do this by using the Offset filter on the photograph of the ball to make it look as if it is spinning, as long as the edges are loopable, but this is not truE 3D.

[angie_taylor]

It’s difficult to get it to work because of the shadow areas.

here’s an idea though, why don’t you share the YouTube video with us where you saw somebody do this? I’m not sure why you can’t just copy what they have done if that’s what you want?

[sergeim82261357]

It is 3:50 Captain D's Definitive Guide to TRICK SHOTS - YouTube

as an example.

It is 2:53 FAKE 3D Trick Shots like DUDE PERFECT in After Effects - YouTube

The 3D ball does not work that way as guys from cinetcom showed with a box.

[angie_taylor]

Here is a movie to show you how. Just do a search for "Basketball texture" on Pixabay to find the texture, then follow thes steps. If you need to add your own texture to the ball you can composite it onto the downloaded texture in Photoshop before applying it. I've added it to the color channel in C4D for quickness but you can experiment with the reflectance channel instaed for more control.

Sorry for the "demo" watermark on the movie, I'm on my work computer!

[angie_taylor · Accepted solution]

Here's the link again

Basketball on Vimeo

[sergeim82261357]

Please do not remove a link .