How to round edges of 3d image

[suzerduder]

Hi there,

Need help to round edges of 3d (spinning) image. I would like it to look somewhat like the third image (D) but as it stands when it rotates all you see is the sharp edges and angles(2nd image). How can I make it more spherical? Pleae help. 

[Mrtn Ritter]

I didn't work much with 3D, but you can extrude shape layers and there might be an option to soften the edges.

If not, you have to switch to Cinema4D and create your artwork as actual 3D object as the D in your last screenshot is.

*Martin

[suzerduder]

Thanks!

[Kyle Hamrick]

If you're just trying to give the appearance of 3D:
Create this triangle using a shape layer. Add the "Round Corners" shape effector and adjust to taste. You can then add your Bevel Alpha (or Edges) effect, as you were before. (I don't think this is the look you're actually after, though.)

If you want a 3D* object within After Effects:
You can extrude shape layers and text here in AE by changing your 3D renderer. At the bottom of your Composition panel, change Classic 3D to Cinema 4D.

You'll now have an extra set of options on your layer, Geometry Options, where you can define an extrusion depth and add a bevel - you'd want a Convex bevel.

*Note that this will just be an extruded flat shape with an edge bevel. You won't actually have any 3d scuplting capabilities.

If you want actual 3D, like a 3 or 4-sided pyramid:

You'll need to create this in a 3D app. Cinema 4D Lite is included with your After Effects install. Your third example was almost definitely built in 3D software.

[suzerduder]

Thank you! 

Yes that's what I'm looking for: a convex bevel. In which case it seems I'll need an app.

Will try 4d Lite.

Cheers

[thepixelsmith]

The short answer is no, not with the built–in 3D features of AE.

While it can bevel and extrude text and shape layers the C4D renderer that allows AE to do this is fairly limited. It can edge bevel but to get the effect you are looking for you would really need some kind of sub–division smoothing effect like you find in real 3D programs.

You can either use a plug–in like the Element 3D plugin in from Video copilot or use C4D. As Kyle Hamrick mentioned the Lite version is included for free with AE, so it's already on your computer.

[suzerduder]

Right. I'm trying to do it with an image so it seems that it's not possible. I've been using C4D but will look for another plugin or app.

Will try Lite first.

Apreciate the help!

[suzerduder]

@Kyle Hamrick @thepixelsmith have you used Dimension ↓? 

Also is Cinema 4D Lite just the 4D option at the bottom of the preview in AE?

[Kyle Hamrick]

You can create & work with 3D elements in Dimension, but there is currently no native way to bring those into After Effects in an editable format. If you only need to create a still image of a 3D element and work with it in an otherwise-animated piece, that could be an option, though.

Cinema 4D is a completely separate piece of software, made by another company (MAXON). A streamlined version of it is included with your AE install, though. If you navigate to File > New > Maxon Cinema 4D File, you will open a blank C4D project, in which you can create elements to bring back into AE. You'll definitely want more direction than what I can offer in these couple sentences, but there are plenty of C4D Lite tutorials floating around. 

The viewport option I pointed out above is a special 3d rendering engine built into After Effects, which allows for extrusion and some other basic 3d behaviors, but it also has some significant trade-offs.

Let us know if you need additional guidance!

[suzerduder]

Thanks Kyle! Will try out Cinema 4D and see if that does the trick.

[Motion by Dim Rusev]

I researched on the internet and also did not find anything helpful.
Then I started testing what's possible and found super interesting results.
I did not know that the result in the photo beloware is possible inside After Effects!
I purposefully did not use a light source so keep the illustrative clean style.

Important note:
Because for some reason the max Geometry Bevel Depth is 10, I scaled the object to 1000% so I can bevel "more".

[Kyle Hamrick]

I will point out that there are now some more possibilities available since the previous info was posted. There is now an additional 3D option (Advanced Renderer), as part of the "True 3D Workspace," which includes the ability to import and work with actual 3d models in After Effects, without third-party plugins. You will still need to model the objects elsewhere, though. 

[Motion by Dim Rusev]

Yes, I agree Kyle Hamrick,
but I was surprised that we could design / "model" more than simple extruded shapes with sharp 90° edges.

In my photo above, the test objects I created do not have sharp edges, and maybe even the starting reference image at the beginning of the discussion with the 3D letter "D" can now be created inside After Effects without any plugins.

Still, this 3D object would indeed be better created not in After Effects, but for example in Blender or Cinema 4D which comes with the Adobe Creative Cloud Plan. But still, it's awesome what could be accomplished only in AE!

The reference image from the beginning of the discussion:

[Motion by Dim Rusev]

*Cinema 4D Lite is included in the Adobe Creative Cloud Plan, not Cinema 4D.

[Kyle Hamrick]

Absolutely - options are great! Since we're talking, I'll point out that you can now also create 3D extrudes (and inflates!) in Illustrator, which would probably be a great place to try recreating that original "D" reference image with all that roundy goodness. (That can then be exported as a GLTF and imported into AE, using the new Advanced 3D Renderer I mentioned above.)

[Motion by Dim Rusev]

WoW, thanks Kyle!
I did not know I could export 3D formats from Illustrator.

[Kyle Hamrick]

It's a pretty new capability! I should say that Illustrator is definitely NOT 3d modeling software, and will be pretty limited in terms of the complexity you can create - but it's definitely an option for simpler stuff.