Using a Gradient Background w/ 3D Camera Shifting

[Gotta Dance]

Hi Everybody,

I have a situation where I have a number of slides in 3D and I need to create an environment for them. One thing I need a gradient for the background, but if I shift the cameras I keep running out of background. So I guess I'm looking to make what would be an infinite background, but something that's not just one flat color. 

Is there a tutorial or approach that is used so you don't have to keep re-adjusting the background based on scope of camera motion? 

Thanks for reading.

[Rick Gerard]

You have a couple of options. The easiest thing to do is put a 2D Shape layer at the bottom of the layer stack and maybe do a little scale animation. 

Another option is to use a 3D gradient-filled layer placed at the back of the layer stack in 3D space, scale it up so it fills the frame when the camera is farthest away, then just move the camera. You could have the camera always look at the camera (Transform auto options), and you could also line it up with the Point of Interest on a Two-Node camera using an expression. 

The most pleasing result depends entirely on your design. Show us that without a background, and we can offer some more meaningful suggestions.

[Gotta Dance]

Hi Rick, 

You know, I wanted to do something that would still parallax but of course way less than elements that are much more in front of other primary hero elements. Just do give that sense of theatrical depth behind the blurred out background objects. 

I'm wondering it some kind of decimal scaled multiplier of object to stage might work, but...(lol)...I don't think I have the time or acumen for that right now (and it's probably overkill) so I'll probably just do a vertical ramp and make it really wide. 

Thanks for the recommendation. I think your mention of a gradient-filled layer scaled up is going to be the approach as I'm conquering a number of camera and element faces in this summit for the first time 🙂 You're right the harmony of the elements in front and the overall theatre of things is going to make the biggest impression probably. 

Going to be a full weekend for sure!

[Rick Gerard]

If you have your layers and camera already set up and all you need to do is add a background, it should take you about 10 minutes. 

If you have the Trapcode Suite, you can use 360° 3D Backgrounds Plugin for After Effects.

If your camera is making unrealistic camera moves and panning all over the place, then you may have to create a very large shape layer, make it 3D, link it to camera rotation using a One Node Camera, or use an expression when using a Two Node Camera, and move it back in Z space. The distance from the farthest layer from the camera depends on the look you want. If you are simulating the horizon, then a wide 2D layer with an expression to drive the left and right movement of the layer based on the angle of the camera calculated from Rotation or Camera Position and Point of Interest to fix the pan and tilt issues. 

If you want a bigger perspective change, then putting a big enough layer to cover the entire field of view the camera makes, then a 3D background plate that is two the three times farther from the camera than the farthest subject layer is probably sufficient. 

[Gotta Dance]

Yeah, I'm most likely going to use a 2-node camera so without getting too involved I think I'm just going to have to handle by hand which I believe would be doing what you suggest by making a 3D plate back and big as possible. I'll look into the Trapcode option though for sure. Thanks, Rick!