With recent AE versions, we can import 3D objects into our projects - GLBs and OBJs within our scenes with Advanced3D renderer. I am testing a pipeline with GLB objects, that supposedly use complex shading, namely Adobe Standard Material.
I have several questions:
1) If and when the regular 3D layers will have back their AcceptLights switch? Contrary to those imported 3D objects, those layers can't be assigned fancy texture maps, don't use ASM, and have limited material properties, thus can't be lit by the same lightsources.
2) If and when the 3D object layers will support Effects directly? Currently, even we use Calculations, even a simple color correction means a hell of effort and clutter.
3) If and when Advanced3D renderer will suppot 3D Channel effects for compositions containing 3D objects? Currently, impossible to do depth-based compositing, whereas Classic 3D and C4D renderers are unable to render GLB/OBJ.
In my case, I have to achieve a stylized toon shading for everything: flat and curved footage 3D layers and imported GLBs with shadow casting+accepting. Meanwhile (apparently),
- the flat layers depend too much on light angles, and how would you light up e.g. sky layer in bg which needs to be consistent, impossible to turn Accept Lights OFF ;
- there's too much contrast between the lit and unlit sides in the curved layers, especially considering the Light Transmission is unavailable ;
- the 3D GLBs are underlit, and only way is to use Environment Light, yet again it has different effect on flat 3D footage ;
In the image: the tree trunk is GLB, normals are outward-facing. There's selected Parallel Light 100% close to the trunk, no Falloff - yet, lighting is very sombre and from the opposite direction. The layers in the bg, because of lighting, are 30-50% darker. Switching to Cinema4D renderer brings expected lighting, however stops rendering GLBs and renders curved layers incorrectly.
- the Adv3D renderer claims the Collapsed 3D precomp layers are disabled, which would narrow the usability of such renderer even further, yet, apparently this claim isn't true - there in the screenshots, the clump of bent leaves is exactly a collapsed 3D comp layer.
- In general, every 3D layer, depending on the renderer, has a pickwhip next to the Accepts Lights, Accepts Shadows, Casts Shadows and Appears In Reflections, however, what's the use of it, if no expression there is possible?
Earlier I was able to create complex 3D machinery in AFX, now it appears to be much more difficult / impossible. Some five years later, why should I be able to do less?
Any methods of how to combine all kinds of available 3D into something controllable + shadows?
Lost and confused..
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