Adding effects changes the Z-depth of vector based layers with continuous raster

[DaneJacobs]

Hi, I'm using what it currently the latest version of After Effects CC (as far as I am aware). Windows 10... not sure what tech specs I might need to offer to solve this problem...

I have frequently been running into a weird glitch, where adding any kind of effect on a vector based layer (e.g. a swf, shape layer, a solid etc) will push the layer into z-depth. Obviously the layer has been set to 3D as well. Now when I say it pushes it into z-space, I mean it does this sort of visually, but if I look at the top view of the composition, the layer has not physically moved in z-space.

This doesn't happen on every composition, but it is happening frequently. I suspect it's happening on comps with lots of layers, and I have been told that sometimes on very large comps with many layers can make it difficult for AE to calculate the depth of layers. The one I'm currently having trouble with has 64 layers so far.

If anyone could help with this issue that would be much appreciated. I've used AE for years and I've never come across this rather strange problem.

[Rick Gerard]

Without specific workflow details and the modified properties of the layers giving you problems we can't do anything but guess and my guess is that it's probably some kind of user error. I just completed a 15-second comp, unusually long for me, with about 80, including the layers in nested comps, 3D layers and 5 3D effects layers (three with Particular, one with 3D stroke, and one with Element 3D), about a half dozen nested comps with collapse transformations turned on, animated lights and an animated camera. Everything worked just fine.

Find a comp that has the problem, scroll down the layer stack and select the problematic layers, select those layers, press the U key twice to reveal everything that is modified, then start turning effects off or resetting values until the layer behaves. When you figure out what is causing the problem PrintScreen and Paste to the forum and give us the details and we may have a chance of figuring out what is going wrong. 

[DaneJacobs]

Thanks for the response, I'll try to get more details. It's really hard to determine because I can't replicate it. It's happened on a bunch  of comps, which I will now go in and investigate closer. But it isn't happening on EVERY comp. Unfortunately I can't share it because it's commercially sensitive, but I'm sure if I clear out the comp of any copyrighted material, the problem will still be there (at least that might be one way of figuring it out...)

I've tested it with just a plain ol' solid. All I did was:

• Set it to 3D
• Turn on motion blur (I've noticed motion blur tends to screw around with layer ordering if it's not turned on on EVERY layer on the comp)
• Change the position (including z position)
• Set the layer to continuous raster
• Added an effect (I tried multiple. Basic ones. Tint, Hue & Saturation, Fast Box Blur. This problem occurs with any effect)

It wouldn't surprise me if it is user error but regardless of who is at fault I need help figuring out what the fault is... it might take me some back-and-forthing over the next few days but your patience would be very much appreciated.

[Mylenium]

Well, how are the layers actually ordered in the timeline? Doesn't really sound that unusal, actually. Since effects force layers to rasterize, AE would still honor their stacking order und you seem to have a logic hole there somewhere.

Mylenium

[DaneJacobs]

Hi, thanks... I did think of this. However, the layer is meant to appear "on top" and it is both above the other layer in the layer stack as well as in z-depth. In any case, I will continue to experiment with layer ordering to see if that helps figure it out.

[DaneJacobs]

Ok I've worked out one thing: It only happens in comps that have layers which are sitting on angles rotating INTO z-space. I have managed to replicate the problem with just simple solids.

I hope it's ok to share the file through google drive: After Effects problem.zip - Google Drive

[DaneJacobs]

Move the blue layer over onto the red layer/