ABSTRACT
One of the most important features in After Effects is the ability to move in three dimension (3D) space. 3D space extends to the use of cameras and lights, meaning graphic designers can build virtual sets, light them, and fly around them. This chapter focuses first on becoming familiar with how 3D space works, and how to view it. It also focuses on moving and animating layers through it, and then understanding the rendering issues involved when 2D and 3D layers are mixed in the same comp. The chapter gives a gentle introduction to working in 3D space. There are several features in After Effects – blending modes, track mattes, stencils, and adjustment layers, for starters – that rely on the interaction between layers. When these layers are in different locations in 3D space, the way these interactions work becomes less obvious.
