3D in AE

Any popular software will work. I recommend 3D Studio Max, Maya, or Soft Image XSI. For the price, XSI is the best, but if money's no issue the high end versions of each (they come in different bundles) are all very similar in quality. I prefer Max and Soft Image to Maya because of feature set, stability, and--above all--user interface. But Maya is very, very popular, too. There should be a demo version of each. Download them and check them out, then decide, unless you've already worked in one, then just go with that since they all offer similar results through different workflows.

You can't import 3D models into After Effects. Some plug ins claim to work with 3D, but they aren't worth it for anything more complex than a title or something. You need to work and render in a 3D program and import the footage you create in it for acceptable results.

www.cgtalk.com is a great place to get started, too.
 
you cant go wrong with cinema 4d for AE work you can export an AE composition from cinema with cameras and lights open it in ae and your ready to go. its just to easy. it is pretty easy to learn yet powerful not to mention cheap compared to maya or 3d max

greg
 
Surf, no idea what you mean about handling a blue box.

I, yeah, I agree that Cinema 4D is another good option which has a pretty competitive feature set. I still think XSI is a better deal, though (only $500 dollars!) Also, XSI is used by a lot more people so you will be able to get much more support with it. If you have a mac and can't afford Maya, though, Cinema 4D is definitely a solid product.
 
Never used XSI (I should download the demo one of these days) but Cinema 4D has some really nice features that make 3D graphics for cinema so much easier. One of the recent additions being their easy to use cloth/clothing simulation. Absolutely fantastic IMO.
 
if I have a blue-box scene, I will not be able to key it in a 3d software. so but if I export 3d objects from a 3d software, I will be able to use it in AE's 3d.
 
I don't understand the question. AE doesn't have 3d and both AE and any 3D program supports alpha channels, even z-channels and stuff so that's not an issue.
 
I assume you're asking about bluescreen shots?
Many 3D programs allow some type of overlay so you can see a ghost image of a live action shot. This allows you to match animation as required. Once you render out the 3D image you can composite it with a composting program such as After Effects to put the 3D image over the live action or in a bluescreen background.
 
with cinema you can simply export an after effects project , open it like any other ae project and there you go camera lights and a quicktime or tiff sequence ready to go
 
OK. now I have a Maya. how can I work with Maya and AE together? in AE or in Maya should I work? I would like to use powerful AE effects but I need 3d objects too. or should I use another 3d software?
 
surf, you do realize 3D in AE is not true 3D. The layers are flat and have no depth like a true 3d app generates.
 
Surf, it sounds like you have some homework to do before you are ready to jump in headfirst like you're trying to do... Not being rude, just real. :)
 
Surf, if you export from a 3D program you will get a 3d object. After effects only works with 2d objects. You must render your 3D material to a 2D image (.tga, .jpg. tif.) Once in after effects you can manipulate the images in 3d space.
After effects is coinsidered a 2.5D program, it moves 2D objects in 3D space.
If you are worried about keying, then don't key: render out your image with an alpha channel.

If you don't know what that is, go buy a book. Several books.
 
hey surf... i've used maya with after effects many times and i can tell you that creating a box in maya and importing into after effects is somewhat of a small task if you intend on animating the box. if you get a chance to do some research,... just remember to add lighting in maya before you render, and export .iff files for your animation not .tga or .png. for some odd reason, after effects can only read alpha channels when you render out in .iff. believe it or not, this process, if you know maya, would only take about 30 min. depending on how long your maya animation is. maya is an EXTREMELY powerful program.
 
I read in an AE book that AE can support 3d modelling in tga format and treat it like 3d - ie you can rotate your character and see the sides and back, top bottom etc.
 
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