If you are working on a project that was created in an older version of After Effects and the Basic 3D effect is applied to one or more layers, you can continue to use the Basic 3D effect; otherwise, use the 3D layer switch instead.

This effect works with 8-bpc color.

Basic 3D effect: Swivel (top left); Swivel and Tilt (bottom left); and Swivel, Tilt, and Distance (bottom right)

The Basic 3D effect manipulates a layer in 3D space. You can rotate an image around horizontal and vertical axes and move it toward or away from you. With Basic 3D, you can also create a specular highlight to give the appearance of light reflecting off a rotated surface. The light source for the specular highlight is always above, behind, and to the left of the viewer. Because the light comes from above, the image must be tilted backward to see this reflection. Specular highlights can enhance the realism of the 3D appearance. The specular highlight can be viewed only at Best quality.

The layer’s quality setting affects Basic 3D. Draft quality calculates pixel location to the nearest integer value; Best quality calculates pixel location to the subpixel level.

Swivel

Controls horizontal rotation (rotation around a vertical axis). You can rotate past 90° to see the back side of the image, which is the mirror image of the front.

Tilt

Controls vertical rotation (rotation around a horizontal axis).

Distance To Image

Specifies the image’s distance from the viewer. As the distance gets larger, the image recedes.

Specular Highlight

Adds a glint of light that reflects off the surface of the layer, as if an overhead light were shining on the surface. When Draw Preview Wireframe is selected, the specular highlight is indicated by a red plus sign (+) if it isn’t visible on the layer (that is, if the center of the highlight doesn’t intersect the layer) and a green plus sign (+) if the highlight is visible.

Preview

Draws a wireframe outline of the 3D image. The wireframe outline renders quickly. To see the final results, deselect Draw Preview Wireframe when you finish manipulating the wireframe image. The preview wireframe is drawn only at Draft quality; when you switch to Best quality, the image content is drawn. This way, you won’t accidentally render a Best quality movie in Preview mode.