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9 Finishing the 3D Composite
Now things are getting really interesting as you continue to combine elements. You can use 2D elementssuch as text and numbersas 3D layers in this composition. That means you can arrange them any way you like around the camera to create a compelling virtual world around the 2D movie of the actress.
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Finishing the 3D Composite
In this lesson youll learn to do the following:
Precompose and collapse 3D layers Apply the Tint effect Position and duplicate layers in 3D space
This lesson picks up the work you began in Lesson 8, using the same project as its basis. In that lesson, you worked with cameras, null objects, and imported camera data. In this lesson, you bring that work together with other 3D elements into a complete 3D composite that you render at the end of this lesson. Youll work with two new 3D elements that have been prepared for you: a rings element, much like the ring image that you used to create circles in Lesson 3, and a starburst element, similar to the one you created in Lesson 4. Youll also work with four more elements that you built in Lessons 2 and 5. This lesson takes about one hour to complete.

Getting started

At this phase of the work, the memory load is large enough that you may notice some sluggishness as After Effects processes your work. Its a good idea to take advantage of the various congurations that minimize the RAM requirements so that you can see the changes to your work as quickly as possible. See Allocating RAM to After Effects on page 2. Make sure that the following les are in the AE_CIB job folder on your hard drive, or copy them from the After Effects Classroom in a Book CD now:
In the _mov folder: 3DRings.mov and 3DStarburst.mov In the Sample_Movies folder: 3DComp09_nal.mov from the Sample_Movies/Lesson09 folder on the CD In the Finished_Projects folder: 3DComposite09_nished.aep
Besides the two prepared movies provided on the CD, youll use movies that you created and rendered in earlier lessons. Make sure that these les are in your _mov folder:
BoxLightsLine.mov, Squares01.mov, TextCircle.mov, TextLine.mov.
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Classroom in a Book

Open and play the sample movie 3DComp09_nal.mov to see the work youll create in Lesson 9. When you nish, quit the QuickTime player. You can delete the sample movie now to save storage space, if necessary.
Importing and organizing the source les
Before you import the source les required for this lesson, youll reopen and then rename the project you worked on in Lesson 8. By saving it under a new name, you give yourself the option of going back to the original project le and reexamining your work there. 1 Start After Effects and open the 3DComposite08_work.aep project, which is in the _aep folder inside your AE_CIB job folder. 2 Choose File > Save As, and type 3DComposite09_work.aep. 3 Choose File > Import > Multiple Files. 4 Open the _mov folder in your AE_CIB job folder. Then select the following les one at a time, and click Open (Windows) or Import (Mac OS) each time:

3DRings.mov 3DStarburst.mov BoxLightsLine.mov TextCircle.mov TextLine.mov
5 Click Done to close the Import Multiple Files dialog box.
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6 In the Project window, drag all the.mov les into the mov les folder, and expand the folder, if necessary, so that you can see the les inside it.
Now all the les youll need for this project are imported and you have a well-organized Project window for your work.
Adding prepared 3D footage
Two of the imported movies are prepared les that you copied from the After Effects 5.0 Classroom in a Book CD. In this section, youll incorporate these les into your composition. The rst prepared element, the 3DRings.mov, uses the same rings.psd image that you worked with in Lesson 3. This image was duplicated and animated in 3D space. The rendered movie uses the same camera move as the current 3D Composite Comp. The second prepared element, the 3DStarburst.mov, is based on a starburst element like the one you created in an earlier lesson. This involved duplicating the Starburst.mov, positioning it in 3D space, and then rendering it, using the same camera move as the current 3D Composite Comp.
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Adding and tinting the rings
Your rst task in bringing the 3D elements together is to add the 3DRings.mov element to the 3D Composite Comp. Youll also adjust its color after you place it in the composite by applying the Tint effect and adding a transfer mode. 1 Open the 3D Composite Comp and move the current-time marker to 0:00. 2 In the Project window, select the 3DRings.mov and drag it into the Timeline window below the Girl Pre-comp in the layer stack, so that the 3DRings.mov is Layer 2. 3 Set the current-time marker to about 1:15 so that you can see the layers as you work. 4 In the Modes panel, select Screen as the Layer 2 transfer mode. The rings begin to blend with the background. 5 With the layer still selected, choose Effect > Image Control > Tint. 6 In the Effect Controls window, in Map White to, select the same orange-yellow color you used in Lesson 7. The color used in the sample has the RGB values of R=207 (81%), G=153 (60%), B=0 (0%), but if you used different values, be sure to enter those numbers. 7 In Amount to Tint, scrub or type 60%. The rings now take on the yellow hue.

8 Press T to open the Opacity property in the Timeline window, and scrub or type 80%. 9 Preview the animation. Press T to hide the Opacity property, and then save the project. The timing of the 3DRings.mov layer works with the Girl Pre-comp layer dissolve to create the impression that the rings wipe her onto the screen.
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Adding the glowing-ball element
Next youll add the prepared 3DStarburst.mov to the 3D Composite Comp. In this task, youll position the layer in the 3D Composite, set the proper timing, and then apply a transfer mode to blend this layer with the layers behind it. 1 Move the current-time marker to 3:27 and drag a composition-time marker from Composition marker bin at the right side of the Timeline window, pressing Shift as you drag to snap the new marker to the current time. 2 In the Project window, select the 3DStarburst.mov and drag it into the Timeline window above the Girl Pre-comp layer in the layer stack, so that the 3DStarburst.mov is now Layer 1 and its In point is at 3:27. 3 Move the current-time marker to 8:00 so that you can see the results as you continue working. 4 With Layer 1 selected, choose Effect > Image Control > Tint. 5 In the Effect Controls window, in Map White to, select the same orange-yellow color you used for the rings. The color used in the sample has the RGB values of R=207 (81%), G=153 (60%), B=0 (0%), but if you used different values, be sure to enter those numbers. 6 In Amount to Tint, scrub or type 30. 7 In the Modes panel, select Hard Light as the Layer 1 transfer mode. 8 Press 2 (on the main keyboard, not the keypad) to move the current-time marker to the marker at 3:27, and then press B to dene the beginning of the work area. 9 Move the current-time marker to 9:00 and press N to dene the end of the work area. 10 Preview the animation, and save the project. Hard Light transfer mode creates the look of a harsh spotlight shining on the layer images, adding highlights and deepening the shadows. This contrast makes the glowing ball more brilliant and dramatic because Hard Light makes the starburst take on more color from the layers behind it. If your redraw speed is becoming sluggish, you can temporarily turn off the layer Video switches ( ) for the 3DStarburst.mov and the 3DRings.mov layers. This will increase the redraw speed as you continue working. You must turn on these Video switches before rendering. If the Video switches are left turned off, these layers are not rendered.
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Adding the TextCircle element
In this task, you add the circular text element that you built in an earlier lesson. After you duplicate the layer twice, you have all the TextCircle 3D layers you need. 1 Set the current-time marker at 3:13. 2 In the Project window, select the TextCircle.mov and drag it into the Timeline window, placing it into the Layer 1 position in the layer stack. 3 Choose Edit > Duplicate twice to create two copies of the layer. You now have a total of three TextCircle.mov layers: Layer 1, Layer 2, and Layer 3. 4 Set the current-time marker to 5:10 and select Layer 2. 5 Press [ (left bracket). The layer duration bar moves so that the Layer 2 In point is at 5:10. 6 Set the current-time marker to 6:11, select Layer 3, and press [ (left bracket) to set the Layer 3 In point at 6:11. 7 In the Timeline window, open the Switches panel. Then select all three TextCircle.mov layers and click one of the 3D Layers switches to make them all 3D layers. All the layers now temporarily disappear in the Composition window because they are not positioned in the camera view. Youll correct that in another procedure.

Setting transformation properties for the TextCircle layers
Youll congure the duplicates separately so that one layer circles around the actress, while the other two revolve around the glowing-ball element in her hands. 1 With all three TextCircle.mov layers still selected, press S, and then press Shift + P and Shift + R to open the Scale, Position, and Orientation and Rotation properties for each layer. 2 Deselect all layers and then move the current-time marker to about 5:00 so that you can see the results as you work. 3 Set the following transformation properties for Layer 1:
In Position, scrub or type 406, 292, 928. In Scale, scrub or type 36%. In Orientation, scrub or type 270, 0, 145. This orientation value hides the start point of the text animation behind the Girl Pre-comp layer.
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4 Move the current-time marker to about 6:00 so that you can see the results as you work. 5 Set the following transformation properties for Layer 2:
In Position, scrub or type 380, 292, 928. In Scale, scrub or type 10%, so that the layer passes around the glowing-ball element. In Orientation, leave the default settings unchanged: 0, 0, 0.
6 Move the current-time marker to about 7:00. 7 Set the following transformation properties for Layer 3:
In Position, scrub or type 380, 292, 928. In Scale, scrub or type 8%. In Orientation, scrub or type 90, 0, 180.
8 Select all three TextCircle.mov layers and press accent grave (`) to close the layer outlines. Keep the three layers selected. 9 Open the Modes panel, and select Screen transfer mode for one of the layers to set it for all three TextCircle.mov layers. Then deselect all layers. 10 Preview the animation, using the work area set from 3:27 to 9:00, and then save the project.
Image in Composition window (with all layer Video switches turned on)
Precomposing the TextCircle layers
Next, youll combine the three TextCircle layers into one by precomposing. This keeps these element layers grouped together and makes your Timeline window less cluttered. 1 Select all three TextCircle.mov layers and choose Layer > Pre-compose. The Precompose dialog box appears with the second option already selected.
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2 Type TextCircle Pre-comp for the name. Deselect the Open New Composition option, if it is selected, and then click OK. 3 In the Timeline window, click the Switches/Modes bar to open the Switches panel. 4 Click the Collapse Transformations switch ( ) for the TextCircle Pre-comp layer, and then save the project. Keep the TextCircle Pre-comp layer selected.

5 Move the current-time marker to 3:13, and press Alt + [ (left bracket) (Windows) or Option + [ (left bracket) (Mac OS) to trim the TextCircle Pre-comp layer In point. The duration bar now represents the layer more accurately because this is when the TextCircle layers appear in the composition. Collapsing this layer is necessary to preserve the 3D state of the layers in the precomposition.
Adding the TextLine element and setting a position
Youll place several instances of the TextLine element so that theyll look like little crossroads laid out on the platform on which the actress appears to stand. You start by adding the element to the composition and making it a 3D layer. 1 Press 1 on the main keyboard to move the current-time marker to composition-time marker 1 (at 2:03). 2 In the Project window, select the TextLine.mov and drag it into the Timeline window so that it is now Layer 1 in the layer stack. The Layer 1 In point is 2:03. 3 Move the current-time marker to about 3:00 so that you can see the layer in the Composition window as you work.
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4 In the Switches panel, click the 3D Layer switch ( ) to make the TextLine.mov a 3D layer. The layer temporarily disappears in the Composition window because it is not in the camera view. 5 In the Composition window, select Top view, or press F11, and then select 25% magnication. 6 Examine the positions of the layers by selecting these layers in the Timeline window so that you can see the layer handles:
Select the Hexagon01.psd layer. If necessary, reduce the magnication again or resize the Composition window so that you can see the selection handles on the Composition window pasteboard. Select the TextLine.mov layer.
7 In the Composition window, drag the TextLine.mov layer by the blue Z axis to about the middle of the square that represents the Hexagon01.psd layer. 8 In the Composition window pop-up menu for orthogonal views, choose Camera 1. Then increase the magnication in the Composition window. The TextLine element appears just as the hexagon layer tumbles into place.
Setting transformation properties for the TextLine elements
Your next task is to move the elements into position. You wont set keyframes here, so the position of the current-time marker doesnt matter. 1 In the Timeline window, select the TextLine.mov layer (if its not already selected). 2 Press P and then press Shift + S and Shift + R to open the Position, Scale, Orientation, and Rotation properties for this layer, and enter the following values:
In Position, scrub or type 412, 461, 920. In Scale, scrub or type 55%.
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In Orientation, scrub or type 270, 0, 0. The text line runs horizontally.
3 With the TextLine.mov layer still selected, choose Edit > Duplicate. 4 Select Layer 2, and enter these values (the properties you need are already open):
In Position, scrub or type to change the third coordinate to 914. Leave the rst two values (412, 461) unchanged. Leave Scale set to 55%. In Orientation, scrub or type to change the third coordinate to 90. Leave the rst two (270, 0) unchanged. The new text line is nearly vertical.
5 Close the layer properties for Layers 1 and 2, and then save the project.
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In 3D space, Layer 2 now lies perpendicular to Layer 1: Layer 1 runs horizontally and Layer 2 is vertical, slanting slightly to the left.
Duplicating and moving TextLine layers
To form a simple grid, youll duplicate and move each of the TextLine layers. 1 Move the current-time marker to 3:00, if necessary. 2 Select Layer 1 (the horizontal TextLine.mov layer), and choose Edit > Duplicate. 3 In the Composition window, drag Layer 1 by its green Y axis toward the top of the slanted vertical line of text. Note: Increasing the magnication may help you see the green Y-axis line and arrow. 4 In the Timeline window, select Layer 3 (the vertical TextLine.mov layer) and choose Edit > Duplicate again. 5 In the Composition window, drag Layer 3 by its green Y axis to the right edge of the lower horizontal line of text. Now, Layers 2 and 4 intersect at the actresss feet. Layers 1 and 3 appear to intersect behind her: above and to the right.
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Setting In points and Y coordinates for TextLine layers
Next, youll adjust some of the In points so that the layers start to appear at different times. Your nal task with TextLines is to apply the Screen transfer mode to all the TextLine layers. 1 Make sure that the current-time marker is at 3:00. 2 Select Layer 1 and press [ (left bracket) to set the Layer 1 In point at the current time (3:00). 3 Select Layer 3 (the slanted vertical TextLine.mov layer), and again press [ (left bracket) to set its In point at 3:00. 4 Move the current-time marker to about 3:15 so you can see the results of the next steps. 5 Select all four TextLine.mov layers, and then open the Modes panel in the Timeline window. 6 Under Modes, select Screen for one of the layers to set this transfer mode for all four layers. 7 With Layers 1 through 4 still selected, press T to open the Opacity properties and type (dont scrub this time) 60% to set the opacity value for all four layers. Then press T again. 8 Save the project and preview the animation. If necessary, change the work area so that you can see your work, and then change it back to its previous settings (4:00 to 9:00).

Precomposing the TextLine layers
To keep your Timeline window layer stack easier to manage, youll precompose the four TextLine layers. After precomposing, youll need to select the Collapse switch ( ) to preserve the quality of the images and the 3D character of the layer. 1 In the Timeline window, select all four TextLine layers. 2 Choose Layer > Pre-compose. 3 In the Pre-composition Settings dialog box, type TextLine Pre-comp as the name. 4 With the Open New Comp option deselected, click OK. The TextLine Pre-comp appears as Layer 1 in the Timeline window, replacing the four TextLine layers. 5 In the Switches panel, click the Collapse switch ( ) for Layer 1. 6 Drag the TextLine Pre-comp layer to the Layer 4 position in the layer stack, just below the Girl Pre-comp layer.
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7 Press 1 to move the current-time marker to 2:03. 8 Press Alt + [ (left bracket) (Windows) or Option + [ (left bracket) (Mac OS) to trim the Layer 4 In point so that it accurately represents the time at which the layer appears in the composition. Then save the project. Thats all the work you need to do with the TextLines for now.
Adding BoxLightsLine elements
This element is ready for you to place in the 3D composite, where youll position it in 3D space. 1 With the 3D Composite Comp open, move the current-time marker to 0:11. 2 Drag the BoxLightsLine.mov from the Project window to the Timeline window and position it as Layer 1. In the Composition window, the layer looks like a black bar. 3 Press 1 (on the main keyboard) to move the current-time marker to the compositiontime marker at 2:03 so that you can see the results as you continue working. 4 In the Switches panel, click the 3D Layer switch ( ) for Layer 1. The layer disappears. (Youll adjust it in the next step so that it is again visible.) 5 Press P, and then press Shift + R, Shift + S, and Shift + T to open the Position, Orientation, Rotation, Scale, and Opacity properties for Layer 1 and make the following changes:
In Position, scrub or type 360, 384, 1240. In Scale, scrub or type 50%. Make sure that Orientation is 0, 0, 0. In Opacity, scrub or type 20%.
6 In the Modes panel, select Screen.
Duplicating and shifting the BoxLightsLine elements
Next youll duplicate this element and give the duplicates a variety of settings in threedimensional space. As the result, youll see different sets of box lights running at right angles to each other parallel to the oor of the image. 1 Choose Edit > Duplicate. Leave Layer 1 selected.
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2 Move the current-time marker to 0:18 and press [ (left bracket) to set the Layer 1 In point at this time. 3 Press P to open the Layer 1 Position property, and scrub or type 1222 to change the rst position coordinate. Leave the other coordinates at 384 and 1240. 4 Choose Edit > Duplicate. 5 Move the current-time marker to 2:12 and press [ (left bracket) to set the Layer 1 In point at this time. 6 Press P and then Shift + R to open the Position, Orientation, and Rotation properties. 7 In Position, scrub or type 720, 386, 1240. 8 In Orientation, scrub or type 0, 90, 0. 9 Choose Edit > Duplicate four more times, and then use the same techniques to change the In point and the third position coordinate for each of the rst four layers as follows:

Layer 1: In point = 2:06, third Position coordinate = 4680. (Leave the rst coordinates set to 720 and 386.) Layer 2: In point = 3:07, third Position coordinate = 3820. Layer 3: In point = 1:17, third Position coordinate = 2960. Layer 4: In point = 0:24, third Position coordinate = 2100.
10 Select all layers and press accent grave (`) to hide all properties, and then deselect all layers. Save your project. You now have seven BoxLightsLine.mov layers, all set to Screen transfer mode in the Modes panel.

Precomposing layers

Finally, youll combine all the BoxLightsLine.mov layers into a single layer by precomposing. Grouping layers together in this way helps simplify the layer stack so that you can work more efciently. 1 Press Shift + click to select all seven BoxLightsLine.mov layers. 2 Choose Layer > Pre-compose. 3 Type BoxLights Pre-comp as the name. Leave the second precompose option selected, leave Open New Composition deselected, and click OK.
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4 In the Timeline window layer stack, move the BoxLights Pre-comp layer below the 3DRings.mov layer and above the Hexagon01.psd layer.
5 In the Switches panel, select the Collapse switch ( ) for the BoxLightLine Pre-comp layer to preserve the 3D qualities of the BoxLights layers. 6 Reset the work area to show the entire composition, and then preview your work. When you nish, save the project. Thats all the work needed on the BoxLights, which is the nal element in the 3D Composite composition. Youre almost nished with this lesson.
Rendering the 3D Composite composition
Now that you have nished building the 3D Composite, it is time to render the composition. 1 Turn on the video switches for any layers that are turned off (except the Null 1 layer). 2 Close the Composition, Timeline, and Effect Controls windows. 3 In the Project window, select the 3D Composite Comp and choose Composition > Make Movie. 4 In the Output Movie To dialog box, type 3DComposite.mov in Name, and specify the _mov folder inside the AE_CIB job folder. Then click Save. The Render Queue opens with the 3D Composite Comp as the rst item in the queue. 5 Click the words Current Settings to open the Render Settings dialog box, and then set the following options:
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In Quality, select Best. In Resolution, select Full. In Time Span, select Length of Comp, and then click OK to return to the Render Queue.
6 Click the word Lossless to open the Output Module Settings dialog box, and then set the following options:

In Format, select QuickTime Movie. Select Import into Project When Done. Under Video Output, make sure that Animation Compressor and Spatial Quality = Most are listed. Also make sure that Channels is RGB, and Depth is set to Millions of Colors (not Millions of Colors+). There is no need to render an alpha channel for this composition because it contains a solid background. When you are ready to continue, click OK.
7 Save the project one more time and then click Render. 8 When the rendering nishes, close the Render Queue. 9 In the Project window, drag the 3DComposite.mov le into the mov les folder. 10 Open the 3DComposite.mov by double-clicking it in the Project window and click the Play button to view the movie. Compare your nal rendered movie to the sample movie you played at the beginning of this lesson. If necessary, make any changes, save the project, and render it again, using the steps listed above. You have now completed Lesson 9. This QuickTime movie is ready for importing into the nal composition. There, it will be combined with the 2D composite project, this project, and a few nal elements to complete the piece.