Who's using 3d software?

[jenkisg]

I was wondering if there is anyone out there using 3d software in their church media pipeline.

What do you commonly use it for? (i.e. flying logos, character animation, architecture, etc.)

Which software are you using? (Cinema 4d, Blender 3d, Maya, Lightwave, Max, Bryce, etc.)

Thanks,

Steven Jenkins

[Smob]

I use blender for a few things. The price is right, though learning it takes some time. My use is mainly 3d logos, but I've done some animations using their flowing water effects. Render time is a real snoozer.

[jenkisg]

I've messed around with the fluid animation effects in Blender some. Very cool, but extremely slow to bake and render. But, I've heard even the pro apps like RealFlow are the same way, and RealFlow costs thousands of $$$. I mostly use Cinema 4d because of its ease of use. But Blender is what got me hooked on 3d.

[jonack]

I fake everything in AE. I know it really isn't a 3D program, but there are tons of great tutorials out there to fake it enough. I have even gotten pretty efficient at building things in AE and doing camera moves and setting lighting to give different effects...

[Smob]

Originally Posted by jonack

I fake everything in AE. I know it really isn't a 3D program, but there are tons of great tutorials out there to fake it enough.

Can you give me a pointer to a good tutorial on making block letters in AE7?

[jenkisg]

Here is a tutorial for making block letters in After Effects CS3. For After Effects 7, without 3rd party plugins such as Zaxwerk's 3D Invigorator ($500), you can use the shatter effect to create full 3d block letters. However, that has drawbacks such as a limited degree of animation control. Blender 3D is probably your best option if you want to save money. Just google "3d text shatter effect ae."

[kbob]

well, I don't think of it that way, but 3d it is-xara 3d version 5 is something I use on a regular basis for 3 d text. Simple animations are possible too.

As far as I've seen, there isn't a simpler way to do 3d text layout anywhere. I regularly import the results into Photoshop for layering with other images and effects...

[MediaGuy]

I just bought "BluffTitler" from Outer Space Software (The guy's name is Michel Outer from Finland, I think) for 3D titling. It's comparable to Zaxwerks, but only costs $50. I highly recommend it - very easy to create moving 3D text.

I also use Blender for anything else.

[JHVideoGuy]

I have Cinema 4D. Picked it up at a sale they had a while ago for 10% of retail. But I can't say that I'm using it much. It's got a steep workflow and none of my projects so far have produced quality I'd put in a video.

As for 3D text in AE:
1) Create your text layer and make it 3D. Apply a slider control filter to it (you'll see why in a moment)

2) Duplicate your layer. Now we're going to make 2 expressions:
- Paste this expression in your source text:
thisComp.layer(1).text.sourceText
- Paste this expression in your position property:
S = thisComp.layer(1).effect("Slider Control")("Slider");
i = (index - 1) * S;
x = value[0];
y = value[1];
z = value[2] + i;

[x, y, z]

3) Duplicate this layer 20+ times to suit your taste. The cleaner you want your 3D edge and deeper you want the extrude the more copies you'll need

4) Adjust the slider control in your first layer to control the spacing of the layers. You can animate this as well.

[PaladinPete]

I just purchased Bluff Titler like MediaGuy and I'm just getting into it. I also have used Xara3D for a couple of projects. It is very easy to use for titles and such. I wish I could afford Zaxwerks stuff.
Dave, there are great tutorials on the Digital Juice website showing their new fonts in AE and making them 3D. I think they used that method for extruding the font layers.

[JHVideoGuy]

I picked up the method at the Dallas After Effects User Group. It renders faster than the shatter method and gives you some additional flexibility.

[jenkisg]

JHVideoGuy,

What version of Cinema 4D are you using?