Import 3D Camera into After Effects
February 11th, 2008


Some things are easier to control in a 3D application and some things are better suited for compositing in After Effects. While working on this title graphic, I wanted to add some smoke and particles but I didn't want to keep rendering to see what my particles would like in 3D max.

Instead I rendered the shot plainly but I saved my animation in a special format called RPF and made sure to include the Z Depth information. This is the information needed to recreate my 3Dmax Camera in After Effects.

After importing the sequence into a new AE comp, I can extract the data into a usable 3D camera. By simply right-clicking the layer and choosing "Keyframe Assistant-> RPF Camera Import", this instantly creates a new camera with the same coordinates and animation as my 3D max camera. So now I can add 3D layers and elements and they will adhere to the same camera movements right inside of After Effects.

Of course the camera data is locked to the rendered 3D animation so I can't make changes to the camera, but I can easily place layers and particles into the scene with the ease and speed of After Effects.

There are many ways to integrate your 3D program and After Effects but this method is great to know. Cinema 4D has some very nice methods of integration and there is also a helpful plug-in for 3DMax called MAX2AE.

Another concept we'll cover in the future is rendering multiple passes from your 3D application to give you more control over compositing things like shadows and reflections.

This is obviously a shot for the Twitch promo video that should be online soon.

Andrew Kramer
POSTED:
17 years ago
115 Comments
Jim
11 years ago
hi andrew, i have a problem with importing an Rla Sequence into After effects CC, it keeps saying "after effects error:This file format has not yet been revised to draw into float worlds (39:39)"

I really have no idea what is it talking about, i really can use a little help
Eric
12 years ago
Hey Andrew. Long time watcher and admirer of your and the team's work.

With all your recent adventures in 3D, I hope you will take a trip back and experiment with cross-work again, or maybe make your own (better) plug-in like Max2AE, but with the quality and style of Optical Flares and Element3D (though I haven't used the latter, from what I've seen it's very awesome.)

I imagine that with such a plug-in/app, along with OpFlares, and Element3D, one could pretty much recreate a whole gestalt of the 3DsMax scene in AE, to add/remove elements, depth composite, modify lighting and do lighting fast particle and lense work.

Food for thought?
12 years ago
Very useful!!
Thanks
psybak
13 years ago
hi guys, i have a question regarding the export of alpha-channels or luma-mattes for certain objects out of 3ds Max.

Right now, i know about the opportunity to use Object-IDs which contain mattes with a certain color for every chosen object and the pass includes information of occlusion between the objects.

But i think its just a workaround because you have to color-key every object to get its matte separatly. I mean, you need a color-key for every object you want to separat from the others. Not very handy regarding system-ressources.

What i would like to have:
An opportunity to render my object-mattes like in Cinema 4D: Object-Buffers.

Does anyone know how to achieve a multipass-render (with a functionality like Object-buffers in C4D) in 3Ds max???
Alberto
13 years ago
Hi, I'm trying to import a 3D Studio Max camera into AE CS6, however after importing the RPF squence and creating a new comp with it, if I right click the sequence in the new comp and select RPF Camera Import, nothing happens. What can I do? Thanks.
Jiri
12 years ago
I have this problem too, just nothing happens. 3ds max 2013 and AE CS6. How to fix this, what can we do?
Thanks for any info.
Shea
13 years ago
So I just created my first successful rpf camera import, everything is going to work out... however... the scale of the camera in AE is about 100 times smaller than I'd like it to be - I have to scale all my AE objects down to about 1% for them to be the right size on top of my 3D footage. I'm running out of time to re-render anything, so I'll probably just make do with what I have... but does anybody have any tips for how to create a 3DS Max scene that will export a "normal" scale camera? Or is there a way to scale the camera/its movement in AE after the import? Thanks
Bart
13 years ago
Please, Help, Andrwe !!!
I've rendered 3d max scene in RPF format, switched on Z-Depth and Store Alpha Chanal check boxes. Then, after rendering was completed, I imported the sequence into After Effects and droped it in a new timeline. By right clicking the rended RPF layer ?hose Animation > Keyframe Assistant > RPF Camera Import... but nothing creats, no camera layer! The only thing in the timeline is the RPF seqence I have imported. Where is the mistake, what did I wrong? I use AE CS 5 and Max 2012 64x...
Shea
13 years ago
I think you also need to check the "coverage" box
khan
14 years ago
when i import my camera from 3dsmax in to after effects cs5, the position of camera does not same, when i see my camera in front view it is not on the center of the stage. pls help. i am rendering rpf sequence manually without any plugin. thanks.
14 years ago
i have to try this.
Thanks,
have u any plugine
regarding realastic smoke
trails.
14 years ago
i have to try this.
Thanks,
have u any plugine regarding realastic smoke trails.
Andrew S.
14 years ago
HI Andrew nice tutorials.

Only one question, How can I export the 3d camera with a null position from 3ds MAX to AE???, so I can link my 2d layers of AE to the movement of the camera
14 years ago
thanks Andrew, you are amazing.
I love Cinema 4D because of its incredible compatibility with After Effects.
ab rahman
15 years ago
how to import 3d models in after effect as a 3d scene
as kramer do that with that mobile with animation plz
15 years ago
hey gys i have done this
its really Intresting
its really amazing
dont miss this tutorial
16 years ago
I had some problems when I was dealing with the rpf format and then I thought to give a try the Max2Ae. It is an excellent plugin and very easy to use. The problem was some minor uncompatibillity issue with AfterFx Cs4 but I switched back to AE7 and the plugin worked as hell!! You can view a sample of implementing it here:
http://blog.krama.tv/krama-studio-creates-new-tv-commercial-for-atlantis-consulting/
biswa
16 years ago
Hi...Andrew..
Am using Saffire s_FlickerRemove effect..but thats not upto mark..is there any other adjustments/plugins/presets/scripts to get a qualitative nonflickering rendered output from AE ??? plz suggest...

Thanks..
sushant
16 years ago
Thanks Andrew...tuts are quite helpful for me..expecting some tuts on Cam Tracking..

Thanks a lot again..
biswa
16 years ago
Thanks Andrew...its cool...can u plz provide any tut on Motion swirl Element creation...as shown in Evolution.
are they done and rendered in Max or AE ? any clue plz ?

Thanks a lot..
Abob
16 years ago
Hi.
Thanx for all the tutorials, I??´m a fan!

But my question is: how do You convert the 3d studio max (or v-ray) camera into an AE camera? I can??´t seem to get the focal width right?
Muhammed Umer Zafar
16 years ago
Hey there Andrew,
I am having trouble with placing the particles generated by particular according to the rpf camera. They only show up after the duration of rpf camera as they are displaced far away somewhere during that time.
any easy workaround for that??
Thanks. Keep on rocking.
rupchar
17 years ago
What about blender...when i import the data into CS3 it doesnt have any data on it so you dont se my pics and i get this message in the blender code window:

scene.getCurrentCamera deprecated!
use scene.objects.camera instead
scene.getChildren Depercated!
use scene.objects instead

can anyone give me some help here i downloaded the tracking update but still no joy...
Antonio
17 years ago
same problem as Tim...and no solution anywere.....RPF import problem....just the movement of the solid dont mach with the camera movement, what can i do
17 years ago
Great tutorials. I'm a long time view. Keep up the good work. Speaking of matchmoving, a matchmoving tutorial would be a great way to take it to the next level.
17 years ago
Andrew,

This 3D camera import is posible in Maya, with this RPF archives?
Congratulations for your tutorials and products
Jeremy
17 years ago
beta testing shmeta testing. I want TWITCH!
Mathew Chu
17 years ago
I am very happy to hear that. I try to work LightWave 3D Camera to AE camera
with LW Plugin " Transmotion"this week. well, it is work but the result is not good, the camera became stating at the right top corner on the AE 4Views. Is not at the centre, I hope the twitch can solve my problem to bring LW Camera in to AE world.
Thank a lot.
17 years ago
hey Andrew, I was wondering, which rendering engine do you use in 3ds max, V-ray or Mental Ray?
17 years ago
I Can't WAITTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!
SO COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!
morten enoksen
17 years ago
@ Ben Whiting

No man, that film right there is not made in AE.
It's first tracked in PFTrack, a 3D tracking program. Then the points and data of the track is transferred to 3dsmax9, which makes it possible to create water and fill it inn. Then he made a plate underneath, with some reflections. Then set to "omposite background" so the plate itself does not show.


Hopes this helps!
Really cool article
Thanks Andrew

Saludos desde Chile
Tim
17 years ago
Yeah, I'm running into the same problem as Golemek.

After rendering the RPF sequence in Max, I import to AE and extract the camera data. Everything looks fine. Then, I add a solid with 3D switch on and it is out of position.

I remember seeing a tutorial somewhere that said the problem is the 2 different coordinate systems. AE uses the upper left corner of the comp as the 0, 0 point instead of the center as in 3D apps.

I believe the scaling issue is due to not using the same same focal length in AE as in the 3D app. Correct?

I would love to see a VCP tutorial on this. Also, on extracting the channel data in AE. From Max, you can save 13 channels. However, 3D Channel Extract plugin in AE only allows you to import 8 (and the Background RGB doesn't appear to do squat).

I will be upgrading my MAX2AE plugin for more control. But I sure would like to know how to get the most out of the standard RPF camera/channels import.

And thanks for taking time away from your Tinker Toys to share your knowledge. The clip of your Twitch text looks great.
Zach
17 years ago
Do you think you will ever show tutorials of 3D Max? I loved watching the blood cell tutorials because it gave me a chance to learn two different, yet connected programs. I would love to learn how to make things like this in 3D max, even if you could just do a tutorial on how you made this that would be awesome!
17 years ago
To Kyle:
To get the rpf files that Cinema 4D creates into After Effects, when you go to import the file, make sure you import as Footage and that the RLA/RPF Sequence at the bottom of the Import File dialogue is ticked. AE should then import all 20 of your RPF files as one animation.
udin
17 years ago
Hi andrew i make some surrounding camera mevement (like circle track from the 3d max path) for 3dmax Extruded text . then i render rpf file and open up in after effect, and i make solid in 3d layer, i found the problem ,when camera moving 360 degree ,the 3d solid layer always in behind rpf file ( 3d maxt text), just not realistik, can u give me how to fix this ,what the solution, sory 4 my poor english language, thanks
Flubber
17 years ago
nice news

looking forward for Twitch program

by the way, nice 3D shot, it looks cool

keep up the good work AK and the team
golemek
17 years ago
Nice, the problem is that it doesn't work! Definitely not with ae7 - don't know about cs3. It needs a serious, manual tweeking - you have to transfer manualy the FOV from max, but the scale somehow doesn't match so you have to reposition the 3d layers. If you have it working I'm looking forward to a tutorial. Great site BTW.
17 years ago
@ morten enoksen

What I would like to try is something along the lines of this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y14MObYFioY

I'm not sure how it would be done, but I assumed it would be like tracking it in AE then then somehow importing it into a 3d software and add the particals. but I dont know that much with 3d software, so I might be completely wrong.
rob
17 years ago
Fantastic Andrew, this is something I've been trying to work out for ages!
Dan
17 years ago
Please do a breakdown tutorial of this shot. Would love to see more 3ds max tutorials from you. I have learnt so much about ae from you and would love to learn some 3d.

Love it, keep the good work up and I will keep buying the products!!!
17 years ago
Hi Julien,
I posted a solution in my last comment how to import the Blender camera.
http://blenderartists.org/forum/showpost.php?p=1018882&postcount=13
morten enoksen
17 years ago
@ Ben Whiting

And what are you going to accomplish by that?
17 years ago
I rendered out a sample in C4D but there is like 20 rpf files? What did I miss?
17 years ago
Do you think it is possible to do this the other way around? like make a camera in AE and then import it into a 3D software?
17 years ago
Wow this is so cool, I had a quick look in my C4D and exported a quick fly-around of a cube using rpf into AE and it works amazingly. I pasted some pre-rendered videos onto the sides of the cube in AE and it looks brill
Thank you Andrew for this extra bit of stuff I can use
Alex
17 years ago
Great sample! In some cases in RPF format mast be check coverage.
morten enoksen
17 years ago
Hey andrew. I'm doing a testfilm with the info you brough us with this news. I was wondering. What particle plugin did you use, and ca. what was the settings?

Thanks! Looking forward to twitch, it's going to help me alot!
Ray Liotta
17 years ago
Omg gr8!!
knakrz
17 years ago
...for those after more 3D to 2D camera techniques, checkout Alan Shisko's blog for some killer tutes http://shisko.blogspot.com/

Also, here's my future prediction: Within the next two years, Adobe will buy out MAXON and own C4D... we've been discussing this around the studio of late, and the bets are on!
17 years ago
I used to use Max2AE a while back, it works great, but RPF is my way to go.
17 years ago
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/video_popup_flash_skin/1579750 I saw your light streaks on NEW ZEALAND TV!!!!!! Wow well done, looks like all the pros use your products!
Abe
17 years ago
Fishy, you need to install the plugin for AE to c4d that comes with the installation cd of c4d. Under the render output you save to AE as an AEC file.
Thanks for this one Andrew, for some reason I was under the impression you needed max2ae to do it.
Dev_gear
17 years ago
I'm glad to see this too. I've been trying to figure out how to mix the two(3Dmax+AE) It's like you can read my mind! Thanks!
fishy
17 years ago
Mr. AK, care to tell us how to do it using C4D?
17 years ago
Looks sick AK I like how the whole thing is pretty much one of your tutorials minus the floor and reflection and all that but the text is you 3D text is it not? Would like to learn about the materials you used though. Looks sweet!
Jose T
17 years ago
rendering multiple passes from a 3D application ?
looking forward to that tutorial
17 years ago
Andrew is the absolute best .
Julien GUILLOT
17 years ago
Hi Andrew!
I just wondered...do you know if it's possible to import a 3D camera from Blender...?

Thanks for sharing your talent!
17 years ago
good one Andrew!


PS: Stefan I am from Bulgaria too!!
sandra
17 years ago
hey andrew ..
can u give us some tips for live video tracking using boujou or a similar software ,, and the best ways of using it with 3Ds Max and AFX ..

love your tutorials
YOU ROCK ..
Laura
17 years ago
Andrew, you rocks!! I cant wait to your new products and tutorials!! Thanks from Spain for all!!
Moonsault
17 years ago
Hey Andrew.

So you can add a light in After Effects and this can affecting the escene in 3D ???
Moonsault
17 years ago
Incredible!!

This increases the chances of infinite way!!!
17 years ago
hey andrew,
how would you add the reflection of the particles? maybe make a copy of the particle layer, flip it over and then use a transfer mode or track matte?

thanks for the great tutorials and more importantly, thanks for getting us to think of new ways to approach our products.
17 years ago
I liked what you did with the particles ,i was woundering if we can use the same
technique to make a sand desert storm around a person .cant wait.
and if i want to get a 3D program which one you think IS BETTER 3DMAX OR C4D?
THANKS
Juan
17 years ago
You are the KING
RASTA
17 years ago
Could you explain how to export and inport rpf files for compositing. It will be great if you post that promo has a tutorial or make a tutorial combining 3d max and after effects.
17 years ago
This tips works very great with C4D ....
Very cool
Thank's Andrew ... again ....
r-max
al2cl3
17 years ago
This is really great but you can't see the reflextion of the particle on the water surface... maybe Andrew can fix that problem? Andrew, can you export from AE to 3D program? I mean can you create some particle and export them into a 3D program?
Masterslive
17 years ago
Hey Andrew, that is something new for me, but very cool. I hope i can do this, too!!!
Tim
17 years ago
"C'mon, I already have a wife..." oooch!

Note to self: Never make a comment like that to Andrew.
17 years ago
that looks pretty nice! But if you have a complicated cam animation (to fast) and if there really is a problem with this...why dont you just animate it slow and time remap later?
i dont know if this is a problem but i read it somewhere up there, but i think it should work
17 years ago
Sorry if this has been answered multiple times, but when did you say TWITCH would be available?
JimmyC
17 years ago
"Anyone familiar with how to do this in Maya 8.5?"

You need to bake animation keys to the camera (edit>keys>bake simulation)then export it as a maya ascii file which you can just import into after effects as a composition. You can also export locators in the same scene, but they need to be named Null_01, Null_02 etc...

It gets a bit trickier if your camera is parented to something, so its best to animate the camera without a parent if you can.
DDD
17 years ago
Scott Bishop
thanks. but how to export the tracked footage back to AE?
Tim
17 years ago
I was just wondering if you plan on using any GI in your renders as well. I use Vray and there are a few tricks when rendering for animation. Like baking ambient occlusion into a logo or controlling the flickering problem...

Another cool tutorial might be creating custom, textured particles from Max to be used for Trapcode Particular. Search "leaves" at Trapcode-People.net to see a nice example of this.

or just go here...

http://trapcode-people.net/filedetails.php?fileid=81
Tim
17 years ago
WOOOOHOOOOOO!!!! This is the missing link for creating high impact media animation! I can't wait to see what you do with this!

THANK YOU ANDREW!
Bye Tom
17 years ago
I can??´t wait to see that promo. I just love watching them!
Rico
17 years ago
I watched a video on camera export data from maya to AE. After you setup a couple of locators and you bake your camera you can then later export the camera movements back into AE. It's pretty sweet!
Casko
17 years ago
Andrew I continue waiting for the tutorial about broken 3d text lol that image u posted was so pro lol please do more 3d tutorials andrew please please please lol u rulez dude

btw: nice render
17 years ago
nice one dude,
Bader Ahmed
17 years ago
Max2Ae

that's really cool !
here is a 45 Minute tutorial demonstrating MAX2AE in a sample project >>>>>

http://www.boomerlabs.com/gallery_max2ae_1.php

The Tutorial by Alan shisko - of course you know him

please, Have a look to the other movies in the Gallery to get inspired, like mixing 3d rendered elements with live action video.

Happy Marriage with Ae and 3ds Max !!!
c.cruise
17 years ago
Love the design and style you've chosen Mr. Kramer! I'd just like to learn how to do this in cinema.
Guru Prasad
17 years ago
"TWITCH "_________LOOKS GREAT!
gonna buy it soon__________.........................

and Mr.A.K........pls do post more 3d related tutorials!
17 years ago
Hi. Thanks, it's a cool tip.
For the Blender users. Here's the way how you should do it: http://blenderartists.org/forum/showpost.php?p=1018882&postcount=13
I tested the script and it worked pretty good.
mikey
17 years ago
does maya have something like this?
peter
17 years ago
this 3d-camera thing is a good feature. but it starts to fail when the cameramovement is extensive. ...maybe you will find out how to handle it better , master andrew
Besnik
17 years ago
RPF -RICH PIXEL FORMAT is best suported by Combustion and Other Autodesk Compoziting Products : RPF image sequnce once imported can interact with layers you add after rendering from 3d max as:Reflection ,3d shading ,Fog and so on . In after efect you only get the camera and the depth mate .So best use of rpf will be on Combustion . By the way GREAT TUTORIALS Andrew i check all of your tutorials and they are cool especialy the one using 3d aplications . Bye from Kosovo
Earlack
17 years ago
Mmmm, good tip, as always. But, for 3DS, isn't there also a .MS format to recreate the camera ? That's what I was using with Boujou sometimes. Anyway, the .MS is not as good as RPF, the scale and rotation aren't always correct.
nico
17 years ago
hello andrew,

i hope that this tips work with maya ... i'll try soon


greetings,
Pahkina
17 years ago
This is pretty cool. I hope you can create that tutorial for Cinema 4D.
Peace.
Victor
17 years ago
Wow, It's been a few years since the last time I used 3DMax, I'm going to start using it again from now on Andrew, so hopefully you don't stop giving 3Dmax-AE-Photoshop tutorial, also tutorial about the visual fx integration not only motion graphic. I can't wait to buy Twitch

Andrew's the best,
Thank you sooo much and keep the spirit high...
knakrz
17 years ago
hawhawhaw, "remember when you said" that's so funny AK... I too have a Mrs, and I hear that heaps... bwahahahahahaha
Howdyhi
17 years ago
Now thats funny
17 years ago
"remember when you said..." C'mon, I already have a wife
Scott Bishop
17 years ago
DDD:
2D3 Boujou, Realviz Matchmover, PFTrack, PFHoe, 3DSMax has an inbuilt simple 3d tracker as far as im aware, and 2D3 also have a tracker for Maya called Moojou.

If you search around google, you will also find plenty of free trackers to use, as the Boujou and Matchmover are rather expensive.
Jah
17 years ago
multiple passes would be really nice. i've been trying to find out a way to render occlusion passes and mix them all together in the end without great success

the rpf thing is cool. already used it in a project. although, it was a bit confusing at first because the camera position was really weird and every new layer i created in after effects would be really miles away from it. took a while to get used to, but it's a really cool feature.

keep spreading the love Andrew, much respect from Portugal (L)
DDD
17 years ago
remember when you said that you would make a tutorial about 3D tracking?

can you tell us what programs should we use?
17 years ago
RPF should work with C4d the same. And as far as quality it is an uncompressed format.
Mikael
17 years ago
All I do at work is waiting for new updates on your site.
Soon the bosses will find out, but by then I will have learned so much, thanks to you, that I will make it as an motiongraphicsdesigner on my own.

Many thanks from Sweden!
17 years ago
andrew can you share your particle setings from this video ?
Stefan
17 years ago
Well it's simply freaking awesome! The title with the nice greenish glow and the reflection in the water it will be cool if you make a tutorial about how to make a title like this in 3d max with nice green glow and import it in after effects and show us how to make the trick with RPF I'm your greatest fan Andrew i love your site and tutorials you inspire me to work harder and harder every day learning new features in after effects. Oh and i can`t wait to see the dead man tutorial and purchase the twitch product!

P.S. Greeting from Bulgaria and keep it up!
Josh Johnson
17 years ago
Awesome stuff Andrew! I was messing with this in Cinema 4D over the weekend. Can't wait to hear about the multi pass rendering! Do you know if your same rpf method will work for C4D? I can import into AE from C4d but wasn't sure if rpf was crucial for C4d.

thanks
Derrick van Niekerk
17 years ago
MULTIPLE PASSSES RENDERS would be an incredibly usefull tutorial! I'm so eager to learn about that I would sponser the tutorial hie hie .

- Derrick
Ryko
17 years ago
Sexy stuff, can't wait for the upcoming 3ds max tutorials
knakrz
17 years ago
paragraph 5 has a typo bro... "ethod" which I guess is METHOD...?

great tip for 'ginners

thumbs up
Pradeep
17 years ago
Awesome!!Awesome!!Awesome!!Awesome!!
can't wait
video-fx-universe.com
17 years ago
nice stuff, I am always importing raw footage from 3ds max to after effects, Im always trying to find new ways to retain detail as well, does this keep all the high quality render elements or do you lose some during the exporting
Chrizzle
17 years ago
Anyone familiar with how to do this in Maya 8.5?
Dave Gregson
17 years ago
My GOD! Your Awsome!
17 years ago
Postproduct, good point, although a solution to this might be render over the network, then shut off all the lights and geometry and render the scene black. This will still contain the data needed for camera. I did this once, when I forgot to include the Z info in my sequence... dog-gone-it

The reflection is as-intended... and I love it! Although the ground phases in promo.
17 years ago
for all the Cinema4D-users: keep in mind that RPF with Z-buffer is not supported by multimachine-solutions like the NetRender ..
you have to use your standard C4D-application for this output method.
Ben
17 years ago
It looks really cool.

I suppose the reflection is still under construction? It looks a bit, ehm, odd.
Ow wait, I didnt just question our God of After Effects? Did I?
Damn, me and my big mouth...

Im really interested in more tutorials using multiple programs and intergrating them in AE.
Keep on rockin'!

Ben
Joey Bane
17 years ago
WOW! This is what i'm waiting for! thanx Andrew! by the way! i'm first!! simply means i'm the no.1 fan of VCP! whoo!!