NEW TUTORIAL: 3D Ledge
April 27th, 2010

In this exciting new tutorial we will be keying, tracking, roto-scoping, exporting, integrating, color correcting and a lot more. This 47 minutes tutorial starts out in After Effects and covers generating the 3D building in 3D Max & Cinema 4D. No match-moving or 3D tracking required everything is done with the 2D tracker in AE. I've even included the 3D building for everyone to use.

You can even skip the 3D programs and build a sweet building in After Effects alone with the 3D City Tutorial.

Watch Sample Video

Watch behind the Scenes Blog Show

Watch Tutorial

Plug-Promotion:
You can even add some of your own lens flares with our 3D Lens Flare Plug-in Optical Flares!

Andrew Kramer
POSTED:
15 years ago
161 Comments
Jock
14 years ago
Hey Andrew,

I am having some difficulty with getting the correct textures, did u upload all of the resources files?
or can you at least point me to where you got all of the files such as the roof cement, the building walls

oh btw fyi jg2s Nice work bro!
14 years ago
The film "LIMITLESS" used this technique, frame by frame as it seemed. Very cool and very effective visual effect.
maji
15 years ago
hey bro,
cud u plz hlp me out of this ae3d export prob.whnevr i m tring to excut its shwing the line 1. syntex error
or plz send me the script which is tested.

thankx
15 years ago
Look the begining of the Clip Of not Afraid by Eminem (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5-yKhDd64s&ob=av2e) that's pretty nice response to this.
Stefan
15 years ago
just saw the new Eminem Video "Not Afraid" and the scene at the roof reminds looks exactly like the one you guys did.

Props on that one
15 years ago
really interesting n useful man... great job...
15 years ago
Hey What you guys think about this Video and Sp you Andrew Kramer!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koMSi3sizRI
15 years ago
Hey great tutorial!!! but have you ever heard of Max2AE from boomerlabs.com?? solves that AE comp issue that us max users have been so jealous of C4D users of. It uses the script too but its more effective. check it out.
Gui
15 years ago
Really great tutorial ! Love it !

One question comes to me... Can this be used in a lateral movement? I mean not on the top of the actor's head but from his profil to him facing the camera, or another camera plan...

Thanks,

Guillaume from France
oussama
15 years ago
thank's allot Andrew Kramer for this Amazing Tutorial
kotsos
15 years ago
Amazing Tutorial !!
Morten Enoksen
15 years ago
Nice! Cant wait : D In the meantime, check out http://hadselvgs.com/martin for inspiration!
Mau
15 years ago
thanksssssssss..the best ever us usual
Fernando Sucre
15 years ago
woow!!! coool tutorial thax..

this is my Color world project
software:c4d r11.5,AECS2,PsCS2
http://vimeo.com/11376586
Darren Ed
15 years ago
Another top tutorial, although, it's becoming increasingly difficult -- employing differing browers, differing RealPlayer plugins etc. -- to download tuts for future (offline) reference.

Shame.

Darren.
15 years ago
Article super, though I have not got to do everything as you had to improvise a bit )))
Lirik
15 years ago
this is perfect Andrew

Good Bye From KOSOVO
Shrek2
15 years ago
Hi Andrew, I liked the tutorial. Also wanted to mention that there is a cool and helpful free Maya Script for creating buildings: KludgeCity version 0.1.7
http://www.whetstonevfx.com/tools/EdW_KludgeCity.zip
There's also information about it in CGTuts+:
http://cg.tutsplus.com/freebies/software-tools/kludge-city-01-7-maya-script/
Adam
15 years ago
Andrew,

Thanks to your tutorial, I finally feel like I'm understanding the concepts of 3D camera moves and basic tracking principles. I used to avoid these elements like maths at school!

I don't have the space to build a dolly, so I'm going to stand on a chair taped to a pair of skateboards to duplicate this shot. The guy that I'm filming will wear a crash helmet for the first few takes.

Just kidding.

Cheers from the UK!
lucien
15 years ago
he andrew, I was wondering could I use a trackingmethod like boujou like you used in the meteor tutorial. to create a 3d camera in 3ds max. Because I dont have a cameracrane and I would like to pan around the actor before I show the edge. Hope you understand my question
15 years ago
Fiquei com medo só de ver o "sample". rsrs. Vou mergulhar nesse tuto agora! Você é um animal!!!
Muito obrigado.
15 years ago
Is not easy this tutorial. I must learn more of cinema 4d before! Anyway... that's very cool, as usual!
Dhingra
15 years ago
More of the 3d tutorial please
Owin
15 years ago
To make buildings, even cities in blender check out these links:
1. http://jerome.le.chat.free.fr/index.php/en/download/blender/city-engine-download.html.
2. http://arnaud.ile.nc/sce/
James Whyson
15 years ago
Great Tutorial!
Honestly, I never thought th@s the way it's. you've opened new horizones in my mind. you are the man. Thanks Andrew!
James Whyson
15 years ago
Great Tutorial!
Peter
15 years ago
When will "SERIES TWO" Tutorial DVD be made available?
zsmb
15 years ago
great tutorial, although the building on the left is on the middle of the street
could you do a typography tutorial?
Cadmoescarabeo
15 years ago
HEY ANDREW.... HELLO FROM MEXICO. DID YOU KNOW THE SOFTWARE "MAYA". CAN YOU DO SOME TUTORIALS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE I AM A GRATE FAN OF YOUR SITE "VIDEO COPILOT" AND I WANT TO LEARN SOME 3D ANIMATION. I ALMOUST UNDERSTAND AFTER EFFECTS THANKS TO YOU. AND I HAVE THE POSSIBILITY TO PLAY WITH MAYA. SO PLEASE HELP ME OR RECOMMEND A NICE PAGE FOR BEGINER TUTORIALS, THANK YOU
personman
15 years ago
Please do a tut with the roto brush!
M.B
15 years ago
wonderfull man very nice
15 years ago
Hey Andrew and people from videoCopilot.
Thanks for includion C4D in this tutorial, we where working on a simmilar video like yours, but we ran into some problems, but your tutorial all cleared it for me.
This is own version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLNYcr42QrI

For added the "on the edge" filmed part in to the C4D Render, I worked the other way around with the camera export. What I did...I added a NULL in C4D and added is in the render data for AE, so that I could attach both the hanging guy video...and the street/cars to this NULL. so once the camara moved...all would stay in place.

Anyway,
Thanks for this great tutorial, and keep up the amazing work.
Regards,
Denny
15 years ago
This may have already been said....but check out Tyson Ibele's building generator. It's very comprehensive for this sort of thing.
JRad
15 years ago
I cant seem to bring the building level into 3ds max...Any help?
15 years ago
this great. can I study with you.
15 years ago
nice....iwas one of the 1st persons who have see it
Casko
15 years ago
Andrew i love this tutorial, i really want to get into motion tracking as living and i want to get a camera to start.

What would u recomend me? my bucket is only 1.500 dollars

I have a HV30 but i couldnt get nice results and i have readed that is not a good camera for tracking because of the rolling shutter / CMOS .

I have been reading that i need a ccd sensor camera, do u know something about this one?

http://www.masoportunidades.com.ar/aviso/3597186-panasonic-hdc-hs9-3ccd-high-definition-disco-duro-de-60gb

Thanks in advice.
NewGuy
15 years ago
Hey Andrew If I may can I ask wot camera do u use 2 shoot with?? or wot type of camera would give u that professional cine look
15 years ago
GREAT WORK ANDREW!! greetings from Laredo,TX my names armando gomez and i work for a local tv station and do commericals wanted to ask if u could do a news intro tutorial PLZZZZ me and the others guys would be thankful!!
15 years ago
AWESOME STUFF ANDREW!! GREETING FROM LAREDO,TX! My Names Armando Gomez and I work for a local tv station and do commericals, can u do a news intro? PLZZ
Paul WIldman
15 years ago
hey there

Love the TUT, just a question to those of you using C4D, when you imported the track from AE, did it come in on a totally different plane, so instead of the camera running over the roofs edge, it ran up the wall, plus the distance it travels is was far.

I'm new to C4D.
Elliot
15 years ago
Awesome tutorial!
btw guys, After Effects CS5 trial is finally released!!!!
check out adobe's site!
Vicky Shah
15 years ago
No comment...
awesome!!!
Vishal
15 years ago
Indeed a very nice and useful tutorial...help me a lot...
keep up the good work andrew.....
thumbs up for u!!!
paul holt
15 years ago
Nice tut...

Also Optical flares are (as you americans like to say) Awesome...the more i get into this package the more I love it...very involved and well thought out features

would love to see the last set of tutorials(65-) put onto a DVD though..

thanks mate
kris
15 years ago
Andrew Kramer is taking the After Effect to the next level. I can't imagine it was possible. I can't believe it. I do now
Richman
15 years ago
Master Kramer, We have a problem and need your help!

The AE3d Exporter link on the site you use dosent work- just lots of text coming up....??????!?!?!

Thank you for another GREAT tut!!!

You are and will always be The Master!
Hern
15 years ago
will the next tutorial be Sam actually jumping ?
Paul
15 years ago
Great tutorial!
i love these 3d tutorials like the crater video!
i didn't think that you can do it in a simple way like this when i watched the first sample vid.
asome stuff.
15 years ago
Cool tutorial. Thanks!

For making buildings in 3ds Max, check this:
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?p=6489736

"Building Generator! This is a tool for 3d Studio Max which generates procedural building objects based on a list of user-controlled settings."
Worth checking out if you're into architectural visuals.
15 years ago
Remarkable tutorial - the web makes so much possible now. Exciting times for the creative community.

BB
Gruselgurke
15 years ago
Very nice and helpfull tutorial. I like those one which get deeper into it. You have to think for yourself and be a bit creative on you own way. I hate those people who build a tutorial 1:1 and post "their" result on an other website and say: "Hey, look what cool things I can do with After Effects!!1".
A tutorial that shows you new things how you can work with the program and don´t give you a step by step manual are good tutorials. And this one is definitly one of those! Keep on that way Kramer!

Greetings from Germany.
Morten Enoksen
15 years ago
Nihice! I bet I`ll get to use it in my new website! http://hadselvgs.com/martin ! I love motion graphics, prints, special vfx and filming!
chase
15 years ago
when i downloaded the tutorial i didnt get the builing wall
mehrdad
15 years ago
hey andrew,
i am mehrdad amini and i from iran
i need your plugin for after effect cs4
and i can not order from iran
???????????????????????????????
now
what i do?
mgplague
15 years ago
Great Stuff. "In the future" it seems that the car lights illuminate the buildings. How was this done? Keep up the good work.
amrull_melodic
15 years ago
Create Best Tutorial.....!!!
Yeah..... I Like You Andrew.
Evan Langley
15 years ago
Combustion? Lol, nice. Had to laugh because I use Toxik, which might be even more obscure then Combustion... anyway... Cool tutorial, though. I found your application of turning a 2D track into 3D really interesting, I'll have to try that out.

Out of curiosity, do you do any node based compositing? I find it far more easy and effective than AE, and was just curious what you think of it. I'm always amazed at what you can do with after effects! Cheers.
crumpy
15 years ago
Thanks for some more free knowledge, Andrew.
Lot's of plugs for Optical Flares in this one... Hopefully sales are going well.
Anyone who has not got it should get it NOW. I gave my Knoll Light Factory license to my financially broke friend and did not look back. I am so stoked on Optical Flares, it is very artistic and enjoyable to use.
15 years ago
Pardon me for asking lord Kramer, but when you goes to add Optical Flares at 44:15, a plugin called "Dragon" is clearly visible (along with quickmatte, which at this point i've given up on ever seeing)
Andrew! Whats with all the plugins that we don't know about?!
15 years ago
nice! very cool!
15 years ago
Very cool effect
Maya
15 years ago
Thanks Andrew! Definitely some great tips I can use for work. Tell Sam that he rocks
kuunami
15 years ago
The part where Andrew created the shadow around 35:54 with a subtraction and add mask kind of confused me. The part where he added the two masks to the black solid, Why do you need two masks instead of just making one to represent the shadow?
personman
15 years ago
14:25 use Content-Aware Fill with CS5. I'm surprised you didn't just wait a month to do that.
15 years ago
Thank you kindly - Very good stuff;
Also!
in Lost In Space (1998) the scene where they're being pulled into the suns gravitational pull, having to switch into light-speed-overdrive is another terrific example of Virtual Cinematography~
X37V
15 years ago
It's looks well enough , it's too useful .
personman
15 years ago
"Five dollars... plus two dollars..."
illd
15 years ago
Excellent Tutorial - a pleasure to watch and learn. Thanks VCP, once again1 I just was wondering that the ambient occlusion in Max has a different name. I always thought ao is ao in every app...
15 years ago
very good tutorial, also enjoyed the behind the scenes!
15 years ago
i think this is the last tutorial in AE CS4
15 years ago
We need a solution for this matter cuase its confusing the hell out of me, i click on this link
AE3D Script for Maya, 3D Max
and all i get is text now i know andrew is runing it for 3dmax can you include it in the download file and how to get it to work if thats not tooo much of a trouble sir boss god master andrew the rock kramer
15 years ago
The building file does not open in blender any ideas why?
Kristoffer
15 years ago
Hi!
Awesome tutorial! just wondering, can you do some tutorials about how to moddeling objects? like cars, and buildings and stuff. would have been real nice to make some objects custom too.

Anyways, fantastic tutorials, as always!
Cheers.
Lukas
15 years ago
Oh my god! Andrew speak with me ;P
Just a Joke <

Here is the link.

http://www.sharecg.com/v/32616/Script/Export-After-Effects-Camera-To-Blender
15 years ago
Haven't watched the tut yet, but the sample vid was awesome. Would've been perfect if you had Sam jump though.... BTW, bought AE720p, Pro Scores and the Sound FX pack. Worth every penny.
Mike
15 years ago
Always a fun watch, but my favorite part was the dragon preset.

DRAGON?!
15 years ago
Hey Lukas! What script did you find, can you post a link to it? I'm sure it would help others as well.

Best,
AK
Lukas
15 years ago
Hey Andrew,

good work! Everything here is a good work!

I did it in blender and yes, there are some scripts!

Bye

Greetings from Germany (or so ... )
Ahmed AL Baker
15 years ago
what a great job andrew ... keep up the good work

really loved this tutorial ..
Lock&amp;Load
15 years ago
Did anyone else notice AK's Video Copilot Plugin folder had a plugin called "Dragon" in it?!?
15 years ago
hi nadrew , iam verey ned tutorial ( boujou )
thanks very much
ilove you andrew and Cast
15 years ago
Very nice, thank's Andrew. Don't silent, what the plag-in Dragon?
Edris Mohammadi
15 years ago
Yah! I was really waiting for this one, thanks!

I love Anderw
I am Edris Mohammadi From Iran,Sanandaj.
thanks Andrew...
kunal
15 years ago
nice one Mr Andrew i was waiting for somthing like this ur r great
15 years ago
hahaha yes the Dragon Plugin. Very funny. I hope they release the 64-bit compatible 'Super Dragon' that will have a grenade launcher Secondary fire
Ryan
15 years ago
I'm not sure if anyone one else had seen this but, what is that VCP Dragon plugin? Just wondering
15 years ago
great job! big thx
15 years ago
He is Andrew, and he is Awesome
Alem95
15 years ago
That tutorial treats only things that are also treated in the other tutorials (except Cinema 4D) and the final result is not so good, It seems that Sam is there not because he wants to suicide, but because he must go to the bathroom!(really)
Why don't simply put Sam on a real skycraper? We want to sse him jumping! muhahahaha! ok, i'm a little bit crazy, but that tutorial isn't exciting. That's not the Andrew Kramer i discovered two years ago, that's not the Andrew Kramer that made me good at aftereffects!
Come on, you can do better!
15 years ago
hey andrew
i can't download the video copilot presets
15 years ago
hey
sam's wearing a video copilot t-shirt)
Har Zakeriah
15 years ago
The tuts I've been waiting for.. Thnks Andrew
Btw this is my version..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPj-Ak6l9r0
AnimatorFK
15 years ago
Who Can give me the ae 3d Export Script
I can not get it on webset
15 years ago
great tut! big thx...

but what about lightwave example ? )))
Tiago Oliveira
15 years ago
Thank you very much Andrew.
awesome. Thanks!
rich
15 years ago
Great tut man.............wonderfull.
cheater39
15 years ago
awesome ! Thanks !
Angryman
15 years ago
Goody goody goody. Will watch right now. Peace out bros.
15 years ago
Wow! Awesome! Thanks man.
emin
15 years ago
Andrewww YOU MY HEROOO
15 years ago
Andrew you definitly rule man (hope the spelling is right xD)
Ive been looking for a tutorial like this
thnx
15 years ago
A great tutorial!
Thank you for this
nahcra
15 years ago
great andrew was waiting for this tut since a long time ...............
thanks andrew
Rick
15 years ago
Great VFX tutorial, I needed this
Tolga Demirbilek
15 years ago
Thank you very much Andrew!! for this Awesome tutorial...
dogimo
15 years ago
excellent job, thx a lot! great tut as always.
just a thought, windows looks way too big at the bottom of the buildings compared to cars size.
15 years ago
very thanks and good....
cariaga
15 years ago
the longer the better it gets
Andrew Pletnev
15 years ago
Tutorial good.
Thanks
15 years ago
wow 47 min this is a nice tutorials ^^
15 years ago
after the copy and past of the position to the anchor point ,i bring the concret texture and put it at the bottom it looks transparent on top of sams comp why is that happening its driving me nutts.
Josh M
15 years ago
curious as to what the dragon plug in is....

anyways, great tutorial!
15 years ago
How do you download the script? i went to the link and i cant download it,any ideas how
Andrew
15 years ago
Video cuts out at about twenty five minutes. brilliant tutorial but you seem to be having some technical difficulties :/
Mike Yull
15 years ago
loved it. so good. ae3d is so useful too.
thanks.
erwin
15 years ago
Hi Andrew.. I cant open the tutorial on the mobile site yet? It doesnt show up there only on the normal website.
JP
15 years ago
Excellent work, as usual Andrew. This tut was hilarious ??? hopefully Sam is having fun too (much love to you Sam)!
conde
15 years ago
man it's so great...
i dont belever.
it's true reality
EJ
15 years ago
Excellent! Love it!
More Blender please, if you could.
Jon
15 years ago
Wow! That look's amazing!
filipe3x
15 years ago
Where is Loya's imdb page?
15 years ago
That's was a great tutorial! Thanks!
15 years ago
Love the tutorial, but when i comes to the 3d, i find it hard. I try to use blender, which you do touch on sometimes, but I don't understand it. The tutorials i found are not that great, so i was wondering if you or anyone could help.
Matthew Park
15 years ago
Amazing tutorial! Looking forward to more amazing ones.
15 years ago
Great Tutorial!

May I suggest: Stewart's Root Beer works great during the "water break" portion & What's VC DRAGON?!!

Thanks for the knowledge and great blog posts. Truly inspiring.

Off to create a city now. Back in two weeks...
Phong
15 years ago
Mr. Andrew Kramer, the internet is an awesome piece of technology but without people like you to put brilliant content on it like these tutorials - it would be nothing. You absolutely ROCK hardcore!
15 years ago
Wow, super cool result Andrew, Hope my PC can handle the project. WHAT IS DRAGON!? A new plugin? Or is it a joke?
Cheryl
15 years ago
What???s the Dragon Plugin???
nic
15 years ago
Awesome tutorial. What's the Dragon Plugin???
15 years ago
That's looking great !

I was just wondering, are you guys working on a new plugin called 'Dragon'?
Sounds exciting..!
15 years ago
Thanks for this.... 3 posts in the past 2 days Andrew Kramer, you are officially a legend From the uk
15 years ago
Great, art always wins over technicalities, thats why I gave up engineering for this lark!
15 years ago
@vidvillain, Hey Sean, Great question and point. The truth is, for this scene I did not pay much attention and I just winged without much consideration. I building is not really based on a real building so one thing to consider is the window size, another idea is to use a real image as reference. There are definitely some Scale issues in this shot but you should be able to make it look good if you plan your stuff out with a little creative direction.
15 years ago
I knew you were up to some great stuff to share with us as generous as you are. I just made this opening of the Forta Award 2010 that was used today and I used Optical Flares.

http://www.vimeo.com/11074227
Andrea
15 years ago
"FINALMENTE" ANOTHER TUTORIAL !!!!!

WOW !! THANK YOUUUUUUU ANDREWWWWWWWWWWWW
15 years ago
We did something likes this for a movie (check my website)
I got a lot better results for this with some tracking points. A great guy (Eric Alba, http://24liespersecond.com) a genius in visual effects has some free tracking marks

go to

http://24liespersecond.com/#134754/VFX-Kit-gallery

and print them, he has some instructions on how to do it on black or green. I hope this helps.
15 years ago
Brilliant as always Andrew, and so appreciated! I've one question, and it concerns the relative sizes of everything you have created and used in 3-d space. I'm wondering the conclusions you have arrived at for the size of the building in 3-d; is that a relative real world size building in 3dsmax, and if so, why would one work in this way, and how that relates to where you place the street(car level) in after effects? Basically I suppose, I'm wondering how you deal with scale when it comes to compositing and creating 3-d objects, with reference also to your recent FRINGE balconty shot.

Cheers
Sean
Prateek Pandey
15 years ago
Hmm. Interesting.


A wide variety of techniques employed as i see.
This gives me a great idea for a short

Thanks Andrew!
Prateek Pandey
15 years ago
YEAH!

Bring it on Andrew! You rock!
15 years ago
YEAHH!! Ive been waiting for this looks amazing!
15 years ago
Hi Cameron Lee.. from UK too !
SXVBAKA
15 years ago
HOLY SHIT! increible! we like this tutorial
amazing tutorial
long time u dont use 3d max,the tutorials with 3d max are the best
plz make more tutoriales with 3d max and ae
15 years ago
AND we also get another awesome performance by Mr. Loya. breathtaking!
15 years ago
Yah! I was really waiting for this one, thanks!
15 years ago
Nice finally its here..
15 years ago
oh yeah! been waiting for this one!
good job!!!
Oki
15 years ago
yeah ! 13

i like !
Jonatas
15 years ago
opss..., be carefull Andrew with our SAN lol
15 years ago
Very nice, I've been wondering when the next tutorial would be coming out, haha, thanks Andrew.
15 years ago
Muy bueno. Gracias
bob
15 years ago
ohhhh yeahhhh really cool
15 years ago
Watching this thing now... looks promising!!

Can I come visit you this fall?
Thomas
15 years ago
Now I will fake my death and make millions. jk great job andrew.
Kasa
15 years ago
Nice TUTORIAL!!!
Jasper
15 years ago
Good work! Awesome!
Bill Kelly
15 years ago
Looks interesting. Thanks for including C4D techniques in there!
15 years ago
Ha Ha Ha A. Kramer God Bless
Moss
15 years ago
I've been waiting for this!! Thanks Andrew! You rule!!
Roel STorms
15 years ago
awsome! i was waiting for something like this!