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Element 3D v1.6 Help Home

What's New

Getting Started

Updates

Element 3D v1.6 Element 3D v1.5

Installation and Compatibility

Installing Element 3D Specifications & Requirements Installing VCP model packs Updating Element from a previous version

Importing 3D Objects into Element

Importing 3D Objects Supported 3D Formats Exporting 3D Objects for Element 3D Exporting 3D Objects from C4D Object Transform and Anchor Point Settings Importing Pre-Fractured Geometry 3D Object Troubleshooting Baked Animation Sequences Exporting Animated 3D Sequences

Texturing & Materials

Building Materials in Element 3D Material Texture Slots Environment Textures (reflection map) Texture Channel Pop-up Material Presets Supported Image Formats Surface & UV Mapping Animated Video Textures Normal Bump Map Creation Minimizing Texture Artifacts Pro Shaders Advanced Material Options Opacity Maps Auto Map Size Limit

Animating 3D Objects

3D Object Groups Particle Replicator Particle Look Baked Animation Options Multi-Object Mode Adjusting the Anchor Point Group Utilities & Null Objects World Transform Animation Engine

Extruding 3D Text & Mask Shapes

Extruding Text Tessellation Options Bevel Options Use Layer as UV Bevel Presets

User Interface (Scene Setup)

Panel Descriptions, Preview, Browser, etc. Adjusting UI Panels Saving Presets Preferences Hotkeys Selecting Atom particle vs Replicator Array Changing the Environment map

Compositing Element 3D

Using Depth Compositing World Position Matte Using a Mask with an Element Layer Custom Layer Maps Using Matte Shadow plane Element 3D with 3D Camera Trackers Element 3D & Lens Flare Obscuration Custom Environment maps

Camera & Lighting

Camera Setup Lighting Controls

Render Settings

Environment Lighting Ambient Occlusion (SSAO) Fog Motion Blur Depth of Field Glow Camera Cutoff Tips for Large Resolution Comps Render Order & Opacity Maps Optimizing Render Settings & Performance

Sharing & Transferring Projects

Transferring Element 3D Projects and Assets Relinking missing files

Troubleshooting

Licensing Problems Model Browser Empty Plug-In Not Opening Render Problems Installer Errors Unable To Find Solution?

FAQ

Home > Compositing Element 3D > Using Depth Compositing

Using Depth Compositing

USING DEPTH COMPOSITING
You can use a Z Depth or World Position Pass to integrate other layers. What you could do is use a duplicate of your Element layer, set the duplicate to Z Depth from the Output/Show. You can then set that layer as a track matte for another layer to get it to appear behind an object.

Depth Compositing
• Use a Z-pass render to combine 2D stock footage
• Use most 3D programs like 3D max, C4D & even Element 3D

WATCH NOW!

Z Depth Start:
Control the start depth (white) and how it transitions to the End (black).

Z Depth End:
Control the position of the Depth (black)

Clamp Output:
Limits the maximum depth value to 1 when using 32bpc.

Preserve Alpha:
Makes background transparent