ALL DESIGN TOOLS
38. 3D Camera Projection 2
• Convert a still photo to 3D geometry in AE
• Create multiple walls and a 3d light
• Create multiple walls and a 3d light
Posted on Jun 27, 2007
TUTORIAL NOTES:
UPDATE: For After Effects CS3 use a Spot Light instead of a Point Light.
144 Comments
Jb
10 years ago
Love this tutorial. How can I place another "Comp" into 3d space within the projection. I made a 3d projection of a hallway in a castle. I've got a comp of "Lady Bess of Hardwick" materializing. I would like to place her part way up the hallway. whenever I turn on the 3d space, she disappears no matter where I place her "Z" space.
e11world
11 years ago
Very amazing tutorial. I wonder if you have any tips on using this technique with an image that is not shot from the center (ex. http://wallpapershd2014.com/Wallpapers-11/imagepages/image322.htm or google this abstract-background-1920x1200-1004002)?
mahesh
12 years ago
you are the master of tutorials. widely accepted. Please bring more 3d aspects to your tutorials. Like Blender, C4d kinda. Thank you.
Alex Saur
12 years ago
Heey, I wonder if I could use the same in Premiere pro. Do can I make a video out of this?
Ethan
13 years ago
I want to add lights to my environment. Except the lights won't be enabled due to the wireframes material options being tweaked. How can I add light for compositing purposes?
Stuts
13 years ago
I have tried this tut several times and keep running into the same problem. I'm wondering if this is a CS6 change? When I get to the step to turn on the projected layer, turn off the Reference layer and grid fx, (6:20) all I see is the transparent checkerboard art board.
I have referenced the first "3d Projection" tut and the "Submerged" tut without any success. Also I though the image might be to close or far from the camera and still no success. Every other tut I have done is GREAT! Help?
I have referenced the first "3d Projection" tut and the "Submerged" tut without any success. Also I though the image might be to close or far from the camera and still no success. Every other tut I have done is GREAT! Help?
Doug Drexler
13 years ago
Hey Andy -
Not only are your tutorials great, but you really are a gifted comic!
Doug
Not only are your tutorials great, but you really are a gifted comic!
Doug
Sebbe
14 years ago
hey i have some poles to the left and the right in my pic and if i use the orbit tool the are looking weird, anyone has a tip for that? THANKS
Fernando
14 years ago
MuchÃsimas gracias por compartir tu trabajo desinteresadamente. Tu labor y tu talento son admirable. Otra vez gracias, desde Buenos Aires.
Kelly
14 years ago
This is great! But how can I make this into a video? Do I need keyframes? Because right now I can move the photo around, but I can't get it to move in the timeline.
A'lban
14 years ago
Andrew You Have The Best Tut's
But
Can you tell me how you change to full screen?
I mean the video in AE
But
Can you tell me how you change to full screen?
I mean the video in AE
hutzi
14 years ago
i love that one! gonna try it as soon as possible!
thank you for your great tutorials
thank you for your great tutorials
Stephen
14 years ago
Love this tutorial... just went back through it again after some time as a refresher. However, I'm experiencing some STRANGE issue.
For some reason, when I move my camera using the tools, I can't see the scene change realtime, everything whites out, and when I release the mouse it all updates. At first I thought it might be preview resolution, or some specific setting. But I don't think that's it.
Reason; I downloaded your project file, imported it into MY project, so I could go back and forth and check settings easily... if I move the camera in YOUR comp, it works! If I move the camera in mine it doesn't. Have gone back and forth and compared comps settings, even in Advanced, everything is the same now!
If I copy and paste the layers from my comp into yours... it works! So there has to be something wrong with my comp... I just don't know what to look for. Crazy...
For some reason, when I move my camera using the tools, I can't see the scene change realtime, everything whites out, and when I release the mouse it all updates. At first I thought it might be preview resolution, or some specific setting. But I don't think that's it.
Reason; I downloaded your project file, imported it into MY project, so I could go back and forth and check settings easily... if I move the camera in YOUR comp, it works! If I move the camera in mine it doesn't. Have gone back and forth and compared comps settings, even in Advanced, everything is the same now!
If I copy and paste the layers from my comp into yours... it works! So there has to be something wrong with my comp... I just don't know what to look for. Crazy...
Bennie Khanyizira
14 years ago
Andrew U deserve the best U can get in Life.... U r ril man. Hands Up!!!!!!!!!!!
bubba ganoush
14 years ago
omg, i did the same thing with the soda cans in the box...(insert twilight zone music here).oh yeah, cool tutorial, thanks!
Anish
14 years ago
awsum mind blowing that's amazing very cool tutorials like u.
Andrew, thanks a lot for your tutorials.
Anu
from
Ambala,haryana,India
Andrew, thanks a lot for your tutorials.
Anu
from
Ambala,haryana,India
HappytimeGod
14 years ago
This is just amazing.. I did not manage to close my mouth in a several minutes, that's just awesome!
ozwizm
14 years ago
this was one of the most awesome things I have ever seen. I still cant believe that i can make a 3d scene out of a picture. Especially not without downloading presets or another software! Ur the best, man.
Devin S.
15 years ago
Your stories are anti-climactic, but your tutorials are great.
Thank you
Too bad you can't bend the solids to form spheres/cylinders/other 3d solids to make the effect any more amazing but whatever, its still good.
Thank you
Too bad you can't bend the solids to form spheres/cylinders/other 3d solids to make the effect any more amazing but whatever, its still good.
blanki
15 years ago
Hello Andrew,
my name is markus and i come from germany.
You are the best. i like your tutorials there are great and its simple explain by you. my english is not the best but i hope you know what i mean.
please show more tutorials. FANTASTIC. GREAT
greetings from germany
markus
my name is markus and i come from germany.
You are the best. i like your tutorials there are great and its simple explain by you. my english is not the best but i hope you know what i mean.
please show more tutorials. FANTASTIC. GREAT
greetings from germany
markus
Irene
15 years ago
very nice tutorial as usual - i haven't tried it out yet... but I wish you gave us more explanation on why do we do a certain thing a certain way. For example, why do we need a light? And for the grid, does it automatically "match" the image below it to fit to the grid and that's why the image scales when the camera moves? And why do we bring the "projected" layer all the way to the front of the camera and scale it down? And what is the "shadow map resolution" that you changed in the advanced 3d?
A lot of questions in my head. But cool effect though - didn't think it would be possible.
A lot of questions in my head. But cool effect though - didn't think it would be possible.
Josh Pabst (obviouschld Productions)
15 years ago
Andrew; truly great stuff here. It's not that your tutorials are so groundbreaking--it's that they are so tolerable. Your sense of humor is spot on for me and I really enjoy watching your videos. I am an architect in Chicago and use Photoshop almost daily and am very proficient at it, and I have been a Sony Vegas user for years, but am just learning After Effects. These tutorials are exactly what I need to begin delving into the depths of AE (which is really far less intuitive than Photoshop.) Keep up the good work- I hope you find it as rewarding as myself and other viewers. I know some people may be put off by adding Photoshop to your tutorials, but I'm not at all. I think Adobe CS4,3 are meant to be used in conjunction. They are a suite. Why else would PS have exportable AE things. I would love to see more ways to integrate Photoshop and AE. We should always use the best tool for the job and sometimes you need to use PS. I'll stop now. Thanks.
fugitivo
16 years ago
gracias amigo, you got the surprise effect, cause I hadn´t seen the first 3D tutorial. it was shocking
Fictionist
16 years ago
I love your tutorials and the way you project your own views and such with the learning content, it just makes it that much more fun to listen to and you pick up on those tiny little things, which would otherwise fall between the cracks.
Anyway... I like your style of teaching, you make it easy to learn, hope you'll keep doing this as long as you have the power to do so.
Thanx!!
Anyway... I like your style of teaching, you make it easy to learn, hope you'll keep doing this as long as you have the power to do so.
Thanx!!
mohan
16 years ago
you've got some cool tutorials here.
what about the sodas popping out of the pack? i'd love to see a tut of that.
what about the sodas popping out of the pack? i'd love to see a tut of that.
Evan Seitz
16 years ago
quick question - i did everything up to where the tutorial ended, but when i try to make keyframes, my timeline is completely locked up! what do i do if i want to keyframe the camera going down the hall?
Yann
16 years ago
if your picture is nor that square I suggest to move the light instead of the camera, you won't have problème with the overlapping layers and duplication of image.
It works great, thanks Andrew for that one too !
It works great, thanks Andrew for that one too !
Mark Heggen
16 years ago
Tried the OpenGL trick and the light setting...but still am getting just white.
Interestingly, I opened a project that used this--which I made in CS2--and it looks fine in CS3. Checked the settings, and they are all the original ones...even the light. Yet it works.
Anybody figured this out yet? Thanks!
Interestingly, I opened a project that used this--which I made in CS2--and it looks fine in CS3. Checked the settings, and they are all the original ones...even the light. Yet it works.
Anybody figured this out yet? Thanks!
minuslab
16 years ago
Thanks a lot for all your work. This software is amazing! You really help people in your own way, thanks again A LOT from france!
Peter
16 years ago
Camera projections are so powerful. Especially in fully 3d apps like Maya, you can turn a single image into a complete scene after replicating the lighting, however it all depends on the required camera movements. Being able to do it in AFX is just awesome tho. Thanks for the tutorial.
For those having trouble with this in cs3, use a spot light instead of a point light.
For those having trouble with this in cs3, use a spot light instead of a point light.
Yasukin
16 years ago
Man, amazing! Andrew I'm wondering what if there are some people in the pictures and you are sorta wants to make it 3D? could you show me how?
thanks
thanks
leo
16 years ago
it did really work the walls came out white like the solid help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! somebody this is very improtant I'm making a movie for my school please guys!!!
Andreas
17 years ago
CS3 problem solved!
It seems to be a problem with Open GL in CS3. Turn off Open GL in the Comp window. Use the button called Fast Previews( its at the bottom of the comp window). Worked for me.
And Thanks for the great tutorials Andrew!
It seems to be a problem with Open GL in CS3. Turn off Open GL in the Comp window. Use the button called Fast Previews( its at the bottom of the comp window). Worked for me.
And Thanks for the great tutorials Andrew!
Gaurav
17 years ago
kramer ur tutorials are funtastic and very helpful for the artists of this field... thanks a lot for these nice and useful tutorials
David Grannell
17 years ago
That was a really helpful tutorial. Im doing a masters in animation. Im learning after effects right now, so it really helped improve my ability in after affects. Thanks!
polygram
17 years ago
how can do this orbit cam motions like animation?
i wanna do animation to this 3D photo.
thank youuuuu !!
i wanna do animation to this 3D photo.
thank youuuuu !!
Dan
17 years ago
Great tutorial,
Don't think it works in CS3 though....I changed the light from Point to Spot but it still isn't working properly.
Don't think it works in CS3 though....I changed the light from Point to Spot but it still isn't working properly.
m2editor
17 years ago
great great tutorial....solved a HUGE problem I was having. Now...how would I comp another layer INTO that image? I have a very similar project....need to put a person into a very long hall and do a move. I've tried THIS concept but the person appears dark and slightly transparent. What gives?
Jesse Lampkin
17 years ago
this is a great site you have here. this tutorial is pretty sweet.
thanks you for sharing all this knowledge with us.
blessings
jesse
thanks you for sharing all this knowledge with us.
blessings
jesse
Nato-Potato
17 years ago
wow thanks alot this was one of the best tutorials you have made which is saying alot because all of them are awsome! thanks so much for your help Mr. Kramer
S7ARBVCK
17 years ago
Brilliant tutorial! Not only very informative, but very funny! VideoCoPilot is added to my favorites, and I will support the site! Keep up the great work! 
BBB
17 years ago
http://youtube.com/watch?v=C63q5EbpTug&feature=related
can anyone explain to me how he did the round roof?
layers in after effects are only basic shapes. how did he do that?
can anyone explain to me how he did the round roof?
layers in after effects are only basic shapes. how did he do that?
Esteban Méndez Guzmán
17 years ago
Hello Andrew, i´am from Chile and i have a problem with this tutorial because mi AE is CS3, then i download this project (3D Camera Projection 2) but CS3 don't show me the "projected layer" results, have you any idea???
Thanks
Thanks
Cameron
17 years ago
Hey, what's up, guys? I just have one question. Christmas is coming up and I have a dilema.
Should I get Adobe After Effects CS3, 7, or 8?
By the way, for those of you saying it didn't work for AE CS3, use a Spot Light instead of a Point Light.
Should I get Adobe After Effects CS3, 7, or 8?
By the way, for those of you saying it didn't work for AE CS3, use a Spot Light instead of a Point Light.
Chapps
17 years ago
Hi,
love your tutes. have one question regarding this one. When i apply this effect to a 3d image i rendered for some reason the image becomes blurry or loses qaulity. Is there something im doing wrong that causes this or do i need to use an images thats significantly bigger than my comp size?
love your tutes. have one question regarding this one. When i apply this effect to a 3d image i rendered for some reason the image becomes blurry or loses qaulity. Is there something im doing wrong that causes this or do i need to use an images thats significantly bigger than my comp size?
trev
17 years ago
this isnt working for me 
i followed the tutorial exactly, but the picture just shows up black. and when i downloaded the project file, it was all white. the walls were covering the picture for some reason. anyone know why?
i followed the tutorial exactly, but the picture just shows up black. and when i downloaded the project file, it was all white. the walls were covering the picture for some reason. anyone know why?
vic
17 years ago
it may be hard to tell, but i am giving you a standing ovation....starting now.... to the man that proves there's more to the net than porn.
Ontoin Bucho Mole (Brasil)
17 years ago
Rapaz, tu é fera viu!?
Parabéns por esse excelente trabalho profissionalÃÂÂssimo e de primeira.
Continue assim!
Um grande Abraço da trupe 3D do Brasil.
Parabéns por esse excelente trabalho profissionalÃÂÂssimo e de primeira.
Continue assim!
Um grande Abraço da trupe 3D do Brasil.
Andy
17 years ago
Hey again, i downloaded the project and tried i opened it with after effects, but i have still the problem, it doesnt happen anything when i turn off the Eye of the Projection, i still see a white screen, what shall i do??
Simon Sweden
17 years ago
Wow, I think this was the coolest tutorial on this website. I mean, this one has the coolest result, it's just like making a 3d room out of one single picture!
Thanks
Thanks
Travis O'Donnell
17 years ago
I wander if it is possible to take this tutorial and go farther with it. For instance, (using the image Andrew used with the tutorial) we zoom up the the door on the left side, rotate left and there would be another room inside of it. I guess you would do it the same way, but it would take alot more time. Go for it Andrew! And if I find out before you, I'll post back
Brento
17 years ago
Awesome. Here's a way to do a pretty sweeping crane motion shot, only without the $150,000 crane. Genius!
I feel like I'm being taken to school each time I watch one of these. Very, very sweet!
Joe Horan
17 years ago
A wonderful tutorial!!! Thank you so much for this.
For anyone who is having that "white texture" problem, change the fast previews option on the preview screen from "OpenGL interactive" to "Off"
Thanks again Andrew!
For anyone who is having that "white texture" problem, change the fast previews option on the preview screen from "OpenGL interactive" to "Off"
Thanks again Andrew!
Amiri
17 years ago
I have to say, that I too am having the same issue. For some reason, everyone who has CS3 has this issue. I don't have the older one to see if it is fixed but I agree something is not write. I love the tutorials anyway. I will continue on my quest to figure this issue out.
Martin
17 years ago
Hi! I have this same problem because I'm using CS3. I think that there is sth wrong with the newest version of AF, To prove that I reccomend to check options Accept Sdadows and Accept Lights. When you check to accept shadows but to not accept lights the problems appear. However all tutorials are great and I appreciate Andrew's work.
MikeS
17 years ago
First off, thanks so much for all the tuts you have done. I'm having the exact same issue as Kris and HENRY. Once I enable all the correct material properties for lighting, the projected image is not visible at all. I am using CS3. Is there something I'm missing, or a setting that has to be adjusted first? I am following the tutorial exact. When I open the project file, the projected image does not appear there either. Any help is appreciated.
Joe
17 years ago
I hope I'm not double posting, my apologies if I am.
I found this tutorial really really really impressive. Maybe I too am easily impressed but still I can't believe how you can get that awesome effect from a still image. Simply amazing.
You are a great person to offer these tutorials for free. Thank you so much !!
I found this tutorial really really really impressive. Maybe I too am easily impressed
but still I can't believe how you can get that awesome effect from a still image. Simply amazing.You are a great person to offer these tutorials for free. Thank you so much !!
Joe
17 years ago
Dude that was really impressive (Either that or I too are easily impressed )
I really really really enjoyed this tutorial. I can't believe you do this for FREE. I'm incredibly thankful! Movies are one of my passions and I'm hoping to learn to do my own on my free time.
Thanks a million!!
)I really really really enjoyed this tutorial. I can't believe you do this for FREE. I'm incredibly thankful! Movies are one of my passions and I'm hoping to learn to do my own on my free time.
Thanks a million!!
Damir
17 years ago
Never thought to combine those quite like that. Alternate way of doing this would be using Photoshop's vanishing point. When you set up a grid inside the vanishing point you can export for AE by clicking on the little arrow in the top left corner. In AE make sure to import/vanishing point data just importing it like footage will not work. This will give you a 3D comp with all the planes that you have created and a folder full of "undistroted" png textures.
Kofi
17 years ago
When I do the white layer receive lights off the white grid appears. But on the tutorial there is no grid visible.>-(
Christopher Bray
17 years ago
Brilliant tutorial, you've been a great inspiration and all your tutorials have taught me so much about AE. Thanks!
Vineshh
18 years ago
Hey.. i followed you tutorial but i cant seem to get the same look as yours even when im using ur picture. When i also downloaded the project and opend it on AE i said i need to upgrade version 7.0 but im using AE C3.. can you comment back on this and help me out.
Joanna
18 years ago
Great tutorial!
Although i'm having some trouble with a much more complicated image, where there is a car in the foreground.
Is there any place to find more tips on using this with different layers?
Thanks!!
Although i'm having some trouble with a much more complicated image, where there is a car in the foreground.
Is there any place to find more tips on using this with different layers?
Thanks!!
HENRY
18 years ago
love the tutorial. followed everything but when i turn off reference layer all i see is white. triple checked all setting every thing is correct. works great with ur project files but not when i try creating it from a new project. any ideas?
Kris
18 years ago
Can't seem to get it working in AE CS3. After everything is in place, I turn off the reference image and wall effects but the projected image isn't there. I tried opening your file as well but still to no avail. Am I doing something wrong like missing a little option or is the problem in AE?
Ivan Oliveira
18 years ago
Hi Andrew,
thanks a lot for the tutorials, I'm building a tutorial site myself @ www.enzimage.com.
One important thing about this tutorial is that it won`t work with many graphic cards if OpenGL is turned to "always". Using my 3d Card (quaddro560) it shows only the white solids but no projection, The first time I tryed the tutorial I almost went crazy! hehehe.
Ivan
thanks a lot for the tutorials, I'm building a tutorial site myself @ www.enzimage.com.
One important thing about this tutorial is that it won`t work with many graphic cards if OpenGL is turned to "always". Using my 3d Card (quaddro560) it shows only the white solids but no projection, The first time I tryed the tutorial I almost went crazy! hehehe.
Ivan
kiran Parmar
18 years ago
i got realy far into the tutorial but... i couldnt change my cast shadows to only?
only yes or no... i have aftereffects cs3 so it shudnt be a problem?
only yes or no... i have aftereffects cs3 so it shudnt be a problem?
stije Hallema
18 years ago
hey andrew
this is such a cool effect! and so you usefull!
there's only one problem.,
I dont understand it...
I've rebuilt it twice, it works
but I just dont understand how the concept works..
I see that the perspecive of the camera moves, but how come that I see that?
i dont get it..
(and I had good figures for math&sience..)
anyway
your the best videotutorialist i've ever come across, so keep up the good work!
this is such a cool effect! and so you usefull!
there's only one problem.,
I dont understand it...
I've rebuilt it twice, it works
but I just dont understand how the concept works..
I see that the perspecive of the camera moves, but how come that I see that?
i dont get it..
(and I had good figures for math&sience..)
anyway
your the best videotutorialist i've ever come across, so keep up the good work!
Rob Roy
18 years ago
Great tut, Andrew!
This trick could be modified to make a virtual "Crane Shot", huh?
Going to try that out, thanx for the tut, and putting the idea in my head!
This trick could be modified to make a virtual "Crane Shot", huh?
Going to try that out, thanx for the tut, and putting the idea in my head!
bruce patterson
18 years ago
excellent tutorial and Super Program You are very good there in andrew bye
Jack
18 years ago
I have very big problem.. Your tutorials are really nice but i dont have the used plugins. So can anybody tell me where can i download Plugins which are used in the tutorials. Such as "Simple Choker", "Corner Pin" e.t.c Please help me!
Admirer
18 years ago
Great Tutorial. Your tutorials owns.
Thankyou for your help. And your spontaneous jokes.
Thankyou for your help. And your spontaneous jokes.
HENRY
18 years ago
MAN, YOU'RE AMAZING! CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT TUT.
I'VE LEARNED ALOT AND I'M LOOKING AT THINGS IN AE IN DIFFERENT WAYS. DUDE, HOW DO YOU DO IT!!???LOL
MANY THANKS
I'VE LEARNED ALOT AND I'M LOOKING AT THINGS IN AE IN DIFFERENT WAYS. DUDE, HOW DO YOU DO IT!!???LOL
MANY THANKS
Thomas
18 years ago
This is ... awesome, I used to think it was a dream to do such a thing but no, thank you !
michelle
18 years ago
Hello. Amazing tuts! I was wondering what the difference is between this way and doing it with the vanishing point? This way seems like the end result looks better, but if you do it in vp do you have as many options as far as making it look like your walking through the alley? Thank you SO much!
jason
18 years ago
I know you may get alot of this, but I'm so greatfull for your great tutorials and your teaching skills. Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!! keep it up!!!!
hqthief
18 years ago
thanks for the tutorial. this is one of the best tutorials here. Btw the new site rocks
Brian
18 years ago
I really enjoyed the tutorial, it was very useful. Thanks. It was cool that it worked in the old version AFX (v5.5) too.
Here are some tests I did:
with my own drawing: http://www.atomicbearpress.com/comics/log/2007/08/sketch-into-simple-3d.html
With a background painting from Porco Rosa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn3LI0o8aN4
from a friends watercolor painting: http://www.atomicbearpress.com/comics/log/2007/08/testing-bloggers-new-video-feature.html
Here are some tests I did:
with my own drawing: http://www.atomicbearpress.com/comics/log/2007/08/sketch-into-simple-3d.html
With a background painting from Porco Rosa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn3LI0o8aN4
from a friends watercolor painting: http://www.atomicbearpress.com/comics/log/2007/08/testing-bloggers-new-video-feature.html
