ALL DESIGN TOOLS
133. Depth Compositing
• Use a Z-pass render to combine 2D stock footage
• Use most 3D programs like 3D max, C4D & even Element 3D
• Use most 3D programs like 3D max, C4D & even Element 3D
Posted on Sep 06, 2012
Special FX PLAYLIST
Lightning and Energy
10:09
Depth Compositing
Use a Z-pass render to combine 2D stock footage
21:00
Smoke Trails
Create realistic smoke trails with Particular particles
25:00
Glass Orbs
Use After Effects to create shiny glass orbs in 3D
40:00
Submerged
Animate a camera through one surface to another below
38:00
3D Light Casting
Create an energy-ball that re-lights the road surface
18:00
Soul Removal
Create Energy particle system in After Effects
18:00
The Healer
Create a healing effect as seen by many super heroes
11:00
Frosty Breath
Create the illusion of cold breath on a warm day
25:00
Skin Displacement
Simulate the look of bugs crawling under the skin
25:00
Magic Glass
Create the illusion of camera passing through glass
TUTORIAL NOTES:
135 Comments
Gayle Kakac
5 years ago
I would like to learn how to do the effect where people are sucked into the Jumanji game. What tutorial would I use for that and how do you use the Video Copilot software? I have paid $500 for some other software of yours.
david
7 years ago
hey andrew, have you tried making blown away smoke from scratch in after effects without using third-party plug-ins? please make a tutorial
Abhi
8 years ago
Plz help me, I donloaded vc presets and pasted in cs4 preset directory, tell me will it work automatically or i have to do something extra in it,and also tell that my pc is of 32 bit and i have to install sabre in it in cs4,i downloade from videocopilet and saw a setup which is not working it is saying that
this version of this file is not compatible with the windows you are running) PLEASE HELP ANYONE
this version of this file is not compatible with the windows you are running) PLEASE HELP ANYONE
harikosaksi
8 years ago
i have a common doubt in all the videos when u place 3d elements why do you track and keep a null object can u please tell me
NeNoLima
8 years ago
isn't it possible to do it z depth using element 3d? I saw there're also fractured objects there too... so, why not to do just at AE?
Abraham Puello
9 years ago
Hey guys excuse me, but there is someone here that help me to understand what i have to do with the Zpass render? 'cause i don't understand yet... please what i have to do with it?
Brandon
9 years ago
Hey Andrew, in the opening portion at 00:22. How were you able to composite the 3d objects in front of Sam? Was Sam shot separately on a green screen?
Naeem Samuel
10 years ago
Please send me tutorial of how to make a fire on text and also send plugins of aftereffects cs3 & cs6
Angus
10 years ago
why on earth don't they sell 3ds max as a program anymore? now it costs 120 bucks a month for a subscription, trying to get rid of hobbyists
Sawyer
10 years ago
Hey good tutorial. I also combined it with the greyscale gorilla tutorial https://vimeo.com/68728876 to experiment with the new CC after effects that includes cinema 4D. I found that by using the AE camera lens blur effect and setting blur map to your depth pass layer, you can apply a depth of field to your 3d objects that matches your shot. For example in the project file for this tutorial, there are some out of focus elements in the foreground, so by exporting the 3d track data to C4D, you can build a 3d scene where you can add objects to the parking garage complete with depth of field.
Martin Douglass
10 years ago
I am trying to do a Z Depth on a 3D skull and it disappears when I do the Z Depth. Thoughts?
Kartik Purwar
12 years ago
hey could you please make a tutorial to how to that stone destruction and also how to matte shadows of it in 3ds max.
How did you make transparent background with shadows.
Please it would help me lot if you do a tutorial.
I think many people would have faced these problems too.
How did you make transparent background with shadows.
Please it would help me lot if you do a tutorial.
I think many people would have faced these problems too.
Adam Cox
12 years ago
Wow this is one of those simple yet really effective effects. I'll use this one for sure.
Bruno
12 years ago
Really nice tutorial, but I don't understand how did you exported the z-depth pass as a animation file and imported in After Effects as a separated layer. =/
hosein of iran
13 years ago
very very good.please teach slow and explain more about plugin and after envirenment.tanx my fat brother!!!!!!!!!!!
Artem
13 years ago
Thank you Andrew Kramer, I'm from Russia and I really enjoyed this tutorial I'll do, thanks to you
Jake
13 years ago
How can you set a ground plane in Element?
In other 3d programs you can set a ground plane so that when you shatter an object, the pieces wont go past the ground plane so that it looks more realistic.
Can you do that in Element???
In other 3d programs you can set a ground plane so that when you shatter an object, the pieces wont go past the ground plane so that it looks more realistic.
Can you do that in Element???
Nash
13 years ago
Could someone please answer this! I have bought all of video copilot's products so far and i am still learning as much as i can. I am now stepping in 3D as well and would like to know the following before i buy element 3D too. I understand some of its functionalities like particle replicator, animating 3D models etc. But apart from importing those 3D files made with other programs, can element 3D itself create basic 3D stuff from scratch, for example the rocks in the tutorial above? Or the 3D debris material from the meteor crash tutorial? Referencing the epic shatter tutorial, can element 3D shatter that same 3D ball? Anyways keep up the good job guys! I hope we can see a 3D package with some form of vehicles like a car and a chopper sometime as well. Will definitely buy that and also looking forward to 3D buildings and skyscrapers pack!
Majd
13 years ago
simply ... you are amazing ..
I adore all of your works ... to death
keep it up sir.
I adore all of your works ... to death
keep it up sir.
Warren
13 years ago
thank you very much! I will really be using this technique a lot, it shows more possibilities with element and ae, and I can add real rocket jazz to my current project. nakushukuru bwana!
nacer abd el rahman
13 years ago
thx for this cool lessons in AE I' from algeria 15 year old worl whith AE CS4 I have some fun when I do effect in this programe
KUSH
13 years ago
Sir You Are Owsome, I M Great fan Of Yours, And i want to be a VFX artist ........!
Adnan
13 years ago
Hi,Andrew.
I like u.And u r the best teacher in this field.i have learnt many things from You.Thats why I Love u.not like girl friend but as your student.and this is my first mail to u.thanks.
I like u.And u r the best teacher in this field.i have learnt many things from You.Thats why I Love u.not like girl friend but as your student.and this is my first mail to u.thanks.
Rodrigo Sbardelini
13 years ago
Hello, Andrew would ask him to do more tutorials on camera movements thanks ....
Nathan R.
13 years ago
Hey Andrew,
Great content! One more thing that separates VCP from the others. Hey, are you responsible for the titles on the new show "Revolution", it just really reminds me of something you would do.
Cheers
Great content! One more thing that separates VCP from the others. Hey, are you responsible for the titles on the new show "Revolution", it just really reminds me of something you would do.
Cheers
Søren Nowakowski
13 years ago
Great tutorial! At first I was like "Hmm, this doesn't seem so "cool" as all the other tutorials" but I take it all back... 
The epiphany came to me last night when I watched Avatar. And in one of the earlier scenes, you see a tower on pandora with a man walking around in it. Now, I'm quite sure the tower is 3D, and I wondered how it was possible to put a piece of (I assume) green screen footage WITHIN that 3D tower, so the footage is not just in front of the tower, or behind it... Well now I know 
Thanks Andrew!
The epiphany came to me last night when I watched Avatar. And in one of the earlier scenes, you see a tower on pandora with a man walking around in it. Now, I'm quite sure the tower is 3D, and I wondered how it was possible to put a piece of (I assume) green screen footage WITHIN that 3D tower, so the footage is not just in front of the tower, or behind it... Well now I know Thanks Andrew!
y.g
13 years ago
Hi Andrew
I'm from Iran and this tutorials was really useful for me.
you are a talented and very good guy for sharing your knowledge for free.
pls share more gun and action tutorials.
I'm from Iran and this tutorials was really useful for me.
you are a talented and very good guy for sharing your knowledge for free.
pls share more gun and action tutorials.
George Laird
13 years ago
I was thinking if Sam had acted like he caught it and went down, it would look like a horror flick
ionut
13 years ago
Hi,how i can render a object with shadow in cinema4d with transparent background,i know how i can make this,but i dont know how i can make this with shaddow on floor.
Wizzaygrafix™
13 years ago
Thank You Brother Andrew For Sharing Your Knowledge With The World. God Bless You A Lot. Greetings From Wizzaygrafix™.
gabe
13 years ago
great tut..but what about putting sam in? was that shot on a greenscreen? did you zpass him inot the comp?
Ramon
13 years ago
Andrew is awesome, I love the way he teaches! Thanks for sharing your knowledges, they're helping me a lot!
Theoss
13 years ago
Great tutorial !! Thanks to spend time teaching us for free !
Otherwise, does anyone know the title of the music of the sample video (00:16) ??
Thanks
Otherwise, does anyone know the title of the music of the sample video (00:16) ??
Thanks
Anderson
13 years ago
Prarabéns ao Andrew eo ator Sam, muinto legal.
bom sou de brasil. e um pais que tambem gosta de seus tutorias.
bom sou de brasil. e um pais que tambem gosta de seus tutorias.
Greg Frewin
13 years ago
For us element owners can you explain how you get the second element layer as a z pass do we do this in element you never showed how to set this up with element. Thanx Andrew great meeting you at NAB hope you are going again oh and met Sam too he is cool... Cheers greg
Paul-Emile
13 years ago
Hey !!
Thanks Andrew, I love you.
But I have a question, somebody know what is the frangmentation category used in rayfire ???
Voronoi, Proboolean, uniform ??
Thanks, (and sorry, I hope my english is good )
Thanks Andrew, I love you.
But I have a question, somebody know what is the frangmentation category used in rayfire ???
Voronoi, Proboolean, uniform ??
Thanks, (and sorry, I hope my english is good
)
giloz
13 years ago
hey andrew thanks for you tutorial but why didnt you talk about the shadows thanks 
Jack
13 years ago
Please can you do an indepth tutorial on how you created the broken piece and how you got it to that realistic quality
siNINails
13 years ago
I've been following your tutorials for a few years now and I simply want to say "Thanks".
Chris Francis
13 years ago
Wow 2 tutorials in one week! thanks andrew! this is another learning for us thanks for your endless learning Andrew! god bless you! or Aliens bless you or what ever!
Rodrigo Sbardelini
13 years ago
OMG video copilot in HD, liked this....it's amazing, Andrew return uhul....
David
13 years ago
Very, very cool tutorial.
I thought I knew about Z passes, but it turns out I knew nothing! I use them to mess around with focus, nothing like as cool an application as this.
Real behind the scenes of Motion picture effects stuff, thank you \^^/
I thought I knew about Z passes, but it turns out I knew nothing! I use them to mess around with focus, nothing like as cool an application as this.
Real behind the scenes of Motion picture effects stuff, thank you \^^/
Dominic
13 years ago
Wow i use z depth all the time but i use it for blurring the background, i never new i could use it as a alpha this will save me allot of time thank you.
this will save me allot of time thank you.
Kristoffer
13 years ago
Damn... i think you have made many tutorials latey and that super awsome thanks agian man.
Steve
13 years ago
awesome thanks Andrew, this is exactly what I was hoping for in one of your tutorials.
Sam
13 years ago
Clever! I never thought of using zpass and exposure to make mattes for slices... Great tutorial! Also, I'd still love to cook you that burger, Andrew.
Tim
13 years ago
First I was like: Why is he using a 3dmax element an not an ELEMENT??? But then it was clear. This is really taking things to the next level like always.
lakekover
13 years ago
Absolutely amazing. Never knew this but it totally adds so much more to the realism of things - thanks; incredible tutorial and great cool techniques!
