If you work a lot in visual effects you know that creating stunning 3D objects and environments in After Effects and similar VFX programs is no easy task. There are plenty of tutorials out there that break down processes step by step, but Charles Yeager of AE Tuts+ offers some tips on how to get the most out of your renders when using Video Copilot's Element 3D After Effects plugin by simply changing a few render and output settings. Check out the tutorial after the jump.
When working with powerful tools like After Effects and Element 3D, the last thing you or your clients want to see coming out of it are graphics that fall short of their potential. Yeager's tutorial shows us how to identify and use certain settings in Element, including camera fall off, ambient occlusion, and motion blur, which enhance your models in different ways, be it by accenting shadows and crevices or producing a more realistic blur.
If you're not under any tight deadlines, one way to up your project's appeal, as Yeager points out in the video, is to bypass the presets and create your own effects (he talks specifically of lighting). Taking the time to make a model your own is going to make it that much better -- something you, your audience, and/or your clients will notice and appreciate.
Now, on to the tutorial. All of the source files, including the sphere model and environment map used in the tutorial, are available to download so you can follow along with the tutorial.
Was this tutorial helpful to you? Do you have any tips that could help Element 3D users? Let us know in the comments.
Link: Tips on Getting the Most From Element 3D -- AE Tuts+
[via Filmmaker IQ]
