3D Layering

  

The first step in creating 3D Layering is to open the Adobe After Effects software, to do that you could either use the shortcut or type it in the search engine (finder). However, using the shortcut would be the best option.

 

Once you’ve opened the Adobe After Effects software, a window should appear showing the different options such as New Composition, Open Project, Help and Support and Getting Started (this is shown in the picture on your left).

What you need to do is click New Composition. After that, a window (shown on your right) should appear, which shows you the Composition Settings,where you adjust your setting making the width 1920 and the height 1080.

If you are having difficulty do so it might be because you have the lock aspect ratio ticked. If not go to the next stage.

The next stage is to import the footage from the computer onto the software. So, what you need to do is, go to File and scroll down to Import, once you’ve done that click Multiple Files.

After clicking six of your desired videos, drag each video onto the composition window, then move onto the next step.

  

The next step is to position the videos so that it is three at the top and three at the bottom, make sure they are at or near enough equal proportions (size).

The next step is to make sure the layers can be used for 3D layering. To do that you have to click a video and the click the empty space that has a box  row. So that you can enable the effect.

Then you need to add a camera on to your composition. So that means you have to go to Layer, highlight New and then scroll down to Camera (as shown in the pictures above).

 

This is the camera settings, all you have to do is click OK. After setting up the camera, you have to go the bottom of the composition window and click 1 view. once you’ve clicked 1 view you have to change it to 2 view (…..).

Now you have to make sure that all the videos you’re using have a 3D looking box (3D layering) in each box, shown in the picture above, so that is composition will work.

Once you’ve the previous step you need to add a Null Object, to do this you have to go to Layers, go to New and then scroll down to Null Object.

  

Once you have added the Null Object, you have to adjust the settings. Make sure the Y Rotation is at 0x+360 degrees. Make sure the null object has a 3d layer box selected as well.

  

The next step is to Parent the videos to the Null Object. This is done by going to each video, going to the Parent column, then in that column click the None and change it to Null 1.

Once the previous step is done, this is what the layout should look like (shown in the picture above). Do not link (parent) the camera with the null object, otherwise, the composition will not be a success.

  

As you can see in the image to your right the null object is showing on the top, which makes the footage rotate this is done by changing the x axis to 0 – +360 degrees or you can null object from the bottom view to the top view.

When you’ve moved the Null Object you need make all the footage the same length, however i did it it different length so they disappear and reappear at different times, its up to you.

After doing that use the preview tool (located near on the top right hand corner of the screen) and press the play button, this is done so you can see your composition run smoothly.

When you have completed all the steps, you have render the composition. To do this you have to go to the tool bar (at the top of the screen) and click File, scroll down to Export and click add to render queue.

After clicking add to render queue you have to click the Output Module. Once you’ve done that make sure QuickTime is selected, then click OK.

After that, go to Output To and give your composition a name ( 3D Layering), then click Render.