How To Import Real 3D Models To Adobe After Effects CS5?

Adobe After Effects is a great software for video editing.It has lots and lots of features to make your video stunning.But unfortunately you can't work with 3D models in it directly.After Effects CS6 allows you to have 3D models.But for other versions use this trick.Here is how you do it!

Steps To Import 3D Models To After Effects CS5

1. Download your 3D model in any of the following formats. Supported formats include *.3DS , *.DAE , *.KMZ , *.U3D , *.OBJ  (I recommend you to use .3DS formats)
2. Open Photoshop(Photoshop Extended supports 3D models).
3. Click File > New.
4. Select Film & Video as the preset.
   
5. Choose the size as HDV/HDTV 720p/29.97 and then click ok.
6. Click 3D > New Layer from 3D File...  option.
   
7. Open the 3D model from the dialog box that appears.
8. Once it is loaded you can grab the object rotate tool and 3d rotate it to check the file.Delete the background color to make it a transparent file.
   
9. Save it as a psd file.Click Maximize compatibility and click ok when a dialog box appears.
10. Open After Effects and click on File > Import > File or simply click Ctrl + I
11. Open the psd file that we have saved just now.
    
12. Select Compostion-Retain Layer Sizes for the import kind and choose editable layer styles.Also check the  Live Photoshop 3D box in the dialog box that appears.
    
13. Double click on the composition file of the 3D file.It will now be loaded up.
14. Grab the camera tool.You can now rotate it in any axis with your mouse.
    
15. Enjoy working in 3D!

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Learn to take high quality chroma key

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How to take high quality chroma key in Adobe After Effects CS5 ? (Part 2-Creating a chroma key)

Chroma key is a technique that allows you to composite two images or layers together by removing a specific color from one layer to reveal the layer behind it.Most often you use chroma keying to separate  a blue or a green screen from a video and replace it with a different background.Chroma keying is often used on television in weather reporting and films where virtual backgrounds are used.

It is important to set up a blue or a green screen with even lighting and the avoidance of shadow,because it is best to have as narrow a color range as possible for chroma keying.The first step in creating a chroma key is to create a garbage matte.This tutorial will teach you to create a chroma key itself.

Steps To Create A Chroma Key

There are several methods to create a chroma key in after effects.The keylight plugin pre-installed in after effects will help you get the job done faster than any other.But we are going to learn a more advanced technique using the color range option.

1. Click on the green screen footage layer in the Timeline panel with the chroma key composition still active.
   
2. Select Effect > Keying > Color Range from the menu bar.
   
3. Select the first eye dropper tool  in the effects control panel next to the black and white thumbnail preview.
4. Click the green background in the Composition panel.This begins keying out the background.
   
5. Select the second Eyedropper tool with a plus sign next to it in the Effect controls panel.This tool is used to add colors to the color range that the effect removes.
6. Click the area in the composition that is still green.
   
7. Set the Fuzziness to 50 in the effect control panel to remove some of the green fringes around it.
   

The green screen is completely removed from the frame except the slight bluish border around the subject.You need to refine this matte to remove the border that you will learn in the next section.

Note: In a situation you over select a color you can exclude the color from the color range using the eyedropper with the minus sign.

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How To Import Real 3D Models To Adobe After Effects CS5?

By: Unknown On 5:11 AM

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How to take high quality chroma key in Adobe After Effects CS5 ? (Part 1-Creating a garbage matte)

When using a green or a blue screen,the only area that matters is the area around the subject.However,while filming a video you intentionally or unintentionally include extra elements in the video frame.The first step in the chroma keying process is to create a garbage matte,which is a mask that you draw to remove the unnecessary areas of the video frame and to isolate the subject and the area immediately around it.The garbage matte has to completely enclose the subject.If the subject is moving it is important to animate the vertices of the mask to accommodate the moving subject in the video frame.

Perform the following steps to create a garbage matte:

1. Drag the files into a new composition in the project panel.In our case we have created a new composition called chroma keying and placed two footage items in the timeline panel.
   
    
2. Select the layer containing the green/blue screen background in the timeline panel.
3. Move the playhead to the desired time mark on the timeline,where the subject takes maximum area on the screen.
4. Select the tool that you want to use to create the garbage mask.in our case we have selected rectangle tool.
   
5. Select rectangle tool and click and drag the mouse pointer around the subject to create the garbage mask.
   
6. Select File ->Save from the Menu bar to save the project.

You can use the pen tool to create the garbage mask in case you want to mask out complex areas.It is always preferred to create a large garbage mask to not cut out any of the subject's movement.Alternatively,you can create  a smaller mask that matches the contours of the figure of subject and then animate the position of the vertices on the path using the Mask Path property.

   In the next part you will learn how to create a chroma key like a pro.

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Creating a Mask with the Shape Tools

You can create mask by dragging a shape tool cursor on a selected layer in the composition panel or the layer panel.Shape tools such as rectangle tools,ellipse tool, and polygon tool help you to create masks in primitive shapes.

Perform the following steps  to draw a mask using a shape tool:

1. Open the after effects project in which you want to create a mask using a shape tool.
2. Double click the composition in the project panel.
3. Select a layer on which you want to create a mask.
4. Select  a shape tool to draw mask in the tools panel.
5. Click and drag the selected shape tool in the composition panel to create a mask on the active layer.
   

Note:You can create a new composition that matches the dimensions and length of a footage by dragging the footage onto create a new composition button at the bottom of the project panel.

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How to change the default undo level in After Effects CS5?

The undo command lets you go back to the steps backward to correct a mistake.In after affects ,you can step back one step at a time through several errors.By default the undo level is set to 32.You can change this value in preferences depending upon your needs.

To change the undo level:

1. Select edit-preferences-general from the menu bar.
2. Click the underlined text for the levels of undo option.A text box appears.
3. Type the desired undo level in the levels of undo box.
4. Click ok.

Note:The levels of undo depend on the amount of RAM  you have.The greater value you set ,more RAM is required.

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By: Unknown On 11:12 PM

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