Project:
Project_8_Nulls_3d
Null Objects – Controlling
Null Objects are layers that can be used to easily control other layers.
*They can also be used for tracking which we will cover soon
Create a New Comp
Create Four Stars
Make each of them Rotate
If we wanted to Scale them all we could select the layers press
S and then adjust the slider but you’ll notice the all scale based on their center
What if you want to have them scale as a group
Create a New Null
Make all the other layers parent to the Null
Now you can make adjustments to the NULL and it affects all the rest
Experiment with ways NULL layers can increase your workflow
3D layers – Rotating Video Cube
New composition
1000 x1000
3 seconds long
Name it Cube Builder
Create a new Solid (right click and choose solid in the layer menu)
500px x 500px
Copy Paste this Layer so that you have 6 different solid layers
Change the color of each
*shift command y – solid setting
You should now have 6 solid layers
Turn on the 3d Layers Option for each in the Layer Menu
In the Preview window change Active Camera to: Custom View 1
This allows you to see your work from a better angle when working on 3D layers
Go to Guides option – add 3D Reference Axes
Rename the top most to Front
*shorctut for rename is ENTER
*Hit P for position
*Hit R for rotation
Take a look at the position of this layer.
It should be at 500,500,0
To make our upcoming math easier we can use a Null Layer as a parent layer
Add Null layer above everything (right click and choose new-null in the layer menu)
rename it zero
Select all the layers below and parent them to Null-Zero
Take a look at the position of this layer.
It should NOW be 0,0,0
This will make our next adjustments way easier to deal with
Now Rename the layers and use the following adjustments (note yours might be different if you box is bigger, check your work visually)
Front: 0,0,-250
Back: 0,0,250
Left: -250,0,0 & Y rotation +90
Right: 250,0,0 & Y rotation +90
Top: 0,-250,0 & X rotation +90
Bottom: 0,250,0 & X rotation +90
Last step, on all the layers (except null) set the Blending mOde to ADD ALPHA
this helps with glitches where it looks like your box is not perfect
Make a Comp from this called Cube Test
Click on the Collapse Transformation box in the options of the menu bar on the layer and the 3d
Set your Custom View back to Active Camera
Experiment with the animation of the Cube!
Experiment with putting other compositions int he Cube Builder project!
Make it a Video Cube-
get a video of one your previous projects
Add it BELOW the Cube Side you wish to project it on
Turn on 3D layers on the new video layer
Make it Parent to the Null
Copy the same position settings from the cube side
Change Track Mat to Alpha Matte Front
Turn off the Shape layer