Motion Control 3D: Bringing Your Photos to Life in Three Dimensions Using Photoshop and After Effects

3h 48mIntermediate2022-11-18

Authors

Richard Harrington

Digital Video Expert, Educator, Speaker

Course details

Have you looked at a photo and wished you were there, or wondered what the scene looked like to the photographer? Now you can bring your photos to life by adding motion and depth. Author Rich Harrington reveals how you can transport your photos into a three-dimensional world using Adobe Photoshop and After Effects. The course shows you how to select the right images and resolutions; how to use masks and layers to build a layered composition in Photoshop; and how to animate and light the elements of the scene in After Effects. The techniques are useful for documentary filmmaking, web content, and TV commercials. Rich even shows how to render your project in full 3D for compatible platforms like YouTube, or in a typical broadcast format suitable for television or streaming.

Skills covered

Mobile Game DevelopmentTime-Lapse PhotographyMotion GraphicsImage EditingMobile DevelopmentAfter EffectsPhotoshopRenderingMotion Graphics and VFXPhotographyVisualization and Real-TimeAdobeAECProduct and ManufacturingAnimation and IllustrationDeep Dive (X:Y)

Concepts

Introduction

Creating 3D motion with photos
What you should know before watching this course
Using the exercise files

Introducing Motion Control 3D

The technique explained
How to use motion control 3D in your projects

Choosing Photos for Motion Control 3D

Image selection guidelines
Resolution guidelines
Working in color or black and white
Advice when scanning

Planning the Move

Identifying planes
Creating a staging diagram
Understanding parallax
Choosing a focal length
Timing the move

Layering the Image

The Quick Selection tool
Using Quick Mask mode
The Select and Mask command
Making a selection based on subject, focus, or color
Dealing with contact points

Cleaning Up the Composite

Filling in the holes - Clone Stamp
Filling in the holes - Healing Brush
Filling in the holes - Content-Aware Fill
Filling in the holes - Content-Aware Move
Using Perspective Warp
Using a floor image

Organizing the Comp

Naming and organizing layers
Using Smart Objects to organize

Building the Composition

Importing a layered PSD file into After Effects
Adding a 3D camera
Setting the initial depth
Setting the composition size
Using motion blur

Animating the Camera

Using multiple views
Understanding keyframes
Modifying camera paths
Adding camera shake
Positioning while moving cameras and layers together

Adjusting the Camera

Setting the depth of field
Changing the focal length and zoom
Creating a rack focus

Re-lighting the Scene

Setting the ambient light
Adding a parallel light
Adding spot lights
Adding point lights
Using lighting effects

Adding Depth with Particles

Using After Effects particles
Using Trapcode Particular

Mixing in Footage

Using video files for texture
Using time-lapse layers
Time-remapping strategies

Creating 3D Perspective with Vanishing Point

Using Vanishing Point
Preparing files in Photoshop
Cleaning up the files and transparency
Animating a vanishing point
Creating a 3D pan

Viewing in 3D

Adding a 3D rig
Changing the 3D method used
Choosing a render method

Conclusion

Next steps