cisclem

Q: layer scale

I have imported a Photoshop file with layers into motion but have a problem when moving a layer from the Z axis. As you will see from the example file the 2 figures on the moved layer have grown in size. In all example tutorials I have watched on this subject when you return to camera view after moving a layer it appears that nothing has moved, it is only when you go into perspective mode that you can see the change you have made. I have racked my brain on this one, can someone please tell me what I am doing wrong and why the moved layer is scaling up.example.png

Mac mini (Late 2012), OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on Jul 5, 2016 1:15 AM

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Q: layer scale

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  • by BenB,

    BenB BenB Jul 5, 2016 6:17 AM in response to cisclem
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    Jul 5, 2016 6:17 AM in response to cisclem

    Working in a 3D Group, you're moving the layer closer towards, and further away from the camera, using Z axis.  When something gets closer to you, it look larger.  Further from you, it look smaller.  That is exactly what it is supposed to do.

  • by cisclem,

    cisclem cisclem Jul 5, 2016 8:50 AM in response to BenB
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    Jul 5, 2016 8:50 AM in response to BenB

    I know what you are saying makes sense but when I have watched video tutorials the layers appear unchanged in camera view, i.e. they are not scaled in any way after movement. This made me wonder if I was doing it correctly. The one example I looked at can be found at http://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/2d-to-3d-after-effects-motion/ namely the '2D to 3D / Photoshop to Motion' example. After moving the one layer forward on the Z axis, when he returns to camera view the image appears unaltered

  • by BenB,Solvedanswer

    BenB BenB Jul 7, 2016 10:28 PM in response to cisclem
    Level 6 (9,816 points)
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    Jul 7, 2016 10:28 PM in response to cisclem

    Ah, I see what you're getting at now.  He's not moving things very much.  Just tiny amounts.  So you don't see much in the way of size changing.  If he were to move those layers apart more, you'd definitely see it.  But those layers are not being moved apart very much.

     

    If you are duplicating this tutorial on your own, and are seeing the layers change in size dramatically, you're simply moving the layers away from each other too much.  You may also want to back your camera away from the stage/layers a little bit more.

     

    This technique relies on you doing a balancing act between camera distance, and the distance the layers are from each other.  Don't rely on physical distance to visual make the layers stand out from each other.  Rely on the blur you add to the various layers to do most of that work for you.

  • by cisclem,

    cisclem cisclem Jul 7, 2016 10:28 PM in response to BenB
    Level 1 (4 points)
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    Jul 7, 2016 10:28 PM in response to BenB

    Many thanks for your time on this - the penny finally dropped and I realised that although it appeared he were moving the layers some distance, in fact he wasn't. Apologies for the confusion on my part and thanks again