Adobe Introduces 3D & Motion Design Upgrades in Adobe After Effects
Brie Clayton September 9, 2024
0 Comments
For IBC 2024, we're thrilled to introduce a major set of improvements and upgrades to our 3D workspace in After Effects that make it easier for motion designers and video editors to animate and blend 3D objects seamlessly with real-world footage and 2D elements. Last year, we introduced new capabilities for users to import and work with native 3D objects alongside 2D elements. The response from the motion design community has been full of excitement, followed by a number of meaningful feature requests. We've heard the community loud and clear, and these updates are a direct response to the enthusiasm and passion of After Effects users.
Some contents or functionalities here are not available due to your cookie preferences!
This happens because the functionality/content marked as Google Youtube uses cookies that you choosed to keep disabled. In order to view this content or use this functionality, please enable cookies: click here to open your cookie preferences.
While motion designers and video editors love working with 3D models, they can sometimes appear ultra digital and sharp. In order to make it easier to work with 3D models and have them seamlessly blend into 2D environments, we released a number of tools and controls to make it easier than ever to design in 3D and 2D at the same time. Additionally, many After Effects users are new to animating and compositing in 3D. With endless 3D models available from Substance 3D, Adobe Stock, and online marketplaces, motion designers want to be able to craft their work with the embedded animations that come included with their models as they dive deep into the 3D world.
After Effects 3D Workspace
Now in After Effects, motion designers have an expanded range of tools when working with native 3D objects in the 3D workspace. Three major new features allow designers to make their 3D objects blend seamlessly and photo-realistically in real-world environments:
Embedded 3D Animations: After Effects now supports embedded 3D animations from imported 3D models. Artists can breathe life into characters and objects created by external animation software. Seamlessly import 3D models (GLB or GLTF) with embedded animations such as skeletal rigs. Keyframe animations and bone-based deformations are natively supported and can be smoothly retimed. With embedded 3D animations, After Effects becomes a great place for motion designers to get started working in 3D in the motion design app they already know and love.
Ultra-Realistic Shadows and Color Shadows: After Effects introduces shadow catchers, allowing 3D objects to interact realistically with video footage. Shadows cast by virtual objects onto the environment are accurately captured. Color shadows enhance realism, since shadows cast in the real world are rarely a pure shade of black or grey.
Depth Mapping for 3D Models: Depth maps are essential for compositing 3D elements into live-action footage. Extract depth maps from Advanced 3D scenes just by precomposing. These maps encode the distance information for each pixel, enabling post-processing effects like depth-of-field blur or fog.
Substance 3D Painter Send to After Effects
New Animation Presets With 33 all new animation presets and number counting presets for infographics, designers in After Effects can spend less time keyframing a wide variety of animations and spend more time on creative motion design.
Substance 3D Sampler Image to Material
Camera and Light Support in the Properties panel The Properties panel accelerates workflows by placing frequently used controls in one contextual panel. New for Fall 2024, designers can now adjust and control their cameras and lights in the properties panel to fine-tune their motion designs.
Faster Performance and a Fresh New Design After Effects is also getting faster with hardware accelerated UI/UX performance on Windows that's up to 4x faster than before.
There's also a fresh, new design in After Effects (Beta) that's modern and more consistent so designers and editors spend less time re-learning how to use tools in our different apps and more time creating.
After Effects and Adobe Substance 3D As After Effects expands its 3D capabilities, its workflow connected to Substance 3D becomes even more powerful. Together these tools can significantly enhance the visual quality and output of After Effects' growing 3D toolset:
Substance 3D Painter: Now featuring a connected Send to After Effects function, allowing you to precision-texture your 3D models and import them directly into your compositions with a single click.
Substance 3D Sampler: Quickly create seamless materials with normal maps or generate IBL environment lights from photographs, perfect for harmonizing 3D elements within your After Effects scenes to customize environments and match locations.
Substance 3D Assets: Gives motion designers access to over 20,000 fully licensed, ready-to-use parametric materials, 3D models, and environment lights to jumpstart your 3D projects in After Effects.
Adding Substance 3D to your motion design workflow will make your 3D content in After Effects look better than ever. Any materials and textured models you create with Substance will shine in After Effects and look great across other 3D applications like Maxon's Cinema 4D, creating visual consistency throughout your workflow. Learn more about Substance 3D and Afer Effects for 3D motion design.
Availability Check out these new 3D and animation features now in Afer Effects.
Our refreshed, modern UI is available in beta now. For more information on how to access the beta apps, please visit the After Effects (beta) page.
Also, check out the latest new features in Adobe Premiere Pro (Beta).
September 10, 2
Most recent headlines
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
01/12/2025
L3Harris and PentenAmio formalise their teaming agreement at MilCIS 2025, streng...
01/12/2025
Artemis II is NASA's first crewed flight test of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft. The crew, from left: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Vic...
01/12/2025
IRVINE, Calif. Wooden Camera has introduced its new Accessory Collection for the Canon EOS C50. The new lineup includes a low-profile, gimbal-ready cage, expand...
01/12/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission has released a tentative agenda for its Dec. 18 Open Commission Meeting that will include a vote on a report an...
01/12/2025
In most years, a graph of annual local TV ad spending is about as predictable as an electrocardiogram of a reasonably healthy patient in a doctor's office. ...
01/12/2025
Many industries have seen big-ticket hardware turn into software. Switchers, though, demand a combination of real-time performance and sheer bandwidth that has ...
01/12/2025
GENEVA Shanghai will host the next quadrennial Radiocommunication Assembly (RA-27) and World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27), Oct. 11-Nov. 12, 2027. This...
01/12/2025
NEW YORK Just in time for Giving Tuesday tomorrow (Dec. 2), the Broadcasters Foundation of America is seeking out donations to help television and radio industr...
01/12/2025
STOCKHOLM, Sweden Net Insight CEO Crister Fritzson has informed the company's board that he will retire from the video transport and media cloud technology ...
01/12/2025
01 Dec 2025
Kyivstar and Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation Select Go...
01/12/2025
The prequel to the global hit Sky Original mob crime saga, Gomorrah' is a s...
01/12/2025
Featuring Florence Welch, Red Hot Chilli Peppers' Flea, designer Bella Freud...
01/12/2025
Back to All News
A Down to Earth, All Too Relatable Hero: Cashero' Teaser ...
01/12/2025
In the rush to deliver content to every screen, many broadcasters overlook one of the most crucial steps in the workflow: format and frame rate conversion. Get ...
01/12/2025
Fox Corporation Chief Financial Officer Steve Tomsic to Participate in Upcoming ...
01/12/2025
Arvato Systems' Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) Receives BSI C5 Certification (T...
01/12/2025
Summary This short video gives you an summary of the changes in under two minutes.
--...
01/12/2025
As the festive season approaches, RT Supporting the Arts is proud to showcase a...
01/12/2025
Researchers worldwide rely on open-source technologies as the foundation of their work. To equip the community with the latest advancements in digital and physi...
01/12/2025
Festive specials of Christmas in Kilmainham presented by Marty Whelan, High Road Low Road, Callan Kicks the Year and Keys to My Life
Ring in the New Year with ...
01/12/2025
Architect and television presenter Hugh Wallace, best known to RT audiences as a long-serving judge on Home of the Year, has died at the age of 68.
In a state...
28/11/2025
Nadia Fall attends the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Brides at the Egyptian Theatre on January 24, 2025, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Donyale West/...
28/11/2025
It's easy to ignore those little red update available badges. But when it ...
28/11/2025
WASHINGTON Federal Communications Commission has released a tentative agenda for the December Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 18, 2025 ...
28/11/2025
The Professional Fighters League is looking to super-serve fans of mixed martial...
28/11/2025
Fubo has released in beta on select Roku devices a new feature that lets users display up to four simultaneous streams at once....
28/11/2025
The WNBA playoffs and Week 4 of the NFL regular season highlight the list of live sports events airing on television this weekend....
28/11/2025
The 32nd class of honorees to the B+C Hall of Fame took to the stage at New York's Ziegfeld Ballroom on September 26 for a gala induction event. Click below...
28/11/2025
We hold in our hands the very last Next Text for Next TV, the weekly back-and-fo...
28/11/2025
DirecTV said it made a deal with EchoStar to buy EchoStar's video businesses, including satellite-TV provider Dish TV and virtual MVPD Sling TV, for $1 plus...
28/11/2025
The Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame, the premier industry event paying tribute to the influencers, innovators and shining lights of broadcast, cable and streami...
28/11/2025
Friday 28 November 2025
Sky Sports x Slawn drop limited-edition football jersey...
28/11/2025
Rohde & Schwarz shows resilience in a challenging environment, revenue exceeds t...
28/11/2025
Unwrapped: The Toy Show Appeal - airing this Sunday on RT One and RT Player- s...
27/11/2025
LONDON Vizrt has added several AI-driven advanced features offering improved speed, intelligence and accuracy in the newest version of its media asset managemen...
27/11/2025
Prime Video has launched AI-powered video season recaps in a beta version for select English-language Prime Original series in the U.S., a move Amazon is callin...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Netflix's Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders Marks a Grand...
27/11/2025
27 Nov 2025
GSMA brings M360 Eurasia 2026 to Samarkand in partnership with VEON...
27/11/2025
Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle star in the gripping six-part Sky Original from Acad...
27/11/2025
Thursday 27 November 2025
Sky Arts Reveals the Nation's Greatest Basslines - and Queen Reign Supreme
The UK's most iconic basslines have been revealed...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things 5': Prepare for One Last Adventure With O...
27/11/2025
The media industry has a paradox at its core. It's an industry built on light, color and imagination, yet behind the scenes, it's powered by one of the ...
27/11/2025
Rating reflects rating progress across areas including policies, diversity & inclusion, health & safety and Net Zero leadership
Winchester, UK, 27 November 202...
27/11/2025
What are the industry standards for Retail Media? Kathryn explains that certification is based on the IAB Europe Retail Media Measurement Standards and the IAB ...
27/11/2025
World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...
27/11/2025
Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...
27/11/2025
Black Friday is leveling up. Get ready to score one of the biggest deals of the season - 50% off the first three months of a new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership...
26/11/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Prime Video EP Mike Muriano Previews Massive Black Friday Slate Fe...
Adobe Introduces 3D & Motion Design Upgrades in Adobe After Effects 
