Create Abstract 3D Swirls with After Effects and Element 3D

A quick tutorial on creating abstract 3D swirls with After Effects and Element 3D. Convert any 2D shape with Auto Trace to a mask, then extrude the mask in Element 3D. Might be cool for backgrounds or stills, especially with some depth of field. 0:00 Intro 0:31 Setting up the comp 0:41 Creating the swirl shape 4:29 Using Auto-trace to convert the shape to a mask 6:42 Setting up Element 3D and extruding the shape 7:37 Creating the camera and an overview of the new camera controls 8:04 Twisting the shape in Element 3D 9:09 Adding a custom texture using a 4-corner gradient 11:09 Environment map and additional lighting 13:32 Final results and more examples 13:39 Outro Join the Discord server! Portfolio: Artstation: Instagram: Twitter: #aftereffectstutorial #element3d #motiongraphics