User Guide

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ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS 5.0
User Guide
To move a layer faster when adjusting position, or to rotate the layer in 45- degree increments:
Hold down Shift while dragging an axis.
To show a wireframe representation of the layer movement:
In the Timeline window, click the Wireframe Interactions button ( ). See “Using
Wireframe Interactions” on page 302 for more information on using this feature.
Understanding 3D Transform properties
Designating a layer as 3D increases the number of transform properties. In the Timeline
window, each of the standard 2D transform properties of Anchor Point, Position, and
Scale have adjustable Z-axis values in 3D layers. Changing these values adjusts the layer’s
position along the Z-axis. 3D layers also add Rotation Transform properties that can be
changed for each axis independently, as well as an additional Rotation Transform property
called Orientation (see “Understanding 3D rotation” on page 288 for information on the
rotation property values).
For information on changing Transform properties, see “Setting keyframes” on page 163
and “Setting and animating a layer property in the Timeline window” on page 187.
Z-axis values highlighted
Understanding 3D auto-orientation
In contrast to 2D layers, 3D layers in After Effects include additional auto-orientation
options in the Auto-Orient dialog box. The additional options that are added depend on
the layer to which auto-orientation is applied. 3D footage layers add the Orient Toward
Camera option which, when chosen, sets the layer so that it will always face the active
camera. For information on setting auto-orient options, see “Rotating a layer along a
motion path” on page 181.
UG.book Page 287 Wednesday, February 21, 2001 12:05 PM