User Guide

CHAPTER 9

290

3D Compositing

Specular Sets the level of specular (directional) reﬂectivity of the layer. Light reﬂecting

from a layer with specular reﬂective attributes reﬂects from the layer as if the layer were a

mirror. A setting of 100% creates the most reﬂectivity; a setting of 0% means that the layer

does not exhibit any specular reﬂective properties.

Shininess Sets the size of the specular highlight. This value is only active if the specular

setting is greater than zero. A setting of 100% produces a reﬂection with a small specular

highlight. A setting of 0% produces a large specular highlight.

Understanding 3D layer order

Because of their depth properties, After Effects 3D layers can be placed behind or in front

of each other in the Composition window, but they do not change their position in the

Timeline window layer hierarchy. Therefore, the layer order of After Effects 3D layers in the

Timeline window does not necessarily represent their order in the Composition window

(as would happen with 2D layers).

In addition to determining the actual positioning of the layers, the order in the Compo-

sition window also determines how Transfer Modes work. Transfer Modes affect only

layers positioned behind the original layer (the layer to which the Transfer Mode is applied)

in the Composition window.

However, layer order in the Timeline window is still honored when you use Track Mattes.

Track Mattes work only between layers that are adjacent in the Timeline window.

Use the additional views available from the 3D View menu to determine the actual position

of the 3D layers. For more information on 3D views, see “Understanding 3D views” on

page 291.

Combining 2D and 3D layers

Because 3D is a layer property in After Effects, compositions can contain both 2D and 3D

layers. Though you can combine 2D and 3D layers in your animations, lights do not affect

2D layers, nor will shadows cast by 3D layers affect 2D layers.

The position of 3D and 2D layers in a composition can also affect how a composition is

rendered. See “3D rendering” on page 303 for more information.

UG.book Page 290 Wednesday, February 21, 2001 12:05 PM