Place and track 3D elements on 2D footage for precise visual effects and motion graphics. The 3D camera tracker automatically analyzes 2D footage in the background and places elements on that footage, with complete control over depth of field, shadows, and reflections.

Chris Meyer demonstrates the new 3D Point Control for expressions, plus the ability to tie together effects with complex arbitrary controls. He also lists the additions and enhancements to both expressions and scripting in After Effects CS5.5.

Learn how the new stereoscopic 3D camera rig plus resulting chain of compositions in After Effects CS5.5 are manipulated by the Stereo 3D Controls effect, including setting camera separation (inter-axial distance) and the convergence options.

See how After Effects CS5.5 greatly eases the creation and control of stereoscopic camera rigs for 3D layers. Chris Meyer explains the resulting chain of compositions, including how to preview, where to add stereo footage, and what to render.

In the real world, light intensity diminishes naturally the further lit objects are from the light source. The Light Falloff feature in After Effects CS5.5 gives you the controls you need to simulate natural illumination falloff in a 3D scene—or create other light intensity effects.

Take full control of After Effects parenting system using regular and alternative parenting to build 3D cubical world. Learn how to jump the child layer to the parent’s position and discover essential keyboard shortcuts to improve your work. You can download the project from: http://www.sternfx.com/down

Adobe Photoshop software is the tool of choice for designers and web professionals. Now with Photoshop CS5 and Photoshop CS5 Extended, you can continue to push the boundaries of traditional digital imaging. Realistically blend colors on canvas with the new Mixer Brush. Create superior composites for print or web layouts with new technology that makes it easy to select even the trickiest image elements, like hair. Remove an image element, and let Content‐Aware Fill intelligently replace the missing pixels. Easily create 3D logos and artwork from any text layer, selection, or layer mask using new Adobe Repoussé technology. Use new Exposure Merge technology to create photo realistic or wildly surreal 32-bit HDR images with unprecedented speed, control, and accuracy. And import animated GIFs. Plus so much more.

The vast majority of video professionals use Adobe Photoshop software to help them create and enhance visual effects and motion graphics, or to prepare still images and text for inclusion in video projects. With new Photoshop CS5 Extended, you can leverage cross‐platform 64‐bit support, the unrivaled Photoshop image‐editing toolset, and Adobe 3D Forge—the powerful Photoshop 3D engine that enables you to create and enhance 3D and motion‐based content. Plus, you can enjoy tighter integration with Adobe tools you use every day, including Adobe After Effects CS5, and Adobe Premiere Pro CS5. Realistically blend colors on canvas with the new Mixer Brush, and paint on 2D and 3D artwork more naturally using lifelike Bristle Tips. Remove an image element, and let Content‐Aware Fill intelligently replace the missing pixels.Use new Exposure Merge technology to create photorealistic or wildly surreal 32-bit HDR images with unprecedented speed, control, and accuracy. Take advantage of new Adobe Repoussé technology to easily create 3D artwork from any text layer, selection, or layer mask. And so much more.

In this tutorial, Eran Stern teaches you how to control the scattering of light in a composition using adjustment lights. Eran creates a 3D world of dancing actors with realistic lights and shadows for a fictional show called "Born to Dance."

In this After Effects tutorial, we'll look at some very useful techniques for Trapcode Particular that will give you better control of emitter position in 2D and 3D.

Create 3D effects with the 3D Rotation and 3D Translation tools. Use the Perspective Angle property to control the appearance of 3D effects.