How to make 3D Logo in After Effects and Export as GIF - Element 3D Tutorial - GIF Animation

 How to make 3D Logo in After Effects and Export as GIF - Element 3D Tutorial - GIF Animation

Creating 3D logos and animating them in After Effects has become an essential skill for motion graphics designers. With tools like Element 3D and plugins like GifGun, it's easier than ever to create stunning 3D logo animations and export them as high-quality GIFs. In this tutorial, we’ll walk through the process of designing a 3D logo using Element 3D, animating it, and finally exporting it as a GIF using GifGun.

Step 1: Preparing the Logo

1. Start in Photoshop/Illustrator: Before importing your logo into After Effects, ensure that it’s in a format that supports transparency like PNG or SVG. If you’re working with a vector logo from Illustrator, save it as an SVG or import the file directly into After Effects.

2. Importing the Logo into After Effects:

• Open After Effects and create a new project.
• Import the logo by going to File > Import > File and selecting your logo file.
• Drag the logo into your composition timeline.

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Step 2: Setting Up Element 3D

Element 3D is a powerful plugin for creating 3D models within After Effects. If you don't have it installed, you'll need to purchase and install it from the Video Copilot website.

1. Create a New Solid Layer:

   • In the composition window, go to Layer > New > Solid. Name the solid "Element 3D" and make sure it matches the composition size.

2. Apply Element 3D Plugin:

   • With the solid layer selected, go to Effect > Video Copilot > Element 3D. This will apply the Element 3D effect to the solid layer.

3. Import the Logo to Element 3D:

   • Open Element 3D's settings by clicking on the "Scene Setup" button in the Effect Controls panel.
   • To import your logo, click on "Extrude" in the Scene Setup window. This will create a 3D version of your logo.
   • Adjust the extrusion depth and other parameters as per your desired 3D look.

4. Customizing the Logo with Materials:

   • In the Scene Setup, you can add materials to the logo to give it a polished 3D look. Element 3D comes with a library of textures and materials, or you can import custom materials.
   • Once you're happy with your design, click OK to return to After Effects.

Step 3: Animating the 3D Logo

Now that you have your 3D logo set up, it’s time to animate it.

1. Positioning and Rotating the Logo:

   • In the Element 3D effect controls, go to the Group 1 settings and adjust the position, scale, and rotation of the 3D logo. You can animate these parameters over time by adding keyframes.

2. Animating the Camera:

   • To create dynamic animations, add a 3D Camera to your composition. Go to Layer > New > Camera.
   • You can animate the camera’s movement to add a sense of depth and motion to the logo.

3. Additional Effects:

   • For a more polished look, consider adding motion blur, shadows, or lighting effects to enhance the 3D effect.
   • You can also apply other After Effects animations like glows, particles, or lens flares to make the logo pop.

Step 4: Exporting the Animation as a GIF with GifGun

Once your 3D logo animation is ready, it’s time to export it as a GIF using the GifGun plugin. GifGun simplifies the process of exporting GIFs directly from After Effects.

1. Installing GifGun:

   • If you haven't already, download and install GifGun from the official website.
   • After installation, GifGun will appear in the top-right of your After Effects interface.

2. Preparing for Export:

   • Before exporting, ensure your composition settings are correct. Make sure the duration of your animation is appropriate for a GIF (usually short and loopable).
   • GifGun exports GIFs from the current composition, so ensure your composition is selected.

3. Exporting the GIF:

   • Click on the GifGun icon in the After Effects panel.
   • Adjust the settings like size, frame rate, and quality in the GifGun menu.
   • Press Make GIF and choose the export location.
   • GifGun will render the animation and export it as a GIF file.

Step 5: Optimizing the GIF

After exporting the GIF, you may want to optimize it for file size without losing too much quality.

• Reduce the number of colors: GIFs support up to 256 colors, but reducing the color palette can significantly decrease file size.
• Limit the frame rate: Lowering the frame rate (e.g., from 30fps to 15fps) can also help reduce file size while maintaining smooth motion.
• Compress the GIF: Use online tools like EZgif or Photoshop to further compress the GIF if necessary.

And there you have it! You’ve successfully created a 3D logo using Element 3D in After Effects and exported it as a GIF using GifGun. This process combines the power of 3D modeling and animation with the flexibility of GIFs, which are perfect for sharing on social media or embedding on websites. With these skills, you can create eye-catching animations that elevate your brand or project.

Tools and Plugins Used:

• Adobe After Effects
• Element 3D Plugin by Video Copilot
• GifGun Plugin for GIF Export

Now it’s your turn—experiment with different designs, materials, and animations to create your unique 3D logo GIFs.

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