Zaxwerks, creators of the award-winning plug-in 3D Invigorator, has today released a new plug-in for Adobe After Effects named 3D Serpentine. This product enables the easy creation of animated noodles (also called 3D path-extrusions) without the need for a separate 3D application.
Path extrusion is a popular way to create film reels, shooting stars, self-tying ribbons and other interesting 3D effects. Until now a complicated stand-alone 3D application has been needed to do this type of effect. Zaxwerks’ 3D Serpentine has broken with tradition and enables the average After Effects artist to create fanciful animated 3D noodles quickly and easily right inside of After Effects.
“Animated path extrusion has been one of those really cool effects that only full-time 3D artists have been able to do,” says Zax Dow, president of Zaxwerks, Inc. “We feel that motion graphics and video designers will discover a whole new range of design possibilities once they have 3D Serpentine in their hands.”
Key Highlights of 3D Serpentine Include:
– Works entirely inside of After Effects. No need to stop and switch to another application while working with 3D Serpentine. Enables changes at any time during the creation process.
– Uses standard After Effects 3D paths to control the position, size and orientation of the 3D noodles. If you know how to create an AE motion path you know how to use 3D Serpentine.
– The length and location of the noodle can be animated along the path, to create shooting stars, unwinding movie film, curlicues, swashes and many other effects.
– Powerful, Zaxwerks-only, auto-orientation technology insures you get great-looking noodles with minimal effort.
– Noodles can intertwine with each other in true 3D space.
– Noodles can be colored with pictures or movies from an After Effects layer.
– Basic cross section shapes are included such as stars, rectangles, lines and circles for instant feedback. You can also use AE’s masking tools to draw any cross section shape you wish, even ones with multiple parts.
– End cap controls give you instant pointed, beveled, rounded or domed ends.
– Heads and tails can be imported from Zaxwerks ProAnimator or Invigorator, enabling you to use any 3D object as the beginning or end of the noodle.
– Heads, tails and bodies can all be colored independently.
– Noodles can be rendered in solid, cartoon, wireframe and hidden line styles.
– Bump maps can be used to give the noodle a texture.
– Reflection maps can be used to make the noodle reflective.
– Alpha channels in the maps are used to punch holes in the 3D objects. Among other things, this can be used to create the sprocket holes in movie film.
– Shadow-catcher planes can be used to integrate noodles into existing footage.
For more information go to: http://zaxwerks.com/3dserpentine/index.shtml
To see pictures showing 3D Serpentine in action go to:
http://zaxwerks.com/3dserpentine/examples.shtml
Pricing, Availability and Compatibility
3D Serpentine is now shipping and priced at USD $199. It runs on both Mac and Windows using After Effect 7 or higher. Site licenses are available.
About Zaxwerks, Inc.
As the world’s leading innovator of 3D title and logo technology, Zaxwerks develops software for the digital video, broadcast, film and web markets. Our customers include FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, Pixar, TBS, most football and baseball teams and hundreds of news and post production facilities worldwide.
Zaxwerks, Inc. Is a privately held software company with headquarters in Temple City, California. Please visit the Zaxwerks website at http://zaxwerks.com or call 1-626-309-9102