How to turn your 2D shape 3D in After Effects

To turn a shape from 2D into 3D in Adobe After Effects, you need to do 2 things.

First, select the layer you want to turn into 3D and then select the “3D layer”-box next to it.

(If you can’t see these icons, right-click on the top row in the timeline window, go to “Columns” and select “Switches”.)

How to turn your 2D shape 3D in After Effects

Now the layer is technically 3D already, but if you change the view from “Front” to “Custom View 1” you can see that there’s still no depth in the shape.

So now, you want to open your layer and go down to “Geometry Options”.

🎞 Watch the tutorial here!

As you can see, this one is greyed out, so you need to change the renderer (which you can also do in the “Composition” window) to Cinema 4D.

Now, when you open “Geometry Options” and change “Extrusion depth”, the shape will increase in this third direction, which makes it look more 3D.

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