Anyone who wants to rotate or move a layer precisely in space in After Effects quickly loses their orientation. That is exactly what the 3D transform gizmo is for. You may already know these small controls from other 3D programs. With the October 2020 update, Adobe revised them and added new tools. In this guide, you will learn where to find the gizmo, how to activate it, and which modes it offers. The screenshot placeholders refer to the points in the tutorial where the respective function is shown.
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Key Takeaways
- You call up the gizmo via the camera tool and the 3D layers of your composition.
- The universal gizmo combines moving, rotating, and scaling in a single element.
- With the axis modes Local, World, and View, you determine how the axes behave.
- Holding the Shift key lets you rotate in 45° steps, while Alt or Ctrl allow finer movements.
- You can activate or hide position, scale, and rotation as individual gizmos and so adapt them to your workflow.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Calling Up the Gizmo
The easiest way to bring up the gizmo is via the camera tool. Select it and switch to one of your four views. There, you click on the camera itself, which opens the tool. Then you open your 3D composition and click on the desired layer so that the gizmo appears on that layer.
Step 2: Understanding the Default Options
In the gizmo area, you will find a few options that you can switch on and off. The "Align and Show Properties" option displays information as soon as you move or rotate a layer. You then see the most important values directly on the element. Next to it is the "Snap to Edges" function. It is particularly helpful when you are working with many layers, because elements orient themselves to the edges of other layers when you move them.
Step 3: Rotating with the Universal Gizmo
The universal gizmo, also called the standard gizmo, is the basic form you work with. It is displayed by arrows and is active as soon as you click on it. To rotate a layer, you grab the Z axis, for example, and drag it. If you hold the Shift key while doing so, the rotation snaps in 45° steps. With Alt or Ctrl, smaller, finer movements can be made. This way you achieve precise alignments without constantly having to make corrections.
Step 4: Editing Individual Axes Precisely
The universal gizmo works with the three axes X, Y, and Z. You can edit each axis individually, independent of global settings and the active camera. Arrows in the respective direction are available for this. The Z axis is often hard to see from the default view because it runs in the viewing direction. If you change the perspective, it becomes clearly visible. With the arrows, you can move the layer horizontally and vertically or along the depth.
Step 5: Using the Transformation Knobs
On the gizmo you will also find small knobs. They are easy to overlook, but they offer their own function: with them you transform the object specifically in a certain direction. You activate a knob and can then transform in the X, Y, or Z direction. For beginners this is a bit confusing at first, which is why it is worth switching to the axis modes that follow in the next step.
Step 6: Choosing Axis Modes
You can operate the gizmo in three axis modes. The local axis mode aligns the axes with the orientation of the layer. The world axis mode is based on the coordinate system of the entire scene and thus remains independent of the rotation of individual layers. The view axis mode aligns the axes with your current view. The differences become especially clear in the four-view window, since the axes are displayed differently there depending on the mode. Test the modes on a simple layer to get a feel for their effect.
In view area 1, you can also set the gizmo to the "Position Only" mode. With it, you move the layer in a horizontal or diagonal direction without rotating or scaling it. The handles are clearly assigned, so that you can change the coordinates in a targeted way at any time.
Step 7: Scaling and Extruding
If you want to enlarge or reduce a layer, you select the "Scale" option. The gizmo then shows only the scale handles, which you can edit in a targeted way. The handles work without problems, even in combination with the other modes. The knobs also allow extruding, but not on normal layers. With a 3D file such as a Cinema 4D file or another model with suitable parameters, you can extrude the file along the Z axis and thus change the depth. The X and Y axes remain editable without any problems in this case.
Step 8: Using the Rotation Gizmo
Besides the universal gizmo, there is the rotation gizmo. It is used exclusively for rotating. You click on the rotation axes and move the layer through the different angles. It is easy to use, and you can follow the rotation on all axes. For pure rotation tasks, this gizmo is clearer than the universal tool.
Step 9: Customizing the Gizmo to Your Needs
The gizmo has a modular design. You can set it up the way you need it at any given moment, and activate or deactivate individual areas. If the universal gizmo is enough for you, you simply work with it. If you only need certain functions, you switch off the remaining areas. In addition, by holding the Shift key, you can adjust the scaling in one specific direction, for example more strongly in the vertical or in the horizontal. This flexibility is retained regardless of whether you are working in the four-view mode or in the normal view.
Summary – 3D Transform Gizmo in After Effects: Navigation in 3D Space Made Easy
The 3D Transform Gizmo is a versatile tool with which you can precisely move, rotate, and scale layers in After Effects. You access it via the camera tool and the 3D layers, use the universal gizmo for basic editing, and switch to the individual gizmos for rotation or scaling when needed. With the axis modes Local, World, and View, you determine how the axes behave. Practicing with simple layers helps you quickly internalize the functions and use the gizmo confidently in 3D space.
FAQ
How do I access the 3D Transform Gizmo?You select the camera tool, click on the camera in a view, and then select a layer in the 3D composition.
What is the universal gizmo?The universal gizmo is the default form of the tool, with which you can move, rotate, and scale layers.
What is the Shift key used for when rotating?When you hold the Shift key, the rotation snaps in 45° increments, which makes precise alignment easier.
What do the axis modes Local, World, and View do?Local mode aligns to the layer, World mode aligns to the scene, and View mode aligns to your current view.
Can I extrude a normal layer?No, extruding only works with suitable 3D files with appropriate parameters.
Can I hide individual gizmo areas?Yes, you can activate or deactivate position, scale, and rotation individually.
