How to Import, Animate, and Export 3D Objects with Element 3D and a License File
What is Element 3D and Why Do You Need a License File?
If you are a fan of After Effects, you probably know that it is a powerful software for creating stunning motion graphics and visual effects. But did you know that you can also create and animate 3D objects in After Effects with Element 3D?
element 3d license file
Element 3D is a plugin for After Effects that allows you to import, create, and work with 3D objects in a fast and easy way. You can use Element 3D to create realistic 3D models, text, logos, particles, and more. You can also apply materials, textures, lighting, shadows, reflections, and other effects to your 3D objects. And you can animate your 3D objects with keyframes, expressions, and presets.
Element 3D is developed by Video Copilot, a company that provides high-quality tools and training for motion designers. Element 3D is compatible with After Effects CS6 and above, and it works on both Windows and Mac platforms.
But before you can start using Element 3D, you need to have a license file. A license file is a small file that contains your personal information and your purchase details. It is required to activate Element 3D on your computer and to verify that you are a legitimate user of the plugin.
There are two ways to license Element 3D: automatically or manually. In this article, we will show you how to install Element 3D on your computer, how to license it automatically or manually, how to troubleshoot common license issues, how to use Element 3D to create and animate 3D objects in After Effects, and how to export your Element 3D projects for final rendering or further editing. We will also answer some frequently asked questions about Element 3D at the end of the article.
So, are you ready to dive into the world of Element 3D? Let's get started!
How to Install Element 3D on Your Computer
The first step to use Element 3D is to install it on your computer. To do that, you need to follow these steps:
Go to the Video Copilot website and log in with your account. If you don't have an account yet, you can create one for free.
Go to the downloads page and find the Element 3D installer for your platform (Windows or Mac).
Download the installer and save it on your computer.
Run the installer and follow the instructions on the screen. You will need to agree to the terms and conditions, choose the destination folder, and select the After Effects version that you want to install Element 3D for.
Wait for the installation to complete. You will see a confirmation message when it is done.
Launch After Effects and open a new project.
Go to the Effects menu and look for Video Copilot. You should see Element as one of the options.
Drag and drop Element onto a solid layer in your composition.
A dialog box will pop up asking you to enter your license information. This is where you need to choose between automatic or manual license installation.
How to License Element 3D Automatically or Manually
Automatic License Installation
The easiest way to license Element 3D is to do it automatically. This means that you don't need to request or save a license file manually. Instead, you just need to enter your Video Copilot store login information and generate a license file online. To do that, you need to follow these steps:
In the dialog box that pops up when you apply Element 3D for the first time, click on Generate License.
A web browser will open and take you to the Video Copilot website. Log in with your account if you haven't already.
You will see a list of products that you have purchased from Video Copilot. Find Element 3D and click on Generate License File.
A new tab will open with a license file download link. Click on it and save the license file on your computer.
Go back to After Effects and click on Install License File in the dialog box.
Browse your computer and locate the license file that you just downloaded. Select it and click Open.
A message will appear saying that your license has been installed successfully. Click OK.
You can now use Element 3D without any restrictions.
Manual License Installation
If for some reason you cannot license Element 3D automatically, you can do it manually. This means that you need to request a license file from Video Copilot, save it on your computer, and install it on your computer manually. To do that, you need to follow these steps:
In the dialog box that pops up when you apply Element 3D for the first time, click on Request File.
A web browser will open and take you to the Video Copilot website. Log in with your account if you haven't already.
You will see a list of products that you have purchased from Video Copilot. Find Element 3D and click on Request License File.
A new tab will open with a form that you need to fill out. You will need to enter your name, email address, order number, and computer name. You can find your order number in your email confirmation or in your account page. You can find your computer name by right-clicking on My Computer or This PC and selecting Properties.
After filling out the form, click on Submit.
You will receive an email from Video Copilot with a license file attached. Download the license file and save it on your computer.
Go back to After Effects and click on Install License File in the dialog box.
Browse your computer and locate the license file that you just downloaded. Select it and click Open.
A message will appear saying that your license has been installed successfully. Click OK.
You can now use Element 3D without any restrictions.
How to Troubleshoot Common License Issues with Element 3D
Sometimes, you may encounter some license issues with Element 3D that prevent you from using it properly. These issues can be caused by various factors, such as corrupted files, outdated drivers, incompatible software, or network problems. In this section, we will show you how to troubleshoot some of the most common license issues with Element 3D and how to fix them.
Invalid License or Error Code 51
This error means that your license file is invalid or corrupted. It can happen if you have moved or renamed your license file, if you have changed your computer name, or if you have installed Element 3D on a different computer than the one you requested the license for. To fix this error, you need to delete a folder on your computer and reinstall Element 3D. To do that, you need to follow these steps:
Close After Effects and any other applications that may be using Element 3D.
Go to the folder where Element 3D is installed on your computer. The default location is C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects CC\Plug-ins\VideoCopilot for Windows and Applications/Adobe After Effects CC/Plug-ins/VideoCopilot for Mac.
Delete the folder named "ElementLicense" inside the VideoCopilot folder.
Run the Element 3D installer again and follow the instructions on the screen.
Launch After Effects and apply Element 3D to a solid layer in your composition.
License Element 3D automatically or manually as explained in the previous section.
Element.aex Could Not Be Loaded or Error Code 126
This error means that your graphics card drivers are outdated or incompatible with Element 3D. It can happen if you have an old or unsupported graphics card, if you have not updated your drivers for a long time, or if you have installed some custom drivers that are not compatible with Element 3D. To fix this error, you need to update your graphics card drivers and check your system requirements. To do that, you need to follow these steps:
Close After Effects and any other applications that may be using Element 3D.
Go to the website of your graphics card manufacturer and look for the latest drivers for your model. Download and install them on your computer.
Restart your computer and make sure that your graphics card is working properly.
Check the system requirements for Element 3D on the Video Copilot website. Make sure that your graphics card meets the minimum specifications and supports OpenGL 2.0 or higher.
If you have more than one graphics card on your computer, make sure that After Effects is using the correct one. You can change this in the preferences of After Effects or in the settings of your graphics card software.
Launch After Effects and apply Element 3D to a solid layer in your composition. It should load without any errors.
Element 3D Crashes or Freezes After Effects
This error means that Element 3D is using too much memory or resources from your computer. It can happen if you have a low-end computer or if you are working with complex or large 3D objects in Element 3D. To fix this error, you need to adjust your memory and cache settings, update your software, and disable other plugins. To do that, you need to follow these steps:
Close After Effects and any other applications that may be using Element 3D.
Go to the preferences of After Effects and click on Memory & Multiprocessing. Adjust the RAM reserved for other applications and the number of CPUs available for After Effects. You can also enable or disable disk caching and multiprocessing. These settings will affect the performance and stability of Element 3D.
Go to the preferences of After Effects and click on Media & Disk Cache. Adjust the maximum disk cache size and the location of the cache folder. You can also empty the disk cache or purge the memory. These actions will free up some space and memory for Element 3D.
Update After Effects and Element 3D to the latest versions. You can check for updates on the Adobe website and the Video Copilot website. Updating your software will fix any bugs or compatibility issues that may cause Element 3D to crash or freeze.
Disable any other plugins that may interfere with Element 3D. Some plugins may conflict with Element 3D or use too much memory or resources from your computer. You can disable them by moving them out of the Plug-ins folder of After Effects or by renaming them with a different extension.
Launch After Effects and apply Element 3D to a solid layer in your composition. It should work without any crashes or freezes.
How to Use Element 3D to Create and Animate 3D Objects in After Effects
Now that you have installed and licensed Element 3D, you can start using it to create and animate 3D objects in After Effects. In this section, we will show you how to import 3D objects into Element 3D, how to apply materials, textures, and lighting to your 3D objects, and how to animate your 3D objects with keyframes, expressions, and presets.
How to Import 3D Objects into Element 3D
Element 3D allows you to import 3D objects from various formats and sources into After Effects. You can import 3D objects from files, from libraries, or from other layers. To do that, you need to follow these steps:
Create a new solid layer in your composition and apply Element 3D to it.
In the Effect Controls panel, click on Scene Setup to open the scene interface of Element 3D.
In the scene interface, you will see a toolbar on the top, a preview window on the center, a scene panel on the left, and a material browser on the right.
To import a 3D object from a file, click on the Import button on the toolbar and browse your computer for the file that you want to import. You can import files in OBJ, C4D, E3D, ABC, GLTF, or GLB formats. You can also drag and drop files from your desktop or folder into the scene interface.
To import a 3D object from a library, click on the Model Browser button on the toolbar and choose one of the categories that you want to browse. You can choose from Starter Pack, Pro Shaders, Motion Design Pack, Projectile Weapons Pack, Sound & Music Pack, JetStrike Pack, Metropolitan Pack, Future City Pack, Star Pack, Money & Casino Pack, Fresh Food Pack, Halloween Pack, Holiday Pack, or Sports Pack. You can also search for a specific model by typing its name in the search box. You will see a list of 3D objects that match your criteria. Click on the one that you want to import and it will be added to your scene.
To import a 3D object from another layer, click on the Custom Layers button on the toolbar and choose one of the options that you want to use. You can use a Text Layer, a Mask Layer, or a Path Layer. You will need to select the layer that you want to use from your composition and then adjust the settings in the scene interface. You can extrude, bevel, or deform your layer to create a 3D object.
After importing your 3D object, you can move, rotate, scale, or duplicate it using the transform tools on the toolbar or the scene panel. You can also rename, group, hide, or delete your 3D object using the scene panel.
When you are done with importing and editing your 3D object, click OK to close the scene interface and return to After Effects. You will see your 3D object in your composition.
How to Apply Materials, Textures, and Lighting to Your 3D Objects
Element 3D allows you to apply materials, textures, and lighting to your 3D objects to make them look more realistic and appealing. You can use the scene interface, the material browser, and the lighting system to customize your 3D objects. To do that, you need to follow these steps:
Create a new solid layer in your composition and apply Element 3D to it.
In the Effect Controls panel, click on Scene Setup to open the scene interface of Element 3D.
In the scene interface, select the 3D object that you want to apply materials, textures, or lighting to.
To apply a material to your 3D object, click on the Material Browser button on the toolbar and choose one of the categories that you want to browse. You can choose from Basic Materials, Pro Shaders Materials, Motion Design Materials, Projectile Weapons Materials, Sound & Music Materials, JetStrike Materials, Metropolitan Materials, Future City Materials, Wiggle Scale, Time Offset, or Random Seed. You will see a panel with various settings that you can adjust for your expression. You can also add or remove expression controls for each setting using the timeline at the bottom of the panel.
To animate your 3D object with presets, click on the Animation Presets button on the toolbar and choose one of the categories that you want to browse. You can choose from Basic Presets, Text Presets, Logo Presets, or Custom Presets. You will see a list of presets that match your criteria. Drag and drop the preset that you want to apply onto your 3D object in the preview window or the scene panel.
After animating your 3D object, you can preview how it looks in the preview window. You can also change the view mode, the camera angle, or the background color using the toolbar.
When you are done with animating your 3D object, click OK to close the scene interface and return to After Effects. You will see your 3D object with the applied animation in your composition.
How to Export Your Element 3D Projects for Final Rendering or Further Editing
Element 3D allows you to export your projects for final rendering or further editing in other software. You can export your projects as video files or image sequences for final rendering, or as OBJ or C4D files for further editing. To do that, you need to follow these steps:
How to Render Your Element 3D Projects in After Effects
To render your Element 3D projects in After Effects, you need to use the render settings, the output module, and the render queue. To do that, you need to follow these steps:
Create a new composition with your Element 3D layer and any other layers that you want to include in your final render.
Go to the Composition menu and click on Add to Render Queue.
In the Render Queue panel, click on the Render Settings link and choose one of the options that you want to use. You can use Best Settings, Draft Settings, Current Settings, or Custom Settings. You can also adjust the resolution, the frame rate, the duration, and other settings for your render.
Click on the Output Module link and choose one of the options that you want to use. You can use Lossless, H.264, QuickTime, AVI, or Custom Settings. You can also choose the format, the codec, the quality, and other settings for your output file.
Click on the Output To link and choose a location and a name for your output file.
Click on the Render button and wait for your render to complete. You will see a progress bar and a message when it is done.
You can now play your output file with any media player or upload it to any platform that you want.
How to Export Your Element 3D Projects as OBJ or C4D Files
To export your Element 3D projects as OBJ or C4D files for further editing in other software, you need to use the export options, the file format settings, and the export dialog box. To do that, you need to follow these steps:
Create a new composition with your Element 3D layer and any other layers that you want to include in your export.
Go to the Composition menu and click on Save Frame As.
In the Save Frame As dialog box, choose File.
In the Output Module Settings dialog box, click on the Format menu and choose OBJ Sequence or C4D Sequence. You can also choose the format options, the channels, and the color management for your export file.
Click on the Format Options button and choose the settings that you want to use for your OBJ or C4D file. You can choose the quality, the scale, the normals, the UVs, and other settings for your file.
Click OK to close the Format Options dialog box.
Click on the Output To link and choose a location and a name for your output file.
Click OK to close the Output Module Settings dialog box.
Click Render in the Save Frame As dialog box and wait for your export to complete. You will see a progress bar and a message when it is done.
You can now open your output file with any software that supports OBJ or C4D files, such as Cinema 4D, Blender, Maya, or 3ds Max.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to install and license Element 3D, a plugin for After Effects that allows you to create and animate 3D objects in a fast and easy way. We have also shown you how to troubleshoot common license issues, how to import 3D objects into Element 3D, how to apply materials, textures, and lighting to your 3D objects, how to animate your 3D objects with keyframes, expressions, and presets, and how to export your Element 3D projects for final rendering or further editing.
Element 3D is a powerful and versatile plugin that can help you create stunning 3D motion graphics and visual effects in After Effects. It is compatible with After Effects CS6 and above, and it works on both Windows and Mac platforms. It is developed by Video Copilot, a company that provides high-quality tools and training for motion designers.
If you want to learn more about Element 3D, you can visit the Video Copilot website and check out their tutorials, resources, and support pages. You can also purchase Element 3D a