How to create a 3d fly through of photoshop layers

i have image in photoshop has lots of layers. want take layers, import them in after effects , create camera fly through layers in dave hill video (adventure series - dave hill - youtube ) . saw interview him , said quite easy darned if can figure out. have watched few ae videos on how similar, main problem having far after importing layers ae, image looks nothing in ps. sure layers need combined in photoshop right in ae @ loss. perhps tis may way on head not experienced ae user @ all. thought fun try.

 

any input appreciated.

 

many thanks,

houston

there 2 tricks technique. called "the kid stays in picture" effect.

 

the first trick have separate image foreground, middle ground , background layers in photoshop , fill in holes left when cut things out on layers below.

 

the second trick import psd comp, make of layers 3d, add camera has approximately same focal length used take shot, move middle ground , background layers away camera in 3d space. smaller moved in z space fix scale. make perspective shift natural have approximate how far these elements each other.

 

for example, if had sitting in front of window , there tree outside window , there mountain behind tree first duplicate background layer 3 times. background mountain layer, next layer tree, next window, top layer person.

 

now cut out person, temporarily turn off top layer. cut out window , erase person in front of window. best job can. more of person can remove more can move camera. cut out tree , erase part of window in front of tree. again, more of window , person can remove third layer more can move camera. last step remove tree , window background mountain remains. again, more of other elements can erase using ever tools need to, more can move camera. you'll have cheat scale, have borrow things other images. depends.

 

once have photoshop file prepared import comp, add camera , make of layers 3d. start grabbing bottom layer , move quite ways in z space. scale layer until fills frame. if want tree half way between background , foreground (the person) move tree layer in z space half way between foreground , background. scale tree layer until looks right. last step before starting animate camera move window in z space. since window , person close each other move window in z space little bit, scale layer until fills frame.

 

now animate camera. it's simple that. more of person , window , tree able remove second, third , fourth layers, more able move camera. photoshop part hardest part.

 

in example posted can see of layers has used stacked in z space. of time layer's not rotate exposes camera move rotating layers.  looks used blend modes smoke. it's pretty simple if understand how perspective , parallax works.

personally have never revealed secret in of sequences have created use technique. guess dave likes show 'the man behind curtain' when estimate time required type of project devote 80% of time photoshop.

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