What It Does
Elementary gives you control over 3D plugins and After Effects layers through a unified panel. Position, rotate, and scale 3D objects using null objects instead of buried parameters. Automatically depth sort 3D plugin layers, cast shadows from 3D objects onto AE’s native 3D layers, and attach 2D parameters like Puppet Tool pins to nulls for easier animation.
Key Features
Anchors. Control the position, rotation, and scale of shapes or 3D models (like Element 3D) using null objects. Elementary automatically depth sorts 3D plugins and 3D layers, and lets you visualize where the pivot point sits. Parent 3D objects to other layers as if they were native AE elements.
Pins. Attach the 2D parameters of any plugin, including the Puppet Tool, to 2D or 3D null objects. This makes animating pins via parenting or expressions much simpler than keyframing raw position values.
Shadows and Reflections. Cast shadows from 3D objects onto AE’s 3D layers, or turn any 3D layer into a mirror for reflections. Works with supported plugins that respect AE’s 3D space.
Linkage. Create copies of any layer and its effects that remain linked to the original, even if you move the copy to a different composition. Control how copied effects are linked to keep rendering fast. Useful for versioning title cards or reusing complex effect setups across multiple comps.
Camera Cut-off. Plugins that support this feature can be used to create depth passes. You can also slice 3D plugin layers in half to place another layer in between, like inserting a logo between the foreground and background of a scene.
Effects. Elementary includes effects like Cel-Shading and Dragan that are optimized for Element 3D and similar plugins, giving you stylized looks without third-party filters.
Who It’s For
Elementary is built for motion designers who work with 3D plugins like Element 3D, Trapcode, or CROSSPHERE, and want tighter integration with After Effects’ native 3D space. If you’ve ever wished you could parent a plugin’s 3D object to a camera or null, or wondered why shadows from plugin layers don’t interact with your comps, this is the tool.
It’s also useful for anyone who does a lot of Puppet Tool animation or needs to reuse complex effect setups across multiple comps without duplicating keyframes.
Pricing
Elementary uses a pay-what-you-want model. Individual users can pay any amount (the suggested price is $0, but you can contribute more if you find it useful). Businesses, teams, or commercial users are expected to pay the suggested price to receive a valid license.
Supports After Effects CS4 through CC 2017. More information and tutorials are available on the developer’s site at schiresk.com and the Elementary channel on Vimeo.