What It Does
Face 3D converts static photographs into animated 3D models. It uses AI-generated depth maps to build geometry that can be rotated, animated, and integrated into 3D scenes. The plugin handles portraits, selfies, and general photos, turning flat images into dimensional objects you can manipulate with After Effects’ 3D tools.
Key Features
AI depth mapping. The plugin generates depth information from flat photos using integrated AI models. You can pull depth maps from online sources or use offline processing through compatible plugins like Depth Scanner 2 and Quick Depth 3. It supports multiple depth models including Marigold, Distill-any-depth, and Depth-anything-v2-small.
Relighting controls. Version 1.1 added the ability to relight 3D scenes after generation. You can adjust lighting on the converted model without re-processing the entire photo.
OBJ export. The tool exports models as OBJ files with smoothed meshes. Version 1.1 reduced file sizes by 75% and improved mesh quality.
Blender integration. Processing happens through Blender running in the background (free download required). This keeps the workload off After Effects while maintaining compatibility with the Advanced 3D Renderer.
Technical Requirements
Requires After Effects 24.2 or later with the Advanced 3D Renderer enabled. Your graphics card must support the Advanced 3D Renderer (check Adobe’s compatibility list). You’ll need to install the free Blender application for background processing.
Who It’s For
Useful for motion designers working with photo-based content who need quick 3D conversions without traditional modeling software. Works for title sequences, kinetic photo galleries, or any project where you want to add parallax and dimension to existing imagery.
Pricing
$49.99 for a single-user license. Upgrade pricing may be available for existing users, check your account for eligibility.