Note: This Plugin Has Been Discontinued
Pixel Cloud is no longer available for purchase. The following information is provided for reference.
What It Does
Pixel Cloud generates 3D pixel clouds from position passes or depth maps. Once generated, these clouds can be relit using After Effects’ native lights and cameras, making it possible to change the lighting of 3D renders without re-rendering. The plugin works with coordinate data from position passes or depth information to place each pixel in 3D space, creating a point cloud that responds to After Effects lighting and camera movements.
Key Features
Position pass and depth map support. The plugin accepts both position passes (exported from Cinema 4D, Maya, or 3DS Max) and simple depth maps, converting them into navigable 3D space.
Relighting with 32-bit passes. Work with diffuse, specularity, and image-based lighting. The plugin supports falloff lighting in CS5.5 and later versions.
Native After Effects integration. Use standard After Effects lights and cameras to view and relight your pixel cloud from any angle. The plugin respects AE’s lighting system, including point, spot, and ambient lights.
Alpha lights for matte generation. Create 3D-aware selections by using lights to generate mattes based on the pixel cloud’s geometry.
3D displacement and texturing. Displace pixels in 3D space or apply custom textures to the cloud. This makes it useful for motion graphics effects beyond traditional compositing work.
GPU acceleration and multiprocessing. The plugin runs on your GPU and supports multiprocessor rendering, with preview modes for faster iteration.
Who It’s For
Pixel Cloud was designed for compositors working with 3D renders who need to adjust lighting in post. It’s also useful for motion designers creating abstract 3D effects from 2D footage. The ability to convert depth maps into explorable 3D space makes it practical for animating photos or creating parallax effects.
Pricing
Pixel Cloud was originally offered on a pay-what-you-want basis. The last listed price was $112.50 (reduced from $149.99), but the plugin is no longer available for purchase. Existing license holders received support through After Effects 2021.