What It Does
Position Matte generates mattes based on World Position Passes exported from 3D applications. Instead of rendering multiple matte passes for different objects or areas in your 3D scene, you export a single position pass and create the mattes you need directly in After Effects. This cuts down on both render time and rotoscoping work.
The plugin works with any 3D application that can output World Position data. If you use VideoCopilot’s Element 3D, set your Output to “World Position” and Show to “Color”, and you’re ready to go.
Beyond basic matte creation, Position Matte includes modes for adding scene details in post: Grids, Radial Waves, and Rays. These give you extra creative options without going back to your 3D software.
Key Features
Layer-based mattes. Use footage, shape layers, or precomps as your matte or projection source, not just solid colors.
Tiling and offset controls. When working in layer mode, you can tile patterns and adjust their position for more control over how the matte is applied.
3D world rotation. Rotate your position pass in 3D space with full control over rotation order, useful when your camera or scene orientation doesn’t match After Effects’ default.
Apple Silicon and Multi-Frame Rendering support. The plugin takes advantage of M1/M2 chips and renders faster with MFR enabled in recent After Effects versions.
Who It’s For
This plugin is for compositors working with 3D elements who want to avoid the overhead of rendering multiple matte passes. If you regularly integrate 3D renders into live-action footage or motion graphics and need clean isolation of objects or areas, Position Matte streamlines that workflow.
Element 3D users benefit directly since the plugin integrates with Element’s position output. But any 3D app that exports World Position data (Cinema 4D, Blender, Maya, etc.) works with it.
Pricing
Position Matte 2 costs $49.99 for a single-user license. Floating server and render-only licenses are available at different price points.
If you own version 1, you can upgrade for $25 by logging into your original purchase account. The discounted price appears automatically.
A trial version is available to test compatibility with your workflow before buying.