What It Does
Volume n’ Tricks 2 converts flat 2D layers into isometric projections directly in After Effects. Unlike AE’s 3D renderer or C4D, everything stays 2D and exports cleanly to Lottie format for web and mobile. Select a shape or text layer, click a face on the cube interface, and it transforms into a faux-3D isometric object with depth, rotation, and shadows.
The workflow centers on maintaining Lottie compatibility, which means no native 3D cameras or lights. Instead, you get parented isometric shadows, manual layer sorting, and grid overlays to position objects in isometric space.
Key Features
Multiple layer projection applies the same isometric transformation to several layers at once. Useful when building scenes with many objects, though you still need to manually reorder layers in the timeline for proper stacking.
Projected parented shadows link to their source objects. Move or scale the parent, and the shadow updates automatically. Only one shadow direction per object, casting the object’s silhouette rather than a side profile.
Pivot and rotation controls let you animate objects along isometric axes (X, Y, Z) with full 360-degree rotation. Keyframeable in the Effects Controls panel.
IsoMap grid overlay acts as a guide layer for aligning objects. It’s customizable (spacing, orientation) and won’t appear in final renders. You can create multiple grids for complex scenes, but each needs a unique name or it gets deleted when you toggle the grid button.
Live visualization shows results immediately in the Effects Controls panel. No need to preview or toggle back to the extension panel.
Bake expressions (added in version 1.0.5) converts expression-driven animations to keyframes, helpful for compatibility checks before export.
Add strokes with the +] button to define edges on single-color shapes. The sides of extruded objects can otherwise blend together.
Who It’s For
Motion designers who export to Lottie, particularly those working on web banners, mobile app animations, or UI micro-interactions where 3D isn’t supported. Also useful for anyone building isometric scenes (explainer videos, infographics, game UI mockups) who wants to avoid 3D rendering overhead.
Not ideal if you need realistic lighting or camera movement, since everything stays in 2D space. The manual layer sorting can get tedious in complex compositions.
Pricing
Pay what you want, no minimum. If you owned the first version and bought it after Jan 1, 2024, upgrades are $5. Earlier buyers pay $20 to upgrade. A trial version is available on the product page.