Plugin Everything is a professional tool for After Effects designed to turn live text, shape layers, and mask paths into 3D extrusions with high performance. Key Features Three Extrusion Modes Directional : Classic extrusion in a specific direction. : Perspective-based extrusion toward a single point. : Fully compatible with native After Effects cameras, supporting 3D transforms and shading. Live Text Integration : Keep your text layers live and editable. It supports native AE text animators (tracking, line spacing, character offset) and remains high-quality due to continuous rasterization. Inner Extrusion : Allows for a seamless transition between standard and inner extrusion effects. Intuitive Gradient Shading : Features a built-in radial gradient editor and color wheel for quick, stylish shading and non-interpolated flat shading. Advanced Rendering & Speed GPU Accelerated : Built for high-speed performance. High Fidelity : Includes built-in anti-aliasing and robust handling of self-intersecting or overlapping paths. System Ready : Native support for (Multi-Frame Rendering), Apple Silicon Tool Synergy : Works seamlessly with other Plugin Everything tools like the free Repeater plugin Path Visualizer Comparisons to Native Tools Unlike the built-in Cinema 4D or Ray-traced renderers—which can disable essential features like blending modes or layer styles—the plugin allows you to maintain these effects while working on 2D layers. Further Exploration View a detailed overview of all core features in the General Overview Tutorial Learn how to manage perspective and focal length in the 3D Camera Mode tutorial See how the plugin handles complex typography in the Working with Text Layers guide installing the plugin? Extrude — Plugin Everything
Extrude by Plugin Everything is a GPU-accelerated plugin for After Effects designed to turn 2D layers—live text, shape layers, and mask paths—into high-fidelity 3D extrusions without the performance overhead of the native Cinema 4D renderer. Core Extrusion Modes The plugin features three distinct modes to match your project's perspective needs: Directional: Creates a parallel extrusion in a specific 2D direction, similar to a "long shadow" effect but with actual depth. Vanishing: Extrudes toward a single vanishing point, ideal for retro or stylized 3D typography. 3D Camera: Fully compatible with Adobe After Effects cameras, allowing the extrusion to react to camera movement and rotation in a true 3D space. Key Features & Workflow Live Text Integration: Text layers remain fully editable and continuously rasterized, ensuring sharp edges at any scale. It supports variable fonts and handles self-intersecting paths natively. Inner Extrusion: A unique feature that allows you to transition seamlessly between standard outer extrusions and "inner" extrusions for a recessed look. Gradient Shading: Includes an intuitive 32-color radial gradient editor for advanced lighting and shading effects directly within the plugin. Support for Animators: Compatible with most built-in After Effects text animators, tracking, and path-aligned text. Technical Specifications Performance: Blazing fast GPU acceleration with support for Multi-Frame Rendering (MFR) and Apple Silicon. Fidelity: Supports 32-bits per channel (32bpc) for high-dynamic-range projects and includes built-in anti-aliasing. Availability: You can find the tool on Aescripts or the official Plugin Everything website. Limitations & Tips Extrude for After Effects - Working with Text Layers
Plugin Everything - Extrude for After Effects is a high-performance GPU-accelerated plugin designed to transform live text, shape layers, and mask paths into detailed 3D extrusions with a single click. Unlike standard After Effects 3D workflows that often require heavy Cinema 4D rendering, Extrude provides a fast, flexible way to add depth while maintaining compatibility with native tools like text animators. Key Features of Extrude The plugin offers three distinct extrusion modes to suit different visual styles: Directional Extrusion: Ideal for 2D-style "long shadows" or parallel depth. Vanishing Point Extrusion: Creates a perspective effect where the extrusion converges at a single point. 3D Camera Mode: Fully integrates with native After Effects cameras, allowing you to move around the object in 3D space. Additional advanced features include: Inner Extrusion: Allows for seamless transitions between standard and "inside-out" extrusions. GPU Acceleration: Built for speed, it supports 32bpc (bits per channel) and Multi-Frame Rendering (MFR) for fast previews and final exports. Intuitive Shading: Includes a gradient colorwheel editor for solid or gradient shading, giving you artistic control over the look of the extrusion. Robust Path Handling: Effectively handles self-intersecting or overlapping paths, which are common in complex fonts and vector art. Working with Text and Shapes Extrude is particularly powerful for typography because it keeps text live . You can change the font or character tracking in real time without losing your 3D setup. Text Animators: Most native After Effects text animators (like tracking, line spacing, and range selectors) work perfectly with the plugin. Shape Layers: While it works with shape layers, parametric shapes (like the Rectangle or Star tool) must be converted to Bezier Paths before they can be extruded. Comparison: Plugin Everything Extrude vs. Native AE 3D While After Effects has a built-in Cinema 4D renderer for extruding shapes, users often prefer this plugin for several reasons: Native AE (Cinema 4D Renderer) Plugin Everything Extrude Speed Often slow; hardware-intensive. High-speed GPU acceleration. Workflow Disables certain 2D features like blending modes. Maintains standard 2D/3D workflow flexibility. Text Control Limited interaction with some text animators. High compatibility with live text animators. Precision Basic bevel and depth options. Advanced shading, inner extrude, and multi-mode options. Compatibility and Pricing Price: The plugin is available for approximately $75 on Plugin Everything and aescripts + aeplugins . System Requirements: It is compatible with After Effects CC 2017 and above . Hardware: It is Apple Silicon native and supports Windows and Mac. Extrude - Plugin Everything
Mastering 3D Depth: The Ultimate Guide to Plugin Everything – Extrude for After Effects In the world of motion graphics, Adobe After Effects has long been the industry standard for compositing, 2D animation, and visual effects. However, for years, one of the software’s biggest pain points has been its native inability to handle true 3D extrusion. While Cinema 4D Lite offers a workaround, it is clunky, slow, and breaks the fluid workflow of the AE timeline. Enter Plugin Everything – Extrude for After Effects . This revolutionary tool has changed the game for motion designers, allowing them to convert flat vector shapes, text layers, and masks into true 3D geometry with lighting, bevels, and depth—all without leaving After Effects. In this comprehensive guide, we will break down what Plugin Everything brings to the table, how to use the Extrude tool, and why it is becoming an essential part of modern motion design pipelines. What is Plugin Everything? Before diving into the specifics of the Extrude tool, it is important to understand the developer. Plugin Everything is a suite of tools created by motion designer and developer Jake In Motion (in collaboration with other engineers). The philosophy behind Plugin Everything is simple: "AE should do that." The suite includes powerhouse tools like Overlord (for Illustrator/AE integration), Flow (for keyframe easing), and Explode (for shape layer manipulation). However, the Extrude plugin stands out as the crown jewel for 3D enthusiasts. Unlike Element 3D (which requires complex OBJ imports) or the built-in Ray-traced 3D renderer (which is largely deprecated and buggy), Plugin Everything – Extrude works directly with your existing shape layers. The Problem with Native Extrusion in After Effects To truly appreciate this plugin, you must understand the pain of traditional methods: Plugin Everything - Extrude for After Effects F...
Ray-Traced 3D (Classic): Introduced in CS6, this feature is slow, relies on GPU Mercury engine instability, and does not play well with standard After Effects cameras or lights without significant lag. Cinema 4D Lite: While powerful, it requires rendering via the C4D engine, breaking the ability to use AE native effects like Glow, Roughen Edges, or Turbulent Displace on the 3D geometry. Manual "Fake" Extrusion: Duplicating layers and offsetting them manually is destructive, time-consuming, and impossible to animate smoothly.
Plugin Everything – Extrude solves all of these problems by converting your shape layer attributes into editable 3D geometry within the AE viewport. Key Features of Plugin Everything – Extrude 1. True Bevel Control Unlike simple depth sliders, Extrude offers precise control over bevels. You can create concave, convex, or rounded edges. Whether you need a sharp faceted gemstone look or a soft, pill-shaped button, the bevel editor gives you a graph-based interface to control the profile of your extrusion. 2. Front, Back, and Side Coloring One of the most annoying things about 3D text is that the sides often look messy. Extrude allows you to assign separate materials to the front face, the bevel, the extrusion sides, and the back face. This allows for incredible stylized designs—like neon signs where the sides are white but the front is glowing pink. 3. Native Lighting & Shadows Because Extrude generates actual 3D geometry (not simulated 2.5D), it responds perfectly to After Effects’ built-in 3D Lights (Spot, Point, Ambient) and cast/receive shadows. You can move a light through your text and watch the highlights travel across the bevels in real-time. 4. MatCap (Material Capture) Shading For motion designers who love the "Cel-Shaded" or "Vector 3D" look, Extrude includes a MatCap system. This allows you to project a 2D texture onto the 3D geometry as shading, giving you that crisp, illustrated, non-photorealistic rendering style instantly. 5. Extrude ANYTHING Unlike other plugins that only work with text, Extrude works on:
Text layers (Live text you can still edit). Shape layers (Rectangles, polygons, custom paths). Masks (Turn any mask path into a 3D ribbon). Brushes (Stroke paths extruded into 3D tubes). Plugin Everything is a professional tool for After
Step-by-Step Tutorial: How to Use Extrude Let’s walk through a practical workflow to turn a flat logo into a dynamic 3D header. Step 1: Create Your Base Shape In After Effects, create a new Shape Layer. Use the Pen tool or the Shape tools to draw a star, a logo, or simply type out a word using the Text tool. Step 2: Apply the Plugin Select your layer. Navigate to Effects > Plugin Everything > Extrude . Immediately, your flat shape will pop into 3D space with a default depth of 50. Step 3: Adjust Depth and Direction In the Effects Control Panel, look for the "Extrusion Depth" slider. Drag it up to 200 for a thick, pillar-like extrusion. Use the "Direction" axis to determine if the extrusion pops towards you (positive) or away from you (negative). Step 4: Design the Bevel Click on the "Bevel Profile" dropdown. Select "Custom" to open the Graph Editor. Click to add points. A steep slope creates a sharp edge; a flat horizontal line creates a cutout. For a classic 3D look, use an "S-Curve." Step 5: Light It Go to Layer > New > Light . Choose a Spot Light. Move the light around the composition. You will see the sides of your extrusion light up in real-time. Step 6: Animate Because this is all native AE, you can animate the "Extrusion Depth" over time. Keyframe it from 0 to 100 to watch the 3D text grow out of the floor. You can also animate the Bevel Profile or the Offset. Workflow Integration: Combining with Other Plugins The true power of Plugin Everything – Extrude is how it plays with others.
With Overlord: Send complex vector artwork from Adobe Illustrator directly to an AE shape layer, then apply Extrude instantly. No path reversal issues, no scaling nightmares. With Deep Glow: Apply Deep Glow to your extruded layer, but be sure to set the effect to "Alpha" mode. You will get a volumetric glow that wraps around the 3D edges of your extrusion. With Saber (Video Copilot): Don't use Saber on the extrusion. Instead, duplicate your layer, turn off the extrusion, apply Saber to the flat text, and set blend mode to "Screen." You get a neon core with physical 3D housing.
Performance Tips: Keeping Your Timeline Fast Extrusion is computationally heavy. Here is how to keep your workflow snappy: : Fully compatible with native After Effects cameras,
Adaptive Resolution: Turn on Adaptive Resolution in AE (the lightning bolt icon). When scrubbing the timeline, AE will lower the preview quality of the 3D geometry. Simplify Paths: If you extrude a high-density path (like a complex AI file with 1,000 points), the plugin will lag. Use the Simplify Path command in AE before applying Extrude. Draft Mode: In the Plugin’s settings, switch "Render Quality" to Draft while animating, and switch to Final for export.
Plugin Everything – Extrude vs. The Competition How does it stack up against similar tools?