Users could natively extrude and bevel text and vector shapes, complete with photorealistic reflections, transparency, and environment maps.

Before CS6, tracking a shot required exporting to Mocha or Boujou. The built-in 3D Camera Tracker in CS6 allowed you to upload footage, hit "analyze," and get instant 3D nulls and cameras. For indie filmmakers on a budget, this single feature turned After Effect CS6 into a multi-thousand-dollar VFX suite.