Element 3D: new After Effects plug-in [updated]

Video Copilot has released Element 3D, an After Effects plug-in that lets you import and animate 3D models, even as a particle array, and extrude text and mask shapes in real time. It's useful for all of us, for newbies and old hands & for straight 3D and more abstract experimentation, at least if you have a more recent OpenGL graphics card.

Video Copilot is offering easy access with tiered pricing for the impressive plug-in itself and various bundles of 3D models and materials. While not quite a Fast Ray Tracer, Element 3D (codename Atom) should soon be as ubiquitous as Trapcode Particular, and joins a growing cadre of exciting but somewhat isolated 3D technologies like Freeform, Plexus, Form, Mir, Pixel Cloud, Invigorator, Atomkraft, and others. Mylenium commented on AE's separate 3D universes and related wrinkles recently in The Element post you don't wanna read. Later, Mylenium also posted IBL Toolkit, image based lighting setup projects for E3D.

Element 3D does have some limitations compared to regular AE layers, and as Todd Kopriva noted in his story, you can get forum answers, help, support, and updates & bug fixes at the Video Copilot website.

We could list Element 3D's feature list, but seeing it in action is best. Andrew Kramer and company at Video Copilot have much more in the handy Help page video list; here's a sample: