Plugin Everything's Extrude for After Effects is a GPU-accelerated tool that creates 3D depth from 2D layers, supporting live text, shapes, and mask paths
. It operates directly on 2D layers while maintaining compatibility with After Effects cameras, offering faster performance than native 3D renderers . Watch the overview at Plugin Everything Extrude Plugin for After Effects - Available Now
by Plugin Everything is a high-performance After Effects plugin designed to create 3D depth from 2D layers like text, shapes, and masks without needing the heavy Cinema 4D renderer. 🚀 Key Features Three Extrusion Modes : Supports Directional Vanishing Point Live Text Support
: Works directly on live text layers, maintaining high quality through continuous rasterization. Native Camera Integration
: Fully compatible with After Effects' active cameras for realistic perspective. Inner Extrusion
: A unique feature allowing you to "inset" the extrusion into the shape. Advanced Shading
: Includes a gradient color-wheel editor for intuitive solid or gradient shading. Performance
: GPU-accelerated and supports Multi-Frame Rendering (MFR) for fast previews. Plugin Everything 🛠 Usage & Compatibility Layer Types : Works on Shape Layers Mask Paths Text Layers Text Animators
: Compatible with most native AE text animators (tracking, line spacing, character offset). Path Handling
: Robustly handles self-intersecting paths and variable fonts. Plugin Everything ⚠️ Known Limitations Motion Blur : Must be applied as a post-process using effects like CC Force Motion Blur Depth of Field
: 3D Camera Mode does not natively render camera depth of field. Shape Primitives
: Parametric shapes (like rectangles or stars) must be converted to Bezier Paths
: Supports "Merge Paths" and "Transform" effectors, but not "Wiggle Paths" or "Pucker & Bloat". Plugin Everything Comparison with Native AE Tools Unlike the built-in Cinema 4D renderer
, which can be slow and disables features like blending modes,
functions as a standard effect on 2D layers, keeping your workflow light and flexible. If you'd like to try it out, you can find it on aescripts.com isometric look using this plugin? Compare it to free alternatives like the 3D Extruder script? for a specific text animation style? Extrude — Plugin Everything
At its simplest level, Extrude allows users to take 2D text and shape layers and give them immediate depth. Unlike the standard "Cinema 4D Renderer" built into After Effects, which can be render-heavy and limited in customization, Extrude uses a clever, lightweight approach. Plugin Everything - Extrude for After Effects F...
The plugin generates the illusion of 3D geometry by duplicating the source layer dozens (or hundreds) of times in Z-space. It automates a process that would otherwise be tedious: manually copying a layer, nudging it back one pixel, and repeating. By automating this, Extrude creates a convincing solid object in a fraction of the time it takes to set up manually.
No plugin is perfect. It is important to note what Extrude does not do:
However, for 90% of motion graphics work, these are features you likely don't need. Broadcast design rarely requires photorealistic caustics; it requires speed and punch.
The Pros:
The Extrude plugin by Plugin Everything is widely considered a must-have for motion designers who frequently deal with 3D text and shapes but want to avoid the heavy render times of AE's native Cinema 4D renderer. Key Features & Performance
Three Extrusion Modes: It offers Directional (flat 2D depth), Vanishing (point-based perspective), and 3D Camera modes, the latter of which allows the extrusion to react accurately to AE camera movements.
Speed: It is GPU accelerated, making it significantly faster than the built-in "Cinema 4D" rendering engine.
Shading: Features an intuitive radial gradient editor (up to 32 colors) for professional-looking lighting and shading that is much easier to manage than native lighting.
Live Text Support: Unlike some workarounds that require converting text to shapes, this works directly on live text layers and is compatible with AE’s native text animators. The "Solid" Verdict Pros: Versatility: Works with shapes, masks, and text.
Workflow: Allows for "inner extrusion," letting you transition between standard and sunken looks seamlessly.
Technical Build: Native support for Apple Silicon and Multi-Frame Rendering (MFR). Cons:
Price: Usually retails around $49.95. While professional users find it a "rounding error" compared to the time saved, it might be steep for hobbyists.
Stylization: It creates a "false" 3D look (similar to the classic repeater trick but much more advanced), so it won't replace a true 3D environment for complex geometry.
Summary: If you find yourself manually stacking layers or using the "Repeater" to get 3D depth, this plugin is a solid investment that will pay for itself in saved time. You can find it on aescripts + aeplugins or the official Plugin Everything store. Extrude - aescripts.com
Plugin Everything: Extrude for After Effects – The Ultimate Guide to 3D Depth Plugin Everything's Extrude for After Effects is a
Plugin Everything's Extrude is a powerful tool for Adobe After Effects that transforms 2D layers—specifically live text, shape layers, and mask paths—into dynamic 3D extrusions with a single click. Unlike standard After Effects 3D options that often require switching render engines, Extrude offers a high-performance, GPU-accelerated solution that maintains compatibility with native features like text animators and cameras. Key Features and Modes
The plugin offers three distinct extrusion modes to suit different visual styles:
Directional: Creates extrusion that follows a specific 2D direction.
Vanishing Point: Extrudes toward a fixed point in space, ideal for perspective-heavy designs.
3D Camera: Fully compatible with After Effects cameras, allowing the extrusion to update accurately as you navigate 3D space. Advanced Customization
Inner Extrusion: A unique feature that allows users to transition seamlessly between standard outer extrusions and inner extrusions, creating complex hollow or recessed looks.
Gradient Shading: Includes an intuitive color wheel editor that supports up to 32 colors for solid or gradient shading, giving artists complete control over the light and depth of their objects.
Live Text Support: Text remains "live," meaning you can change fonts or edit characters in real-time while the extrusion updates instantly. It even handles "cursed" or self-intersecting fonts without breaking. Performance and Compatibility
Built for modern workflows, the plugin is GPU accelerated and fully supports 32 bits per channel (32bpc) for high-fidelity results. It is also native to Apple Silicon and supports Multi-Frame Rendering (MFR) for faster previews and exports. Creative Combinations
Artists can stack multiple instances of the plugin for unique results or pair it with other Plugin Everything tools:
Repeater: Combine it with this free plugin to create complex, repeating 3D patterns.
Path Visualizer: Use it alongside this tool to showcase the underlying curves of your extruded paths. Limitations to Consider While powerful, there are a few technical limitations:
Motion Blur: Native After Effects motion blur isn't supported; it must be added post-process using tools like CC Force Motion Blur.
Depth of Field: 3D Camera mode does not currently render native camera depth of field.
Shape Primitives: Parametric shapes (like rectangles or ellipses) must be converted to Bezier paths before the plugin can extrude them. Extrude — Plugin Everything However, for 90% of motion graphics work, these
The Extrude plugin for After Effects by Plugin Everything is a tool designed to turn live text, shape layers, and mask paths into 3D extrusions with a single click. It provides a way to create depth without needing a complex 3D engine like Cinema 4D. Key Features of Plugin Everything Extrude Three Extrusion Modes: Directional: Standard linear extrusion.
Vanishing: Extrusion that recedes toward a single vanishing point.
3D Camera: Fully compatible with After Effects cameras for accurate perspective.
Inner Extrusion: Allows for a seamless transition between normal and inner extrusion effects.
Advanced Shading: Features solid or gradient shading with an intuitive gradient color wheel editor.
Live Text Support: Works with live text layers, allowing you to change fonts or characters while maintaining the extrusion effect.
GPU Acceleration: Built for speed with GPU-accelerated performance and support for Multi-Frame Rendering (MFR).
Complex Path Handling: Robustly handles intersecting or overlapping paths and works with nearly all fonts.
Inbuilt Anti-Aliasing: Delivers high-fidelity results directly within the plugin.
The plugin is available at retailers like Plugin Everything and aescripts + aeplugins. Extrude - Plugin Everything
Based on the name, you likely mean Extrude by Plugin Everything (a company known for making motion design tools like BAO – Boa, Slicer, Light Leak, etc.). However, as of my latest knowledge, Plugin Everything doesn’t have a product explicitly named just “Extrude” — but they do have BAO Extrude, Depth Generator, and 3D Extruder-like tools.
I’ll give you a comprehensive guide covering the most likely plugin you’re referring to: BAO Extrude (or similar extrusion tools from Plugin Everything) and how extrusion works in After Effects generally.
If you have ever tried to make 3D text in After Effects natively, you know the pain. The "Cinema 4D Renderer" allows for extrusion, but it comes with heavy restrictions: no layer styles, no continuous rasterization on 3D layers, and often sluggish viewport performance.
Alternatively, the "Repétition" effect is a hacky workaround that creates fake depth by duplicating the layer dozens of times. It works, but it’s slow to render and difficult to animate.
Extrude by Plugin Everything aims to solve this by offering a lightweight, GPU-accelerated solution that feels native to the AE workflow.