Getting Started with Red Giant Geo (Part 1)

Welcome to this step-by-step tutorial on how to use Red Giant’s Geo tool in Adobe After Effects. Geo is a powerful yet easy-to-use tool for texturing, cloning, and compositing 3D objects. This guide will walk you through the basics, making it a great starting point regardless of your skill level in 3D.

Getting Started with Geo

1. Applying Geo:

Locate Geo in the Trapcode category under RG Trapcode.

When applied, you’ll see a default sphere.

2. Choosing Geometry:

You have three basic choices: plane, sphere, or custom.

For custom, you can choose from included 3D objects or import your own 3D file.

Texturing 3D Objects

1. Selecting a Model:

Use the Choose Model option to select from the provided 3D objects, such as Rock_02.

2. Material Settings:

Geo offers five material slots (M1 to M5) for different parts of your 3D model.

For simple models, you might only use M1.

3. Applying a Shader:

Choose from presets like glass, chrome, plastic, etc., or stick with physically based shaders.

4. Custom Textures:

Create a new solid layer (e.g., Fractal Noise) and apply fractal noise to generate a texture.

Use this texture in Geo by selecting it in the Base Color Map section of your chosen material.

5. Adding Bump Maps:

Duplicate the texture layer, adjust it, and use it as a bump map to simulate surface details.

Creating Clones

1. Enabling Cloner:

Enable the cloner in the Cloner section of Geo.

Choose the shape of the cloner: box, sphere, or cylinder.

2. Adjusting Clone Count:

Control the number of clones with the Count X, Count Y, and Count Z settings.

Adjust the size and rotation of the cloner to position your clones.

3. Transform and Randomize Clones:

Use Clone Transform and Clone Randomizer to rotate, scale, and position your clones randomly for more natural arrangements.

Environment Controls

1. Setting Up Lighting:

By default, Geo uses a sun for lighting. You can disable this and use custom lights like point or spotlights.

2. Adjusting Environment Map:

Select an HDRI for reflections and environmental lighting.

Adjust the intensity and tint of the environment to match your scene.

3. Adding Fog:

Enable fog and adjust its color, opacity, start, end, and midpoint to create depth in your scene.

Shadow Catcher

1. Creating a Shadow Catcher Layer:

Create a new solid layer named Shadow Catcher.

Make it a 3D layer and position it where you want the shadow to fall.

2. Enabling Shadow Catcher in Geo:

In Geo’s environment settings, enable the shadow catcher and select your Shadow Catcher layer.

You can turn off the visibility of the Shadow Catcher layer; Geo will still use it behind the scenes.

Moving Forward

In the next tutorial, we’ll explore advanced materials, cloning options, and environment settings. We’ll also cover using Cineware to bridge After Effects and Cinema 4D.