Performance
One of the things that Digieffects' Camera Mapper has going for it is that it is incredibly easy on the system and has exceptional render times. I had no trouble previewing and viewing my popped up animations. There are no alternative preview modes built into the plugin, but they didn't really seem needed.
Now the same text effect but with Camera Mapper applied to the ground again. The text "sticks" to the ground. It looks pretty rad.
Value
At $79, Digieffects is hoping the After Effects user will look past the fact that you can basically do all of this with some Photoshop and After Effects camera trickery. I will admit that when used correctly, the Digieffects Camera Mapper method has a more realistic look. With that being said, it is not necessarily easier or quicker to pull off the 3D illusion, it just looks a little better. Camera Mapper is fun to play with, delivers some pretty unique results, doesn't break the bank, and, at the end of the day, does exactly what it sets out to do.
I spent some time trying to pop this dude out with a mask and Camera Mapper, but I never really got it to look the way I wanted. Seems like a job for Photoshop.
Final Comments When used subtly (like to accentuate perspective by mimicking ground or sky elements or like in the intro menu to the DVD for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) Digieffects Camera Mapper can make your 2D picture come alive. Still this plugin is not a miracle fix, so the right type of still picture shot with perspective in mind remains a prerequisite. Camera Mapper seems to work best when mixed with some Photoshop layer comping, which means you're not going to be saving any time on popping out your 2D pictures.
It would be nice to see future versions of Camera Mapper released with more established and expandable features.
Ease
of Use
6.0
Depth
of Options
3.0
Performance
9.0
Value
vs. Cost
8.0
Overall Score
6.5
Nikc Miller is co-producer of Livelihood, and director and editor of several award winning short films. He currently works as an After Effects Artist at Render Perfect Productions in Baltimore. Nikc specializes in consulting small businesses and entrepreneurs on how to increase their visibility by using video and multimedia.
