v1.x Mettle FreeForm Pro

Pro-level 3D Mesh Warp Plug-in for After Effects

With Mettle FreeForm Pro, After Effects users have the ability to easily create complex layer deformations.  Users can also enjoy intuitive character animation, shape morphing capabilities, terrain creation, water simulation, organic background design, and more

New Adobe 2023 Compatibility

Use with GEOlayers to create 3D terrains based on real data.

Freeform Pro Features

3D MESH WARP
Move and rotate your 3D layer in 3D space with FreeForm’s Mesh Controls. Position X, Y, Z; Rotation X, Y, Z; and Anchor Point X, Y, Z controls. Add up to 400 control points and corresponding tangents, each of which can be controlled with bezier handles.

DISPLACEMENT MAPPING
Gives you the ability to create detailed organic shapes quickly and easily. Use grayscale “maps” to define the height of displacement on your mesh. A black & white cloud pattern can quickly become a mountain range. A simple gradient makes a curved ramp. Displacement maps can also be animated, giving you rippling water, flowing curtains, and blowing flags.

TANGENT ALIGNMENT
A very intuitive, easy-to-use method for aligning or breaking your tangent handles. Create smooth curves or sharp angles easily with FreeForm’s Tangent Alignment. You can choose to turn the alignment on or off.

3D MESH CONTROLS

Move and rotate your 3D layer in 3D space with FreeForm’s Mesh Controls. Position X, Y, Z; Rotation X, Y, Z; and Anchor Point X, Y, Z controls.

MANAGE CPU USAGE
The 3D Mesh Controls are also a great way to work fast. Choose your rendering level: Full, shade, or wireframe, adjust Mesh Subdivision and anti-aliasing to lower settings, and work fast. Then pump them up for the final preview and render.

MANIPULATION ON THE X, Y, AND Z AXIS
A much-needed feature missing from most mesh warp tools. You select on which axis your vertex points move by choosing X ,Y or Z. If you want to “Freeform” it, you can select the fourth option and move in all 3 axes freely.

3D MESH QUALITY

Get perfectly smooth final renders. The 3D Mesh Quality property gives you full control over the final quality of your warped layer. Mesh subdivision raises and lowers the density or smoothness of your mesh. As if that’s not enough, refine the detail further with 3 levels of anti-aliasing and Image Filtering.

SURFACE CONTROLS

DYNAMIC LIGHTING PROPERTIES
Adjust the Diffuse, Specular, and Roughness properties to create a wide variety of “textures”. From a highly reflective surface like water to a totally diffused surface like cloth. FreeForm V2 even has controls that can map a different image to the Backside of your 3D layer. Perfect for “signs” or “maps” that fold, roll, or crumple and reveal the backside.

FASTER PREVIEWS AND RENDERS
With a highly optimized 3D rendering engine, renders and previews with FreeForm Version 2.0 are up to 8 times faster than FreeForm which was bundled with CS5.

• 3D Mesh Warp – Bend and distort on x, y, z. Up to 400 control points.
• The Generator: A Built-in particle system.
• 3D Displacement Mapping: Use a grayscale image to deform your layer in 3D space.
• 3D Shape Morphs – Transform from one shape to another.

3D Shape Morphs and The Generator Feature

The Generator lets you replicate/clone your layer many times, and control all as a single unit. You can also create amazing 3D shape morphs via familiar 2D filters in After Effects. FreeForm Pro generates all geometry on the fly, right in the AE comp window. Download the project files to see just how easy it is to create stunning shape morphs with FreeForm Pro. Take your motion graphics to the next level.

Advanced Image Morphing

Noside.fr uses Revision FX “re:Flex” + FreeForm to create the following sequence. Re:Flex was used for the body alignments and face morphing while Mettle’s Freeform handled all the clothes folding (shirts tearing apart, jacket wrapping, and so on…). Morgan Préleur of noside.fr says ”Freeform really proved to be an incredible tool and allowed us to achieve complex 3D deformations under tight deadlines. FreeForm Pro’s ability to handle a lot of surface points while remaining totally interactive allows for a more creative and iterative process, we can experiment and come up with improved solutions which is crucial when speed is the key factor. It is a must-have in our toolset for upcoming commercial works.”

Character Animation

Daniel Gies of everyonediesfilms.com says ”Free Form Pro has finally brought the third dimension to After Effects in a way like never before. It has completely changed the way I approach character animation and environments in After Effects.”

2D and 3D Stereo Conversion

FreeForm Pro is an excellent complement to Mocha Pro for 2D to Stereo 3D conversions. Speed ease of use and the advanced 3D displacement mapping in FreeForm Pro help to bring incredible depth and control to your stereo 3D projects.

Organic Effects

Combine FreeForm with filters and plug-ins that come with After Effects. Open up new creative possibilities with FreeForm Pro.

Water Replacement

Render animated 3D water from a still. FreeForm Pro uses Mettle’s proprietary 3D engine and employs advanced 3D displacement mapping algorithms — similar to those used in movies such as Avatar, The Matrix, Inception etc. FreeForm Pro’s rendering allows for a high level of realism. Features include Depth renders and Reflection mapping. FreeForm Pro can claim the tightest integration into AE’s 3D controls. Work with a familiar U.I. quickly and efficiently.