After Effects can import 3D-image files saved in Softimage PIC, RLA, RPF, OpenEXR, and Electric Image

EI format. These 3D-image files

contain red, green, blue, and alpha (RGBA) channels, as well as auxiliary channels with optional information, such as z depth, object IDs,
texture coordinates, and more.
After Effects can also import baked camera data, including focal length, film size, and transformation data, from Maya project files as a single
composition or two compositions.
Note: Some 3D applications, such as Cinema 4D, can export an After Effects composition directly.
Though you can import composited files with 3D information into After Effects, you cannot modify or create 3D models directly with After
Effects.
After Effects treats each composited 3D file from another application as a single 2D layer. That layer, as a whole, can be given 3D attributes
and treated like any After Effects 3D layer, but the objects contained within that 3D file cannot be manipulated individually in 3D space.
To access the 3D depth information and other auxiliary channel information in 3D image files, use the 3D Channel effects. (See 3D Channel
effects.)
3D Channel effect plug-ins from fnord software are included with After Effects to provide access to multiple layers and channels of OpenEXR
files. (See Using channels in OpenEXR files.)
With RLA and RPF files, all of the auxiliary channels are included in a single file. Softimage PIC files have a corresponding ZPIC file that
contains the z-depth channel information. Although you cant import a ZPIC file, you can access the additional channel information as long as
the ZPIC file is stored in the same folder as the imported PIC file.
Similarly, Electric Image (EI) files can have associated EIZ files with z-depth channel data. As with ZPIC files, you cannot import EIZ files into
After Effects; instead, you simply store them in the same folder as the EI files. For information about creating EIZ files, see your Electric
Image documentation.
A common technique when working in a 3D modeling application is to insert null objects, such as null lights or null locator nodes in the
locations where you want to composite in an image in After Effects. Then, after you have imported the 3D file into After Effects, you can use
these null objects as a reference for the placements of other visual elements.