by irrealix·VFX
Images © irrealix. Used for product review; image policy.
Ray Projector earns its place in the aescripts library for combining edge extrusion, environment-map shading, and gradient coloring in a single GPU-accelerated plugin.
Ray Projector is an After Effects plugin from irrealix that detects the edges within an image and extrudes them into 3D models. The extrusion is GPU-accelerated, and the resulting geometry can be shaded using environment maps drawn from presets or supplied as a custom layer.
Alongside the environment-map shading, the plugin applies gradient coloring along the extrusion axis, giving the extruded forms a graded appearance from one end to the other. These three functions — edge detection with extrusion, environment-map shading, and axis-based gradient coloring — make up the core of what the plugin does.
Ray Projector runs on a broad span of After Effects releases, covering versions from 2020 through 2026. This is the initial release, published on April 1, 2026, and a demo video is available for those who want to see it in action before installing.
Ray Projector is best for after Effects users who want to detect image edges and extrude them into shaded 3D models.
Ray Projector is completely free to download and use.
Ray Projector is compatible with After Effects 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020. That range covers seven consecutive releases, so most recent installations of After Effects should be able to run the plugin. If you are on a version outside that span, check the developer's page for the current compatibility details before installing, since the listed range reflects what is officially supported at this time.
Ray Projector is a GPU-accelerated plugin, meaning it relies on the graphics processor when extruding image edges into 3D models. The extrusion, environment-map shading, and gradient coloring are all part of a GPU-accelerated pipeline. For specifics on the exact hardware needed, refer to the developer's page, as those requirements are not detailed here beyond the fact that the plugin is built to run on the GPU.
Ray Projector shades its extruded 3D models with environment maps, and you can use either the built-in presets or supply your own as a custom layer. This gives you a choice between the ready-made options included with the plugin and a layer of your own choosing for shading. Along with the environment-map shading, the plugin adds gradient coloring along the extrusion axis to complete the look of the extruded geometry.
Ray Projector is listed as free in this catalog. For the most current licensing terms and any conditions attached to its use, check the developer's page directly, since that is where the up-to-date details are maintained. This entry reflects a version 1.0.0 initial release published on April 1, 2026, so licensing information may continue to evolve after that first release.
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