3D Model Viewer: Inspect and Debug Animations
Master the 3D viewer tool to understand animation structure, inspect layers, and identify optimization opportunities.
What is the 3D Viewer?
The 3D Model Viewer is a powerful diagnostic tool that visualizes the three-dimensional structure of Lottie animations. Rather than showing the flat 2D playback, it displays layers, shapes, and elements in 3D space, helping you understand the underlying architecture and identify issues that might not be visible in normal preview mode.
Why Use the 3D Viewer?
Key Use Cases
- Debug animation issues: Identify hidden or overlapping elements
- Understand structure: See how layers are organized and layered
- Identify optimization opportunities: Spot unused or invisible layers
- Troubleshoot rendering: Find elements causing unexpected behavior
- Inspect complex animations: Navigate through multi-layer structures
- Verify element properties: Check colors, opacity, and positioning
Using the 3D Viewer
Step 1: Upload Your Animation
Open LotifyAI's 3D Model Viewer and upload your Lottie JSON animation. You can upload a file directly or paste a link to an animation hosted online.
Step 2: Navigate the 3D Space
Use mouse controls to interact with the 3D view:
- Rotate: Click and drag to rotate the view
- Zoom: Scroll wheel to zoom in/out
- Pan: Right-click drag to pan the view
- Reset: Double-click to reset view to default angle
Step 3: Inspect Layers
The 3D viewer displays all layers with depth information. Each layer is rendered at its proper z-position, showing how elements overlap and interact. Layers are typically color-coded or labeled for easy identification.
Step 4: Analyze Properties
Click on individual layers or elements to see their properties including:
- Layer name and type
- Position coordinates (X, Y, Z)
- Scale and rotation values
- Opacity/Alpha values
- Color information
- Animation keyframes
Identifying Issues
Common Problems Revealed by 3D View
Hidden Elements
Elements positioned far back on Z-axis that should be visible. Adjust z-position to fix.
Overlapping Layers
Elements stacked in unexpected ways. Reorder layers to fix layering issues.
Invisible Layers
Elements with 0% opacity or completely transparent. Consider removing if not needed.
Odd Positioning
Elements positioned far outside the viewable area. Check position values and adjust.
Complex Nesting
Deep hierarchy of grouped elements. Simplify structure for optimization.
Optimization Through 3D Analysis
Finding Optimization Opportunities
The 3D viewer helps identify elements that can be safely removed:
- Empty groups: Layer groups containing no visible elements
- Fully transparent layers: Elements with 0% opacity throughout animation
- Off-canvas elements: Shapes positioned outside the animation canvas
- Duplicate shapes: Identical elements that could be consolidated
- Unused guides: Helper elements left from design process
Advanced Inspection
Layer Timeline Analysis
The 3D viewer often shows when each layer animates. Scrub through the timeline while viewing 3D representation to understand animation sequencing and timing.
Performance Impact Analysis
Complex 3D structures with many nested layers may impact performance. The 3D view makes the complexity obvious, helping you simplify before deployment.
Workflow Integration
Recommended Process
- 1. Preview: Start with standard 2D preview to see final result
- 2. 3D Inspect: Use 3D viewer to understand structure
- 3. Identify Issues: Note any problems or optimization opportunities
- 4. Fix Problems: Address issues identified (reorder layers, adjust positioning, etc.)
- 5. Optimize: Run through LotifyAI's optimizer
- 6. Final Verification: Use 3D viewer again to confirm changes
Tips and Best Practices
💡 Explore From Different Angles
Rotate the 3D view from multiple angles to fully understand the structure.
💡 Use Timeline Scrubbing
Move through animation timeline while viewing 3D to see how layers animate.
💡 Zoom to Details
Zoom in on specific areas to inspect small elements and their properties.
💡 Compare Before/After
Use 3D viewer before and after optimization to verify nothing was removed improperly.
💡 Document Findings
Take notes on issues found so you can apply fixes across similar animations.
Conclusion
The 3D Model Viewer is an invaluable tool for understanding complex animations, debugging issues, and identifying optimization opportunities. By incorporating 3D inspection into your animation workflow, you'll create better, leaner, and more performant animations.
Inspect Your Animations in 3D
Use LotifyAI's 3D viewer to understand animation structure and optimize performance.
Try 3D Viewer