Go to Effect > RG Normality > Normality . Hit "Generate." It will analyze your layer and spit out a psychedelic-looking red, green, and blue image. That is your normal map.
Instead of baking your lights into the render, use Normality to extract the normals. Then, apply a or Spotlight effect. Now, as your text rotates, the light actually glints off the bevels in real-time. No pre-rendering required. normality plugin after effects
Standard After Effects extrusion works via "ray-traced" or "cinema 4D" rendering. While it creates geometry, the lighting response is often rudimentary. When you rotate a layer, the bevels don't catch the light correctly because the software is simulating a shell rather than a solid object. Go to Effect > RG Normality > Normality