Adobe After Effects CS4 - Manual (Page 559)

553 USING AFTER EFFECTS CS4
Effects and animation presets
Last updated 12/21/2009
Copy and paste position keyframes or expressions from a control point for another effect (for example, Lens Flare) to
quickly create a shadow that matches the light source for another effect.
Projection Distance The distance from the layer to the surface on which the shadow falls. The shadow appears larger
as this value increases.
Softness The softness of the edges of a shadow.
Render The type of shadow:
• Regular Creates a shadow based on the Shadow Color and Opacity values, regardless of semitransparent pixels in
the layer. (If Regular is chosen, the Color Influence control is disabled.)
• Glass Edge Creates a colored shadow based on the color and opacity of the layer. If the layer contains
semitransparent pixels, the shadow uses both the color and transparency of the layer. This option creates the
appearance, for example, of sun shining through stained glass.
The more transparent the pixels in the layer are, the closer the shadow color matches the colors of the layer. If the layer
contains no semitransparent pixels, Glass Edge has little result.
Note: Anti-aliased edges produce colors in a shadow edge when you choose Glass Edge, even if the layer is fully opaque.
The colors of a layer shine through these anti-aliased edges, and the Shadow Color fills the center of the shadow.
Color Influence The fraction of the color values of the layer that appear in the shadow. At 100%, the shadow takes on
the color of any semitransparent pixels in the layer. If the layer contains no semitransparent pixels, Color Influence
has little result, and the Shadow Color value determines the color of the shadow. Decreasing the Color Influence value
blends the colors of the layer in the shadow with the Shadow Color. Increasing Color Influence reduces the influence
of the Shadow Color.
Shadow Only Select to render only the shadow.
Resize Layer Select to allow the shadow to extend beyond the original boundaries of the layer.
Simulation effects
Common Lighting controls and Material controls
Several of the Simulation effects have some common controls. The Card Wipe effect also shares many controls with
the Card Dance effect.
Lighting controls
Light Type Specifies which type of light you want to use. Distant Source simulates sunlight and casts shadows in one
direction, where all the light rays strike the object from virtually the same angle. Point Source is similar to a light bulb
and casts shadows in all directions. First Comp Light uses the first light layer in the composition, which can use a
variety of settings.
Light Intensity Specifies the power of the light. The higher the value, the brighter the layer. Other lighting settings
affect the overall light intensity as well.
Light Color Specifies the color of light.
Light Position Specifies the position of the light in x,y space. To position the light interactively, Alt-drag (Windows)
or Option-drag (Mac OS) the effect point for the light.
Light Depth Specifies the position of the light in z space. Negative numbers move the light behind the layer.