Adobe After Effects CS3 - Manual (Page 184)

AFTER EFFECTS CS3
User Guide
179
See also
“Working with 3D layers” on page 171
“Auto-Orientation options” on page 146
“Create an adjustment layer” on page 136
Create a light
❖ Choose Layer > New > Light, or press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+L (Windows) or Command+Option+Shift+L (Mac OS).
Note: By default, new layers begin at the beginning of the composition duration. You can instead choose to have new
layers begin at the current time by deselecting the Create Layers At Composition Start Time preference (Edit >
Preferences > General (Windows) or After Effects > Preferences > General (Mac OS)).
Change light settings
❖ Double-click a light layer in the Timeline panel or select the layer and choose Layer > Light Settings.
Light settings
Light Type Parallel emits directional, unconstrained light from an infinitely distant source. Spot emits light from a
source that is constrained by a cone, like the spotlight used in stage productions. Point emits unconstrained omnidi-
rectional light, like the rays from a bare light bulb. Ambient creates light that has no source but rather contributes to
the overall brightness of a scene and casts no shadows.
Intensity The brightness of the light. Negative values create nonlight. Nonlight subtracts color from a layer. For
example, if a layer is already lit, creating a directional light with negative values also pointing at that layer darkens an
area on the layer.
Cone Angle The angle of the cone surrounding the source of a light, which determines the width of the beam at a
distance. This option is active only if Spot is selected for Light Type.
Cone Feather The edge softness of a spotlight. This option is active only if Spot is selected for Light Type.
Color The color of the light.
Casts Shadows Specifies whether the light source causes a layer to cast a shadow. The Accepts Shadows material
option must be On for a layer to receive a shadow; this is the default. The Casts Shadows material option must be On
for a layer to cast shadows; this is not the default.
Press Alt+Shift+C (Windows) or Option+Shift+C (Mac OS) to toggle Casts Shadows for selected layers. Press AA to
show Material Options properties in the Timeline panel.
Shadow Darkness Sets the darkness level of the shadow. This option is active only if Casts Shadows is selected.
Shadow Diffusion Sets the softness of a shadow based on its apparent distance from the shadowing layer. Larger
values create softer shadows. This option is active only if Casts Shadows is selected.
Move a camera, light, or point of interest
Camera layers and light layers each include a Point Of Interest property, which specifies the point in the composition
at which the camera or light points. By default, the point of interest is at the center of the composition. You can move
the point of interest at any time.
Before moving a camera, choose a view other than Active Camera so that you can see the point of interest icon and
the boundaries defining its angle.
1 Select a camera or light layer.