Home > Shadows and Realism

Wes McDermott

Principal Director, Substance 3D Worldwide Evangelism

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Shadows and Realism

Explore techniques for grounding 3D objects in a scene with realistic shadows.

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This summary is AI generated

Learning Outcomes:

  • Create a shadow catcher in After Effects
  • Adjust shadow settings for desired effects

Level: Advanced

Skills you'll gain:

After Effects, 3D Layer, Shadow Catcher, Color Tinting

Key Insights

  • Use a new solid layer for shadow catchers.
  • Enable 3D layer option for shadow planes.
  • Rotate and position the solid for accurate shadow casting.
  • Adjust material options to accept only shadows.
  • Change background color for different shadow effects.
  • Tint shadows for creative visual enhancements.
  • Utilize camera movement for dynamic product renderings.

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