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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Learning Outcomes:

  • Create a shadow catcher in After Effects
  • Adjust shadow settings for realistic effects
  • Change background color to enhance shadows

Level: Advanced

Skills you'll gain:

After Effects, 3D, Shadows, Composition

Key Insights

  • Use a new solid layer for shadow catchers.
  • Enable 3D layer option for depth in shadows.
  • Rotate and position the shadow catcher accurately.
  • Adjust material options to accept only shadows.
  • Change background color to improve visual effects.
  • Tint shadows for a more customized appearance.
  • Utilize camera movement for dynamic scenes.
  • Experiment with shadow colors for desired effects.

This summary is AI generated

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