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Shadow Caster

is a set of 3 presets for After Effects that allow you to add natural-looking shadows and lighting to any layer. They're easy to customize, fast to render, and can even be dynamically controlled by the position of another layer.

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Video Poster Image
Controls for Texture Looper, an Adobe After Effects script created by Jake Bartlett

Controls

Shadow Caster.ffx
  • Global Control Layer: Choose which layer acts as the global override controller.
  • Color: Color of the shadow.
  • Opacity: Opacity of the shadow.
  • Direction: Direction of the shadow.
  • Distance: Length of the shadow.
  • Softness: Uniform softness of the shadow.
  • Falloff: Falloff strength of the shadow.
  • Spread: Variable softness of the shadow based on the distance from the layer.
  • Distance Offset (Global Only): Length of the shadow when using a global controller.
  • Enable Bevel: Bevel visibility.
  • Bevel Color: Color of the bevel highlight.
  • Bevel Thickness: Thickness of the bevel.
  • Bevel Intensity: Brightness of the bevel.
Controls for Texture Looper, an Adobe After Effects script created by Jake Bartlett

Shadow Caster - Global Controls.ffx

These controls override all layers with a global control layer selected.
  • Use As Light Source: Dynamically control shadows based on their proximity to this layer.
  • Color: Color of the shadows.
  • Opacity: Opacity of the shadows.
  • Direction: Direction of the shadows.
  • Distance: Length of the shadows.
  • Softness: Uniform softness of the shadows.
  • Falloff: Falloff strength of the shadows.
  • Spread: Variable softness of the shadows based on the distance from the layer.
  • Distance Offset: Length of the shadows when using a global controller.
  • Bevel Color: Color of the bevel highlight.
  • Bevel Thickness: Thickness of the bevel.
  • Bevel Intensity: Brightness of the bevel.
Controls for Texture Looper, an Adobe After Effects script created by Jake Bartlett

Shadow Caster - Light.ffx

This layer will automatically move to its parent layer's location.
  • Color: Color of the light.
  • Size: Size of the light.
  • Opacity: Opacity of the light.

Installation

Copy the .ffx files into the User Presets folder for your current version of
After Effects.

  • OSX: ~/Documents/Adobe/After Effects 20xx\User Presets
  • Windows: ~\Documents\Adobe\After Effects 20xx\User Presets

If you already have After Effects open, refresh the effects & presets list. You should
now see each preset in the User Presets folder.

Changelog

1.0.0

Released: 2024-2-13
Initial Release