Create a light

To create a light:

1. Do either of the following:

• Choose Layer > New > Light.

• Press Shift-Option-Command-L (Mac) or Shift-Alt-Ctrl-L (Windows). ALight Settings dialog box appears.

2. Enter the name for the light in the Name field. If you don’t enter a name, After Effects uses the default naming scheme.

3. In the same dialog box, select the type of light you want from the pull-down menu:

   

• Parallel—Radiates directional light from an infinite distance. In this respect, a parallel light simulates sunlight.

• Spot—Radiates from a source positioned within an opaque cone, allowing the light to emit only through its open end. Adjusting the cone’s angle changes the spread of the light. This type of light emulates those commonly used in film and stage productions.

• Point—Emits omnidirectional light from its point of origin, comparable to a bare bulb or an unflickering signal flare.

• Ambient—Doesn’t emanate from a specific source but rather contributes to the overall illumination of the scene. Ambient light settings only include those for intensity and color.

  

  An ambient light contributes to the overall illumination of the 3D space. Here, an ambient light is set to 30 percent intensity.

  The type of light you select determines which options are available in the Light Settings dialog box.

4. Specify the light settings available for the type of light you selected. See the next section, “Choosing Light Settings,” for more information.

5. Click OK to close the Light Settings dialog box. The new light appears as the top layer in the composition, starting at the current time and using the default duration for still footage.

   

   The new light appears as the top layer in the composition, starting at the current time and using the default duration for still footage.

   The light’s default position depends on the type of light you select.

Tips

• You can revisit the Light Settings dialog box at any time by double-clicking the name of the light in the layer outline of the Timeline window.

• If you need a lens flare or visible light beams, try an effect. After Effects includes a lens flare, and many third-party plug-in packages create light beams and other lighting effects.