User Guide

CHAPTER 9
300
3D Compositing
Cone Angle Sets the width of the Spot light by adjusting the angle of the cone surrounding
the source. This option is active only if Spot is the Light Type.
Cone Feather Adjusts the edge softness of the Spot light. This option is active only if Spot
is the Light Type.
Color Sets the color of the light.
Casts Shadows Indicates whether the light source causes a layer to cast a shadow.
Shadow Darkness Sets the darkness level of the shadow. This option is active only if Casts
Shadows is checked.
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 checked.
Understanding Light Transform properties
Like cameras, lights can be animated in 3D space. Use the light Transform properties to
change the angle and distance of the light source. Lights have all the Transform properties
that a layer has, except for scale and anchor point. Also, like cameras, the directional lights,
Spot and Parallel, have a point of interest.
The light’s point of interest, shown by the point of interest icon ( ), indicates the spot in
the composition to which the light is directed. By default, the point of interest is the center
of the composition, and the light is auto-oriented to it. You can have the light continue to
point at the point of interest as it changes position, have the light oriented toward the
motion path, or turn off orientation altogether. You can adjust the point of interest only if
the light is auto-oriented toward the point of interest.
If the light is auto-oriented toward the point of interest, it continues to point at that point
as you change its position. When you change the light’s position by dragging the light icon
in the Composition window, or by changing the light’s position value in the Timeline
window, the point of interest remains stationary within the composition and, as the light
moves along the motion path, it continues to point at the point of interest. When you
adjust the light’s position by dragging its axes in the Composition window, the point of
interest moves with the light, but the light continues to be oriented toward it. You could
use this option to depict a light falling on a single subject as the light source moves past
the subject. You could also use this option to follow a moving element.
UG.book Page 300 Wednesday, February 21, 2001 12:05 PM