5.1.1

Chapter 7 Basic compositing 246
Drop Shadow controls in the Properties inspector
In addition to the Canvas and HUD drop shadow controls, each layer has drop shadow
parameters in the Properties Inspector. Use the activation checkbox beside the Drop Shadow
category in the Inspector to turn a selected layer’s drop shadow on or o. Click Show on the right
side of the Drop Shadow category to reveal additional controls.
Parameters in the Inspector
•
Color: Color controls that set the drop shadow’s color. The default color is black.
•
Opacity: A slider that sets the drop shadow’s transparency.
•
Blur: A slider that species the drop shadow’s softness.
•
Distance: A slider that sets how close or far a layer’s drop shadow is to the layer. The farther
away a drop shadow is, the more distance there appears to be between the layer and anything
behind it in the composition.
•
Angle: A dial that lets you change the direction of the drop shadow. Changing the Angle of the
drop shadow changes the apparent direction of the light casting the shadow.
•
Fixed Source: A checkbox that, when selected, renders the drop shadow as if cast by a xed
light source, regardless of camera or text movement.
Retiming
Retiming overview
Your motion graphics projects may require you to perform special timing tricks on media:
speeding a clip up, slowing it down, or playing it back at dierent speeds. There are several ways
to apply retiming to a clip:
•
Adjust the Timing controls in the Properties Inspector to modify speed and playback attributes
of media clips. For more information, see Timing controls in the Properties Inspector on
page 246.
•
Apply a Retiming behavior designed commonly applied retiming tasks, including hold frames,
strobing, looping, and so on. Take some time to look over the Retiming behaviors in the
Library before spending a lot of time in the Inspector creating your own custom retiming from
scratch. For more information, see Retiming behaviors overview on page 349.
•
Manipulate clip timing in the Timeline with the help of modier keys. Indicators in the
Timeline help you visualize loops and other retiming conditions. For more information, see
Retime in the Timeline on page 275.
Timing controls in the Properties Inspector
Media layers (movie clips and still images) have timing parameters in the Properties Inspector.
Click Show on the right side of the Timing category to reveal the timing controls for a
selected object.
When multiple objects of the same type are selected, parameters with common values are
editable. When dierent types of objects are selected, such as a clip and text, the Timing controls
are not available.
Note: Still images and other layers without an inherent time dimension have a reduced set of
Timing controls (In point, Out point, and Duration).
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