ZAXwerks 3D Warps - can a warped layer cast shadows???
by Michal Janowski
on
Aug 13, 2009 at 6:14:17 pm
Hi!
Im doing my first project using Zaxwerks 3D Layer Warp.
What I have is a filmstrip placed on the "floor" of my 3D composition in After Effects.
The clip starts as a flat plane, but using 3D Layer Warp it gradually bends on the X axis so that the edges of the filmstrip are slightly above the "floor". So my filmstrip should cast a shadow on the floor, but it doesn't happen.
I've set up lights for the comp, the "floor" layer has Accept shadows on, etc. Am I missing something? How should I setup the warped layer to make it cast shadows properly?
And by the way, what does the "Shadow Catcher Plane" option? The manual doesn't say anything about that...
Regards,
Michal Janowski
Technical Details:
MacOS 10.5.7 / After Effects CS3 / 3D Layer Warps v.1.5.0
Re: ZAXwerks 3D Warps - can a warped layer cast shadows??? by Matt Rhodes on Aug 14, 2009 at 5:03:10 pm
Hi Michal.
In order to have a 3D Layer Warp layer cast a shadow onto a "floor" in AE, you'll need to select that floor layer using the "Shadow Catcher Plane" option.
Therefore, do the following:
1. Find the Shadow Catcher Plane parameter near the bottom of the 3D Layer Warp params.
2. Select your floor layer using that param.
3. Make sure you have lights with shadow casting on.
We can't cast shadows onto every 3D layer in AE, so we give the option for you to select a floor layer - and we'll cast shadows onto that layer.
