Shadows for Text!

[jgastelb]

I've been trying to create shadows onto a text. I start with creating a camera, light then a solid. Then I add lux to the solid and a text above this track. I see the light and the text but no shadows even though the materials are set to accept shadows in 3d space. What am I missing here? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Jgastelb

[Matt Grunau]

if you are wanting to create shadows, is there a reason you are using Lux? Your setup should work to give you shadows even without Lux. Make sure the layer you want to cast the shadows has that on in the material options as well. You said the layer you wanted to have the shadows cast onto was set to recieve shadows, so that should be ok.

Just make sure everything is a 3D layer and you have your material options setup, as it seems you do. I do that often, and never run into a problem. BUT, I have never used Lux in that setup either.

[jgastelb]

So do I need a different layer that only works as a receiver of the shadows? I don't quite understand. Without the lux should I create a solid, camera, light and then text? Could you give me a basic breakdown? I'm starting to talk to AE as if it could understand verbal directions.
Jgastelb

[Matt Grunau]

Now I'm confused. Maybe my lack of knowledge of Lux, but from what I understood, Lux allows you to see your 3D light and also allows you to create volumetric lighting look in 2d. Apart from that, it really doesn't affect the light, or how AE is using the light.

Are you trying to have text create shadows? Or, are you wanting to have text receive shadows from another layer?

If you want your text to produce shadows, then yes, you will need another layer to receive them. If nothing else, you would need a layer under the text layer for the text to cast shadows upon. Or, you could set up your 3D layer to be a "floor" by roating it and positioning it correctly in 3D space. You could even build "room" with walls and a floor, each plane being a seperate layer.

The only way to see shadows is to have a layer there (or multiple layers if that was the effect you were looking for) set to receive shadows. Otherwise, you are creating them, but not seeing them because there is nothing for them to be case upon.

I'm taking for granted you are wanting to create something like you see here:

http://www.trapcode.com/products_lux.html

That would involve a floor object. A simple solid rotated and put in place correctly will do just that. And you have the option in after effects in your preview window to change the view of the preview window. You can have it looking down, up, or from the side at your 3D layers, and that can really help set things up.

[jgastelb]

Now I'm confused. Maybe my lack of knowledge of Lux, but from what I understood, Lux allows you to see your 3D light and also allows you to create volumetric lighting look in 2d. Apart from that, it really doesn't affect the light, or how AE is using the light.

Are you trying to have text create shadows? Or, are you wanting to have text receive shadows from another layer?

If you want your text to produce shadows, then yes, you will need another layer to receive them. If nothing else, you would need a layer under the text layer for the text to cast shadows upon. Or, you could set up your 3D layer to be a "floor" by roating it and positioning it correctly in 3D space. You could even build "room" with walls and a floor, each plane being a seperate layer.

The only way to see shadows is to have a layer there (or multiple layers if that was the effect you were looking for) set to receive shadows. Otherwise, you are creating them, but not seeing them because there is nothing for them to be case upon.

I'm taking for granted you are wanting to create something like you see here:

http://www.trapcode.com/products_lux.html

That would involve a floor object. A simple solid rotated and put in place correctly will do just that. And you have the option in after effects in your preview window to change the view of the preview window. You can have it looking down, up, or from the side at your 3D layers, and that can really help set things up.

That example is what I'm trying to go for. I think I understand now and will try to see if it works. There can't be shadows when there isn't a layer to work as a floor/wall or something where the shadow can be casted on/ a place to receive the shadows. Everything must be set to 3d with the exception of the light layer and of course camera. Thanks! I'll get back and let you know how it went.
Jgastelb

[milksac]

Is cast shadows set to on for the layer/object that's supposed to cast the shadow. AE sets cast shadow to off by default. Yes, it is very confusing. You have to go through the material settings for all the objects & lights to make sure all the settings (casts shadows, accepts shadows, accepts lights) are correct.

[Matt Grunau]

That example is what I'm trying to go for. I think I understand now and will try to see if it works. There can't be shadows when there isn't a layer to work as a floor/wall or something where the shadow can be casted on/ a place to receive the shadows. Everything must be set to 3d with the exception of the light layer and of course camera. Thanks! I'll get back and let you know how it went.
Jgastelb


Excellent. Good luck and lets see the results.

:beer: :beer:

[jgastelb]

Excellent. Good luck and lets see the results.

:beer: :beer:

Right now I'm failing miserably. No such luck. When I do get results I will post them here for sure.

I can't even get a regular light without the lux to shine on its own. You can tell I'm a newbie at AE. I'm not quitting though.
Jgastelb

[jgastelb]

Pic on left is without lux. Right with lux.

Here's a clip without the lux plugin.
http://twosidedproductions.com/media/Shadows.wmv


One with the Lux.
http://twosidedproductions.com/media/Shadows_lux.wmv

[Matt Grunau]

Very nice. For a newbie, you managed to go from "failing miserably" to 2 rendered clips in an hour and ten minutes. Not too shabby. And that lux looks awsome. I can imagine it must be a hell of a lot faster than rendering the same in 3D. and it even seems to work like a compound blur, or depth channel.

I may have to start playing with that plugin. I wonder if you would get a fog/depth matte fake with it??

[jgastelb]

Thanks! I'm just trying to learn the relationship between the layers and how they interact with each other.

Here's another little test.

http://twosidedproductions.com/media/Lux_test.wmv

[jgastelb]

I may have to start playing with that plugin. I wonder if you would get a fog/depth matte fake with it??

If you insert a fractal noise effect and play with its sub offset and its layer mode to something like add or screen you could get that effect.