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Create realistic reflections and ambient lighting in a 3D scene

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Use any image as a light source to realistically place 3D models into a scene with complementary lighting and shadows.

Image-Based Lighting (IBL) uses an image to produce realistic reflections and ambient lighting in a 3D scene. It gives subtle lighting effects that help make the objects appear as though they naturally belong in an environment. Environment Lights in After Effects create realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows on 3D layers by surrounding the scene with an image-based environment map.

Use an image to create realistic reflections and ambient lighting in a 3D scene.

Note:

Environment lights currently work only in the Advanced 3D renderer. 

Add an environment light

To add an environment light, choose Layer > New > Light, and set the Light Type to Environment.

In the Light Setting dialog, select Environment from the Light Type dropdown list.
In the Light Setting dialog, select Environment from the Light Type dropdown list.

After Effects uses a default environment map once you set Environment as the Light Type under Light Settings. This can be changed to an image layer with an HDRI file such as .hdr or .exr file in the composition as an environment map.

  1. Import a .hdr or .exr file into your project.

  2. Add the imported file to a composition by dragging and dropping it to the Timeline panel.

  3. Twirl open the Environment Light properties in the Timeline panel.

  4. Under the Light Options, set the Source property to the layer with .hdr or .exr file.

    Select the layer with the HDR file from the Source dropdown.
    Select the layer with the HDRI file from the Source drop-down list.

Tip:

The HDRI file layer’s visibility will be disabled when chosen as an environment map. You can re-enable this if you want. However, this will continue to be a 2D render of the layer. To simulate the layer with an HDRI file as a background scene layer, apply the CC Environment effect to a solid layer with the exact dimensions as the composition. 

Note:
  • The existing Layer > Environment Layer switch does not work with the Advanced 3D renderer. This option works only with the Cinema 4D renderer.
  • Environment maps must be single HDRI frame layers, not sequences. Effects and animation applied to the environment map are ignored.

Convert image file to HDR file using After Effects

While environment lights only accept HDR format files as environment maps, you can easily convert other image file formats to HDR using After Effects.

  1. Import an image file by selecting File > Import > File.

  2. With the file selected in the Project panel, select File > New Comp from Selection.

  3. Select File > Project Settings to launch the Project Settings dialog box.

  4. In the Color tab, under the Color Settings section, select the Bit Depth as 32 bits per channel (float), and select OK.

  5. With the composition or timeline active, select Composition > Save Frame As > File.

  6. In the Render Queue panel, select the linked text next to the Output Module option.

  7. In the Output Module Settings dialog box, specify the Format as Radiance Sequence and select OK.

  8. Select Render.

Convert image file to HDR file using Adobe Photoshop

  1. Open the image file in Photoshop.

  2. Choose Image > Mode > 32 Bits/Channel. (Radiance format requires 32 bits per channel.)

  3. Choose File > Save As or Save a Copy.

  4. Set the Format to Radiance

Add Environment light shadows

The default environment light doesn’t cast shadows. You must add an environment light layer and enable the Casts Shadows option to cast shadows. Once enabled, all 3D layers in the scene will cast voxel shadows except for the following instances:

  • If the layer has the Casts Shadows property turned off.
  • If the layer is outside the shadow volume.
  • If a layer has the Receive Shadows property off, it will not be affected by shadows even if the Casts Shadows property is turned on and is inside the shadow volume.
  1. Select the Light layer and choose Layer > Light Settings.

  2. In the Light Settings dialog, check the Cast Shadows check box and set the Shadow Darkness amount.

    Enable the Cast Shadows option to add shadows to your 3D environment.
    Enable the Cast Shadows option to add shadows to your 3D environment.

    You can also use the Cast Shadows property in the Timeline panel to enable shadows. Learn more about configuring 3D layers' cast and receive shadows properties.

    Use the Cast Shadows property in the Timeline panel to enable shadows.
    Use the Cast Shadows property in the Timeline panel to enable shadows.

Voxel shadows are memory intensive. The shadow settings are controlled in the Renderer Options dialog, which you can open from either Composition Settings > 3D Renderer or the 3D Renderer drop-down list at the bottom of the Composition panel.

Set and control the shadow settings in the Renderer Options dialog.
Set and control the shadow settings in the Renderer Options dialog.

Render Quality

Control the overall quality of the rendered output, including smoothness, lighting, and shadows. Higher values can use large amounts of memory.

Render Quality

Adjust how blocky the shadows look. Higher values can use large amounts of memory. 

Smoothness

Reduce or increase the amount of noise in the shadows. The default is 3. There is an inverse relationship between Smoothness and Render Quality. When Render Quality is set lower, you'll want a higher Smoothness value, and vice versa. 

Tip:

Keep the Smoothness value low and rely on render quality until non-shadow scene quality looks good, and then, if necessary, gradually increase the smoothness.

Casting Box Size and Casting Box Center

Adjust these properties to define the area within which shadows can be cast onto a layer. Voxel shadows are only cast from layers inside a limited box to limit memory use. Making the box larger spreads the voxel resolution across a bigger area, causing shadows to get softer. While the Advanced 3D Render Options dialog is open, a magenta outline represents the cube in the composition. 

Note:

Shadows are only cast from layers with Cast Shadows enabled to layers with Accepts Shadows enabled.

Set an object to bypass lights and shadows in your scene

  Use new beta features

Accepts Lights is now available for testing and feedback. Try it now in After Effects (beta).

Turn off Accepts Lights on a 3D layer in a 3D composition so that it's no longer affected by any light sources in the scene. This can be useful if you want the layer to maintain its original appearance without being influenced by lighting changes, shadows, or highlights from other light sources.

When Accepts Lights is turned off, the objects in these layers will appear lit by basic ambient illumination, displaying only their base color and emissive textures. Essentially, this makes the layer look as if it's self-illuminated, maintaining a consistent appearance regardless of the surrounding lighting environment. 

This can be particularly helpful when working with a 3D composition that includes self-illuminated 3D objects like phone screens and neon lights.

The timeline is open with different layers including a 3D layer. The 3D layer's Compositing Options is open and Accepts Lights option is checked 'Off'.
Turning off Accepts Lights for a 3D layer ensures its appearance remains unaffected by other light sources or shadows.

Note:

Accepts Lights is also supported in the Classic 3D and Cinema 4D renderers. 

Scripting access to Environment layer Light Type

Using scripting to read the lightType property of a LightLayer object will return LightType.ENVIRONMENT for an environment light.

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