• Adobe After Effects

  Creating a shadow effect over live action

  Posted by James Smith on May 10, 2011 at 12:35 pm

  I know this could be done as a practial effect in a studio, but I think it might also be possible in after effects. I’d like to create a scene of a large flying object that casts a shadow over people on a sidewalk. So the scene would be High angle shot of people walking on a sunny day. A shadow slowly spreads and they look up. The scenario is pretty common in film, but I can’t figure out a way to achieve it that doesn’t involve a lot of rigging.

  James Smith replied 15 years, 3 months ago 38,242 Members · 2 Replies
• 2 Replies

• 

  James Smith

  June 7, 2011 at 2:41 am

  The shadow doesn’t have to match the object completely. Consider the effect of a plane blotting out the sun. The shadow wouldn’t necessarily look like a plane, but a person would be aware that they were now in shadow. To be specific the shadow is being cast by a slow moving blimp.
• 

  James Smith

  June 8, 2011 at 4:34 am

  Sorry it took so long to respond, we’ve been having some crazy weather here in the southeast, and my car took some damage.

Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up