• Adobe After Effects

  How to displace shadows across a shot

  Posted by Randy Mcwilson on October 5, 2008 at 9:40 pm

  I want to have a shadow move across a wall that has objects (photos, piano, desk) etc. I want the shadow to distort somewhat as it hits those non-flat objects.

  I am using blend modes for the shadow, but I am sure that I must somehow use a displacement map to distort. How would I go about this?

  Scott Novasic replied 17 years, 10 months ago 2 Members · 1 Reply
• 1 Reply

• 

  Scott Novasic

  October 6, 2008 at 7:42 pm

  I would consider using a mesh warp to ‘manually’ distort the shadow as it crosses the shapes. Applied to a separate layer of course.

  secondly, I would make a grayscale matte overlay on the objects in photoshop. Using lighter and darker shades of grey to represent the height of objects as you see them. Then apply a displacement effect using the photoshop file as source.

  I really love the first effect if done accurately, but both work.

  SuperNova
  Animation & Visual Effects
  Scott Novasic
  Los Angeles Ca
  web:https://web.mac.com/finaleffects

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