Changing color of shadows in after effects?

[Joey Foreman]

You’re referring to shadows cast by 3d layers, right?

(This assumes you want the shadow to be a different color than the layer casting it, otherwise just set the Light Transmission to some percentage in the layer’s Material Options.)

Duplicate your layer casting the shadow. Turn off cast shadows on the topmost one. Set the layer below to Cast Shadows only, and set its Light Transmission to a high percentage. Apply a Color Correction effect to that layer to get your colored shadow.

Parent that layer to the layer above if you need to move them.

Joey Foreman
Editor/Compositor/VFX Artist

[Jak Wilmo]

Thank you but I meant the color of black shadows in footage like color correcting?

[Joey Foreman]

[Joey Foreman] “Apply a Color Correction effect…”

like Hue/Saturation or Tint.

Joey Foreman
Editor/Compositor/VFX Artist

[Joey Foreman]

Oops, I forgot that you have to Precompose the duplicate layer.
Let’s try that again.

Duplicate your 3d layer then precompose it. Turn its 3d switch on. In the precomp, Cast Shadows will be set to Off, Light Transmission = 0.

Apply the Tint or Hue/Saturation.

Back in the main comp, the previous instructions still apply.
Cast Shadows only, Light transmission 100% or less if want it darker. Parent if necessary.

Of course if your 3d layer is Text or a Solid, you can change the color without precomposing.

Joey Foreman
Editor/Compositor/VFX Artist

[Joey Foreman]

[Spit take]

…and after all that! Well, it was an educational experience for me anyway.

You know, your question was extremely vague. I should have asked you to be more specific.

Anyway, let’s clarify things so we’re speaking the same language. You want to colorize shadows in video footage.

Are they people shadows, objects, or both? Is the camera moving? Are the shadows ever obscured by things passing in front of them?

Please describe the shot or post a screen grab.

Joey Foreman
Editor/Compositor/VFX Artist

[Jak Wilmo]

haha yea i should have been more clear. I would like to add a hint of blue to the darks in my footage, these darks are most likely shadows. So basically i am color correcting my footage? I hope this is clear?

[Kevin Camp]

yep, color correction effects are probably what you’re looking for…

color balance will allow you to color correct based on 3 zones, shadow, mid tones, highlights. it’s pretty simple to use and may be a good place to start.

curves would also allow you to isolate tonal values and color channels.

color finesse maybe the best bundled effect for this kind of work, but it is more complicated. however there are several recent tutorials that andrew devis has done on this effect in the ae tutorials that you can check out.

Kevin Camp
Senior Designer
KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW