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Light Type Parallel light rays emanate directional, unconstrained light from an infinitely
distant source. A Spot light emits light from a source that is constrained by a cone, like the
spotlight used in stage productions. A Point light emits unconstrained omnidirectional
light, like the rays emitted from a bare light bulb. Ambient light has no source but rather
contributes to the overall brightness of a scene and casts no shadows.
Intensity Sets the brightness of the light. Negative values create nonlight. Nonlight
subtracts color from a layer. For example, if a layer is already lit, then creating a directional
light also pointing at that layer and employing negative values to this new light creates an
area of negative light, or a dark area, on the layer.
Cone Angle Sets the width of the Spot light by adjusting the angle of the cone
surrounding the source. This option is active only if Spot is the Light Type.
Cone Feather Adjusts the edge softness of the Spot light. This option is active only if Spot
is the Light Type.
Color Sets the color of the light.
Casts Shadows Indicates whether the light source causes a layer to cast a shadow.
Shadow Darkness Sets the darkness level of the shadow. This option is active only if
Casts Shadows is checked.
Shadow Diffusion Sets the softness of a shadow based on its apparent distance from the
shadowing layer. Larger values create softer shadows. This option is active only if Casts
Shadows is checked.
Understanding Light Transform properties
Like cameras, lights can be animated in 3D space. Use the light Transform properties to
change the angle and distance of the light source. Lights have all the Transform properties
that a layer has, except for scale and anchor point. Also, like cameras, the directional lights,
Spot and Parallel, have a point of interest.
The light's point of interest, shown by the point of interest icon ( ), indicates the spot in
the composition to which the light is directed. By default, the point of interest is the center
of the composition, and the light is auto-oriented to it. You can have the light continue to
point at the point of interest as it changes position, have the light oriented toward the
motion path, or turn off orientation altogether. You can adjust the point of interest only if
the light is auto-oriented toward the point of interest.
If the light is auto-oriented toward the point of interest, it continues to point at that point
as you change its position. When you change the light's position by dragging the light
icon in the Composition window, or by changing the light's position value in the Timeline
window, the point of interest remains stationary within the composition and, as the light
moves along the motion path, it continues to point at the point of interest. When you
adjust the light's position by dragging its axes in the Composition window, the point of
interest moves with the light, but the light continues to be oriented toward it. You could
use this option to depict a light falling on a single subject as the light source moves past
the subject. You could also use this option to follow a moving element.
If the light is auto-oriented toward the motion path, then the light points only in the
direction of the motion path. You could use this option to the depict a driver's perspective
in viewing his own headlights while travelling down a dark road.
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3D Compositing
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